| What is the Key Factor for the President's Relationship with Congress? | -Party in Control of Either House, or Congress overall. A Congress on different Party Control of that of the President can Hinder Progress.
-Once they lose Control of Congress, Presidents rely much more on the Veto. All of the Bushes 12 Vetoes 10 Vetoes from Obama came from the Last 2 years of their Presidency. Trump's 10 Vetoes came from Losing Control of the House in 2019. All of Biden's 10 Vetoes came from after Loosing the House |
| Why can a Presidents Approval Ratings be also an Influence to the Relationship between Congress and the President? | -Congress will be happier to challenge the President if the Ratings are Lower. Trump couldn't Persuade Congress of the Mexico Wall precisely because of Low Public Approval. Congress may have also used the Public's Concern on Biden's Build Back Better, halting its Progress. |
| How can National Events influence the Relationship between the President and Congress? | -In times of National Emergency, Congress will allow, and act with Deference (Give Presidents Power) to allow the President to be more Free and Act Strongly
-The 'Blank Cheque' that Bush got is an Example, 48 Hours after 9/11
-During Covid, Biden declared that COVID-19 was a National Emergency. This allowed them to work closely with Congress, which was more Relaxed, to pass Emergency Legislation and Relief Packages. |
| Why is it that the President will have usually Limited Influence over the Supreme Court? | -The Appointment Process must go through the Senate if any Vacancy occurs in the Supreme Court
-The Justice, even if it's the President's Top Nominee, will not necessarily align in a way in the President's way. Presidents thus try and alter the Ideological Balancer of the Supreme Court, therefore. Trump had replaced the Liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a more Conservative Amy Coney Barrett, but Biden had also managed to appoint Ketanji Brown Jackson to the SCOTUS as well |
| Name some Examples of the Supreme Court
1. Backing the President
2. Going Against the President | 1. Trump vs Mazars USA LLP (2020) The Supreme Court ruled for Trump and had blocked a Subpoena (Document) seeking his Financial Records. Trump vs Hawaii (2018) is also another Example where the SCOTUS upheld Trumps Muslim Ban from several Predominated Muslim Nations.
2. Biden vs Nebraska (2023) had the Court striking down the Administration's Broad Student Loan Forgiveness Plan. A Big Blow to Biden's Opposition. Dobbs vs Jackson Health Organisation (2022) also was Against Biden's wishes regarding Abortion Rights. |
| How can the Nature of Power change between the Presidency and Congress? | -At the Beginning, the 'Imperial Presidency' may be Noted where the President is more Powerful than Congress. This can happen after a Presidential Election or a National Crisis
-Power may be Split Evenly with the 2 Branches, leading to Bipartisanship or Gridlock. This may be seen during Midterms or as the President gets less Popular.
-Potential 'Lame Duck' Presidency where Congress becomes too Powerful to handle. This can be common during the End of the Presidency, or when Control of Congress is the Rival Party |
| What are the Key Factors that can Change over the Course of the Presidency, which affects the Presidential Power? | -Electoral Mandate
-National Events and Emergencies
-Control of Congress
-When the Next Election is Due |
| When talking about Congress, what Power does it have, and what must the President do? In other words, what Justifies a Reaction from Congress? | -Congress's Power to Delay, Amend or Reject Legislation (Article 1, Section 1) is a Response to the President's suggestion of Legislation at the State of Union Address, or Threaten to Veto Legislation for Changes.
-Congress's Power to Ratify Treaties and Appointments (Article 2, Section 2) is a Response to when the President puts Nominees forward, and Written Treaties. The President can end Treaties without Congressional Consent
-Congresses Power to Declare War (Article 1, Section 8) is a Response to the President moving Troops and the War Powers Act 1973
-Congresses Power of the Purse / Signing the Budget (Article 1, Section 7) is a Response of the President suggesting the Budget to Congress
-Congress's Power of Filibustering and Senatorial Holds usually a Response to a President Nomination. |
| When talking about the Supreme Court, what Power does it have, and what must the President do? In other words, what Justifies a Reaction from the Supreme Court? | -The Supreme Court's Power to use Judicial Review is a Response for the President to commit an Act that has been 'Unconstitutional' |
| Why is the Election Cycle and Divided Government a Limitation to the President usually? | -The President is Usually a 'Lame Duck' for 6 Weeks Officially - which is the Period between the Election Taking Place and the Winner - though this Period can be Much Longer
-This depends who Controls Congress and the Invisible Primary for the Next Presidential Election begins (If its the Incumbents 2nd Term)
-Divided Government can Empower Congress and make the President more Limited |
| What was Trumps Successes and Failures in his Last 2 years of his Office? | -Given that Trump lost control of the House of Representatives in 2018 and the Invisible Primary for the 2020 Election beginning in July 2019, he still did a few Things
-Trump Improved relations with North Korea and passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Trump also got 3 Appointments to the Supreme Court
-However, Trump had the Longest Gov Shutdown in History and failed to get his Mexio Wall Authroised, and Relied heavily on Executive Power |
| What have been Biden's Successes and Failures from 2022 to 2024? | -Biden lost Control also of the House of Representatives in 2023 but had Succeeded in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act being Implemented, Addressed Climate Change and trying to Protect Reproductive Rights.
