President Relationship with Other Institutions

Question 1

Congress: divided and unified

Answer 1

The president cannot be a member of Congress because of the separation of powers which states presidents must have no link to Congress. The relationship between Congress and the president depends on which party controls Congress. If there is a unified government, where the House of Representatives and Senate are controlled by the same party as the presidency, then better relations are more likely. In a divided government, the president will find it more difficult to pass their legislation through Congress.

Question 2

President and Congress

Answer 2

A president can use powers which bypass Congress if they cannot pass legislation through. In 2014 Obama used an executive order to grant certain illegal immigrants ‘deferred action status’. National events can affect the president’s relationship with Congress. Congress gives the president more power to act in times of emergency. Presidential approval among voters affects the president’s relationship with Congress. Congress will challenge the president more if there are lower approval ratings.

Question 3

President check on Supreme Court

Answer 3

The president checks the Supreme Court’s power through nominating its judges. The president nominates judges to the Supreme Court when a seat on the court is available. This gives the president the power to change the ideological balance of the Supreme Court. The president may support or criticise the Supreme Court’s decisions on cases. If the president is popular then their response to a decision can make it appear more or less legitimate to the public.

Question 4

Supreme Court check on President

Answer 4

The Supreme Court can rule a president’s actions unconstitutional. In 2004 the Supreme Court ruled against President George Bush by giving Guantanamo Bay prisoners access to the courts to challenge their imprisonment.