essay plans

Question 1

legislative process

Answer 1

1. Gridlock - too many bills fail, nothing gets done
   Legislation is hard on purpose - limit government
2. Tradition of bipartisanship - important bills succeed
   Polarisation - less bipartisanship, more gridlock
3. Thorough, in-depth process, producing quality legislation
   Partisanship + influence of interest groups (iron triangles) means public interest is often ignored
4. Pork barrel politics - waste of public money, too narrow focus on local interest
   Earmarks facilitate bipartisanship, fund useful local projects

Question 2

oversight

Answer 2

1. Majority in both houses needed to pass a bill
   President can bypass with executive orders
2. President can veto congressional bills opposing his agenda
   Veto can be overridden (⅔ majority in both houses)
3. Advice and consent powers - Senate can block appointments + treaties
   Senate has no say over EXOP appointments; 4. President can bypass by signing executive agreement
   - Congress can impeach the president
   Impeachment ineffective because of polarisation and partisanship
   - Congress has power of the purse
   President can declare national emergency to re-allocate funds
   - Standing committees investigate the President + subpoena power
   President can ignore recommendations