Evaluate the view that the President can dominate congress in domestic policy. Flashcards
informal powers- can dominate congress?
President informal powers; The President has many informal powers, not granted by the Constitution, that grant them significant powers to dominate Congress. The two main ones are executive order and veto power.
example of informal powers dominating
1)Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) - 907 executive orders which is the most since WWII. Truman’s executive orders largely addressed issues related to the aftermath of WWII, the Cold War, civil rights, economic policy, and government organisation.
2)Joe Biden vetoed 13 bills which mainly dealt with resolutions to block his administration’s policies, however, Trump vetoed 10 including the Iran War Powers Resolution (This bill aimed to limit Trump’s ability to use military force against Iran without congressional approval.
informal powers not dominating congress
have strong checks in place - this means that the President cannot dominate domestic policy. If a president vetoes a bill, congress can override the veto with a ⅔ majority vote in both the house of representatives and senate.
examples of informal powers not dominating congress
Donald Trump vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 on December 23, 2020, citing objections to provisions related to renaming military bases named after Confederate figures
The House of Representatives voted to override the veto on December 28, 2020, with a 322-87 vote, exceeding the required two-thirds majority.
examples of executive orders not dominating congress- executive orders can be reversed and amended
Biden has overturned many of Trump’s immigration-related executive orders and policies. In most cases, Trump’s immigration policies were implemented through executive orders or regulatory actions, and Biden has reversed many of these.
Ending the “Muslim Ban” (Executive Order 13769) – Biden revoked Trump’s travel ban on people from several predominantly Muslim countries on his first day in office.
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) – Biden strengthened protections for DACA recipients, undoing Trump’s efforts to dismantle the program.
Termination of the “Remain in Mexico” policy – This policy required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases were processed. Biden’s administration worked to end it, though this faced legal challenges.
divided goverments allow president to dominate congress
When the President has a united government it would appear that they have significant influence over domestic policy as they are able to pass many bipartisan bills that support their agenda
examples of unified government helping to dominate congress
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, concerns grew about the future of same-sex marriage rights. In response, President Joe Biden supported efforts to protect these rights, leading to the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, which ensures federal protection for same-sex and interracial marriages. Biden signed the bill into law in December 2022, securing these marriage rights amidst fears they could be challenged.
2)After the schooling shooting in Uvalde Texas in May 2022, Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law. This legislation aimed to address gun violence and included measures such as enhanced background checks for buyers aged 18 to 21 and funding for mental health services and school safety
examples of how divided government does not let president to dominate congress
Out of the past 30 years, 10.5 of those have been a united government, meaning more often than not a President is acting with a divided government, this makes it exceptionally difficult to pass any legislation
President Biden successfully passed the American Rescue Plan Act on March 11, 2021, aimed at combating the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was passed using budget reconciliation, allowing it to be approved with a simple majority in the Senate, which was a strategic choice by Democrats rather than a direct result of Joe Manchin’s opposition.
finance allowing president to dominate congress
The Constitution grants the president the ‘power of the purse’ this gives them many financial powers including the ability to prepare an annual budget
evidence of finance allowing president to dominate congress
President Biden did not pass a formal annual budget for fiscal year 2022; instead, Congress approved a continuing resolution to temporarily fund the government. This resolution was passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 220 to 211 and in the Senate by a vote of 65 to 35 in September 2021. As a result, no formal budget was enacted for that fiscal year.
2)President Trump successfully passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2017, which significantly overhauled the U.S. tax code. The legislation reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and lowered tax rates for individuals across various income brackets. It also increased the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000 per child and limited the deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) to $10,000, impacting taxpayers in high-tax states.
finances not allowing president to dominate congresss
Presidents can encounter significant challenges in passing their budgets, and if Congress refuses to cooperate, it can lead to a federal government shutdown.
examples of finances not allowing president to dominate congress
This occurred in 2013 under President Obama when a conflict over funding for the Affordable Care Act resulted in a shutdown from October 1 to October 16. Although the Continuing Appropriation Act of 2014 was eventually enacted, the shutdown was primarily due to broader disagreements over budgetary priorities.
2)Republicans in the House of Representatives are threatening to withhold approval for raising the debt ceiling, which could lead to significant economic consequences. If the debt ceiling is not raised, the federal government may default on its financial obligations, potentially resulting in increased borrowing costs and damage to the U.S. credit rating.
