Evaluate The View That A President’s Popularity Is The Most Important Factor Determining Their Power.(30)

Question 1

Paragraph One ➡️ Popularity Vs Divided/Unified Government
- For: Popularity Is The Most Important Factor

Answer 1

• High approval ratings provide a president with increased influence. A popular President can exert influence over members of Congress within their own party, important to re-election
• (Example): Obama had very high approval ratings during his early years and a strong mandate to implement healthcare reforms, as a result he convinced the Democrats in Congress to pass the Affordable Care Act despite opposition from Republicans.
• Unpopular President doesn’t have these same powers
  -(Example): Trump was divisive and unppular with some Republicans, some of his key policy’s were blocked despite having unified Government.
  – Congress failed to fully fund his US-Mexico Border wall or agree to repeal the Affordable Care Act, despite it being a key promise of his during 2016 Presidential election.

Question 2

Paragraph One ➡️ Popularity Vs Divided/Unified Government
- Against: Whether Government Is Unified/Divided Is A More Important Factor

Answer 2

• Unified or divided gov in Congress is far more important.
• The separation of powers and system of checks and balances means that the President has to cooperate with Congress in order to have lasting impact on policy
• Divided gov = partisanship, harder for President to pursure agenda
• Unified gov = President is better able to pursure their legislative agenda.
  –(Example): 2016 Obama failed to appoint a Supreme Court justice under divided gov, as the Republican -controlled Senate refused to hold hearings or a vote on the nomination of Merrick Garland

Question 3

Paragraph Two ➡️ Power Of Persuasion vs Popularity
- Against: The President’s Power Of Persuasion Is A More Important Factor

Answer 3

President’s ability to cooperate with members of Congress and persuade them to support their policies is necessary to whether they can achieve their legislative priorities
- Preisdent can’t force Congress to do anything so they need to communicate and mobilise public opinion in order to influence Congress
– (Example): President and Vice PM also use their personal relationships and negotiation to influence Congress
– VP Mike Pence, under Trump, frequently met with congressional members to negotiate and push forrward Trump’s legislative priorities like the Tax cuts and Jobs Act.

Question 4

Paragraph Two ➡️ Power Of Persuasion vs Popularity
- For: Popularity Is The Most Important Factor

Answer 4

Congress are only going to be incentivised to be associated with a President’s agenda if the y’re popular,
- This honeymoon period is used to push through key pieces of legislation under what is almost always a unified gov
–(Example): Biden passed the American Rescue Plan Act, & Obama passed the $787 bn American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to address the Great Recession
- At the end of their presidency, there is limited popularity
– (Example): Last year of Obama’s Presidency, he was unable to successfully appoint Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, due to Republican controlled Senate arguing it was election year

Question 5

Paragraph Three ➡️ Ability To Act Unilaterally vs Popularity
- Against: Popularity Is Unimportant Due To Their Ability To Act Unilaterally

Answer 5

• Unilateral decisions - popularity is unimportant because they can act regardless of Congress
• Executive orders, allow federal officials to take certain actions without congressional approval
  –(Example): Trump’s assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimaini in early Jan 2020, near end of his Presidency
• Can also sign executive agreements, allowing President to engage in international diplomacy with other nations without being ratified in the Senate
  – (Example): Obama successfully neotiated the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA)

Question 6

Paragraph Three ➡️ Ability To Act Unilaterally vs Popularity
- For: Popularity Is The Most Important Factor

Answer 6

As executive orders and agreements aren’t passed through Congress, they can easily be repealed by future Presidents, limiting their long term impact
– Trump reversed the US out of executive agreements Obama did (2), the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) and the Paris Climate Agreement