-However, Biden has been hit with Domestic Polarization and Hyper Partisanship which has Stalled his Legislative Agenda. The Immigration Challenges have also been quite Disastrous as well |
| What were the Promises that Bill Clinton (1993-2001) and what were the Outcomes?
'The Era of Big Government is Over' | -Bill Promised to Reduce the Budget Deficit, and he had Cut it by 50% which is Successful for his Part
-Bill tried Healthcare Reform, which didn't pass Congress (Hillary care)
-Bill promised Equal Civil Rights, and he did Pass the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' but also singed the 'Defence of Marriage Act'
-Bill promised more Standards-Base Education and passed the Goals 2000 Program which gave Billions to School. However, there was not Uniform Results across America |
| What were the Promises that George Bush (2001-09) and what were the Outcomes?
'Compassionate Conservatism' | -Bush Promised for Tax Cuts - Especially for the Lowest Earners, but the top 20% of Earners Benefitted the Most
-Bush promised Social Security and Medicare Reform, and did push a Huge Medicare Reform in 2003, which helped Lower Income People more
-Bush Promised the War on Terror...Passed the Patriot Act, and Moved Troops to the Middle East |
| What were the Promised that Barack Obama (2009-2017) and what were the Outcomes?
'Change we can Believe in' | -Obama promised for Universal Healthcare, and Successfully Passed Obamacare
-Obama promised to Close Guantanamo Bay and attempted via an Executive Order, but it still Remained Open
-Obama wanted to End the War in Iraq and Afghanistan. He did End American Intervention in Iraq, but Afghanistan nay.
-Obama wanted Equity of Pay, and passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009 which allowed Workers to challenge Unequal Pay Practices |
| What were the Promises that Donald Trump (2017-2021) and what were the Outcomes?
'Make America Great Again' | -Trump promised for a Border Wall with Mexico, which led to an Empty Promise and the Longest Government Shutdown in US History
-Trump promised to Repeal Obamacare, which was also shot down seeing how the American Healthcare Act had failed to Pass Congress
-Trump promised to Cut Taxes, and Cut Taxes he did. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was Successfully Passed |
| What were the Promises that Joe Biden (2021-Now) and what were the Outcomes?
'I'll Defend America' | -Biden promised to Defeat the Covid-19 Pandemic, and he engaged with Vaccination Campaigns, Booster Shots and other Measures
-Biden promised for a Bipartisan Cooperation on the Economy, to help the Struggling US Economy. While some Relief was Passed, getting complete Cooperation is Difficult
-Biden promised to Defend Ukraine from the Russian Bear by Providing Billions of Military Aid and Equipment. However, Critics argue more can be Done, and the Senate has challenged Biden's Commitment of Aiding |
| What is an Imperial Presidency, and an Imperilled Presidency? Is it a case of a President being One or the Other? | -An Imperial Presidency is a President with Ineffective Checks and Balances from the other branches
-An Imperilled President is a President who does not have enough Power to be Effective
-Usually, the President fluctuates from Imperial to Imperriled (or the other way around) as the Term Progresses, or rather is Imperial in one Area, and Imperriled in another (Foreign Policy vs Domestic Policy) |
| What Factors will Determine how much Congress will put the President to Account? | -Which Party Controls Congress: A President will get their Legislative Agenda halted if Congress is Divided. Scrutiny becomes much Lower during Unified Congress
-Willingness to use 'Imperial' Powers: Like the Veto. Presidents Recently have used the Veto for Influence
-Circumstances: Such as Congress only being able to hold the President to Account if it has something the President Wants. A Decline of a Supreme Court Justice is Good for Congress showcasing its Powers, but it only could do this because of an Unexpected Supreme Court Vacancy |
| What are the Presidents Foreign Policy Powers? | -Writing and Agreeing Treaties
-Receiving Ambassadors, and Recognising Countries
-Commander-in-Chief
-Use of Executive Agreements
-Meeting World Leaders and Attending Summits
-Control over Instruments of Foreign Policy, such as the State Department and the NSC |
| How does Congress try and Control the President in terms of Foreign Policy? | -AMUF: Authorization for the Use of Military Force has taken over as the 'Declaration of War' since 1942
-Power of the Purse: 2007 saw Democrats attempt to use this Power to Defund the Iraq War
-Power to Ratify Cabinet Officials: Bush's Nomination (and Reces Appointment) of UN-Critic John Bolton to the Post of US Ambassador to the UN got so much Criticism from Congress that Bolton stood down
-However, it is important to note that the President is largely Unchecked by Congress. The US needs to Speak and Act with one Voice and that is the Role of the President (John McCain) |
