19.4 - The Presidency Flashcards
What are the main determinants for presidential power over their term?
- Election cycles
- National circumstances
- Relationships with Congress
- Relationships with the Supreme Court
How do election cycles detemine presidential power over their term?
If a President has a recent and sweeping electoral success, his mandate is fare greater. Therefore, his requests to Congress will be very difficult to ignore.
If a President loses one or both houses of Congress, he will find it far more difficult to exert his power.
What is the coattails effect?
The ability of a president to bring out supporters for other members of his party due to his own popularity.
How is the coattails effect used?
If a President does very well in an election, it helps other candidates in their party by attracting votes to them too.
Who had a weak coattails effect?
Trump in 2016, he did not win the popular vote and therefore struggled to help elect other Republicans into Congress.
As a result, he found it very difficult to pass his legislative agenda (i.e. the wall)
How do national events change president power?
In an instance of national disaster, the approval ratings of the President will often skyrocket (i.e. George W. Bush following 9/11).
However, his handling of Hurrican Katrina was deemed too slow and damaged his approval ratings.
What is a famous event that improved presidential popularity?
George W. Bush following 9/11.
Bill Clinton following the Oklahoma bombing where he highlighted Congress’ failings in allowing two government shutdowns.
What is a famous event that damaged presidential popularity?
- Bill Clinton’s Monica Lewinsky scandal.
- George W. Bush in his response to Hurricane Katrina.
Who famously had an excellent relationship with Congress?
Ronald Reagan (republican) in his relationship with Tip O’Neill (democrat House speaker).
Who famously had an awful relationship with Congress?
Trump (republican) in his relationship with Nancy Pelosi (democrat House speaker).
How effective is Presidential accountability to Congress? (Effective)
- Short election cycle and coattails effect mean it is highly responsive to Presidential popularity, so they will use their power when President is unpopular.
- Congress has major power over the President domestically.
- The Consitution gives Congress many checks and balances over the President.
- Congress has demonstrated its willingness and ability to use powers (veto override) in times of divided government.
- National crises can damage presidential popularity.
How effective is Presidential accountability to Congress? (Not effective)
- Presidential enumerated powers allow him to exercise power alone, whereas Congress requires supermajorities to override.
- Regarding foreign policy, Congress has little checks over the President.
- Constitutional powers of Congress are mostly reactive to the President.
- In united government, Congress is less likely to use powers to limit the President.
- In times of national crises calling for a swift response, Congress acts with deference to the President.
