The power to persuade

Question 1

Why does the president has to persuade so much?

Answer 1

• The problem with all these powers the president possesses is almost all of them are checked by other branches, whether that is Congress or the Supreme Court.
• The president can do very little without the approval of Congress and the courts.

Question 2

Presidential persuasion through people

Answer 2

• The vice president
• Members of the Office of Legislative Affairs
• Cabinet officers
• Party leadership in Congress

Question 3

Presidential persuasion through perks

Answer 3

• Phone calls to members of Congress
• Offer help with legislation that benefits a member’s state or district
• Campaigning for someone in the next election
• Speaking on national television

Question 4

Is the president’s power still the power to persuade?

Answer 4

Yes
- The president has no formal disciplinary hold over members of Congress
- The president may be faced with one or both houses of Congress controlled by the other party
No
- In an era of partisanship, most members now vote along party lines anyway
- Presidents tend to have lower approval ratings now, therefore their persuasion is much less effective

Question 5

Example of a successful power of persuasion

Answer 5

• With Obama getting a clear electoral mandate in the 2008 election, he was able to pass Obamacare in 2010.
• His success was down to bipartisan appeals to Republicans, healthcare summits at the White House and Democratic control of Congress.

Question 6

Example of a unsuccessful power of persuasion

Answer 6

• Trump campaigned on repealing Obamacare. His party had control of Congress. However, the repeal law was not passed due to a:
• Lower electoral mandate
• Powers of persuasion were lower as he was unpopular therefore his party had less reason to work with him