Congress checks on the executive Flashcards
How can congress check the president through legislation?
Most legislation is suggested by the president at his state of union address in his legislative agenda.
However, congress can amend, delay or block new legislation.
What happened at every State of The Union address between 2010 and 2015?
Obama asked congress to pass immigration reform but no legislation had been passed by the end of his time in office
how does the power of veto override allow congress to check the president?
if the presidents vetos a bill, congress can override by achieving a two third majority across both houses forcing the bill into law
how many of George W Bush’s vetoes were overridden?
12 vetos, 4 overridden, 6 more attempts but failed . this is anomaly , usually very few eg obama only had one of his vetoes overridden.
what is the power of the purse?
congress has right to raise taxes and spend money raised for the national government.
what does the power of the purse prevent?
president spending money without the consent of the elected representatives
what is the appropriation clause?
without a congressional law money cant be allocated for federal polices
what is the only branch that can declare war?
congress
How many times have congress used the power to declare war?
11
What is an AUMF?
Authorisation for use of military forces
where congress grants the president the authorisation to use military without formally declaring war
Example of an AUMF
AUMF that followed 9/11 has been used by Bush, Obama and Trump to justify actions in conflict in 14 countries
what power does the impeachment proceeding grant congress?
the house of rep is given the power to bring charges of impeachment against any member of the executive or judiciary. if this passes a simple majority vote, a formal trial is held in the senate
who were the only two presidents to go through the whole impeachment process?
Andrew Johnson (1868) and Bill Clinton (1997) both found not guilty
how can congress check check the president through treaties?
senate only
senate approves treaties that have been negotiated by the president by two thirds vote -67 senators
example of the senate ratifying treaties
The Strategic Arms Reduction treaty in 2010 passed the senate vote by 71-26 senators
senate can also choose not to vote on treaty - Arms trade treaty was sent to the senate but with weeks until Trump took office , it didn’t receive a ratification vote
