The presidents of 1992-present Flashcards
What is an imperial president?
A president characterised by the misuse of presidential powers, especially excessive secrecy - particularly in foreign policy - and dominates dealings with Congress
What two pieces of legislation made presidents go from being imperial to becoming imperilled?
The Case Act 1972- forced presidents to inform congress of all executive agreements within foreign states
The War powers Act 1973- attempted to limit the president’s use of troops, unless Congress declared war
What is an imperilled presidency
Refers to a president characterised by weakness and ineffectiveness as a result from congressional overassertiveness
What are two examples of Presidents being imperial in foreign policy pre-1992?
The escalation of US involvement in the Vietnam War by President Johnson and the decision of Nixon to bomb Cambodia without Congress’s knowledge
What were Clinton’s aims in healthcare and how successful were they?
Affordable healthcare aim was a complete failure - greatest failure of his presidency as this was meant to be the jewel in the crown for the Clinton Administration.
Reforms were too divisive for congressional Democrats to unite around. The plan was never even voted on
What were Clinton’s aims in economic growth and how successful were they?
The country was in bad shape economically speaking when Clinton came in so this was a key priority. His combination of spending restraints and tax increases on the wealthy proved successful. Average economic growth of 4% per year and reduced unemployment to a 30 year low of 4%
He cannot take all the credit as he did inherit an economy that was already improving. However, his policies certainly helped and his presidency was remembered for its booming economy
What were Clinton’s aims in greater levels of representation and protection of civil rights and how successful were they?
Aims to increase minority representation, to protect rights and make the US more inclusive and LGBTQ+ tolerant
Had the most diverse cabinet in history at the time
Appointed more black and female judges
-Created the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, allowing homosexuals to serve in the military as a compromise with Republicans
-Signing of the Brady Act now requires handgun purchaser to wait five days while background checks are performed
Was successful in this area
What were Clinton’s aims in foreign policy and how successful were they?
With the cold war over and no immediate threats, this role was less pronounced. It’s main challenges were Yugoslavia, Northern Ireland and Russia
-helped Russia become more stable, securing $1.6bn in aid to assist its economy and helping to prevent nuclear destruction
-authorised bombing of Yugoslavia. It was later found they were waging a mass genocidal war and so bombing helped to end these atrocities and the war. The Dayton accords were signed in 1995
-involved in signing the Good Friday Agreement
-Signing and Senate ratifying of the Chemical Weapons convention, preventing creation and stockpiling of chemical weapons
Foreign policy was limited given he didn’t have cold war or terrorist challenges but largely successful
Which areas was Clinton successful in?
The economy
Expansion of civil rights and gun control
Foreign policy
What areas was Clinton unsuccessful in?
Affordable healthcare
Arguments than Clinton was Imperial
Foreign Policy:
-Stood ready to launch 20,000 troops into Haiti without congressional approval
-In the 1999 Serbian air war, the US committed the most personnel since the Gulf War, but Clinton refused to get approval
-use of NATO peacekeeping troops in Republic of Yugoslavia was argued to be a violation of the War Powers Act 1973
Arguments that Clinton was imperilled
-He won just 43% of the popular vote as third candidate Ross Perot split the vote
-Lewinsky affair and impeachment damaged his reputation
-Haiti invasion never happened as former President Carter stepped in and mediated the situation
-largely unsuccessful in healthcare reforms
What were Bush’s aims in foreign policy and how successful were they?
Became completely dominated by 9/11 and the war on terror.
With a united government and the country behind him, he was able to declare a war on terror, leading to the war in Iraq. He was also able to create the Homeland Security department and easily pass the Patriot Act, which arguably infringed both the 4th and 5th amendment.
However, the justification for this continually decreased as no weapons of mass destruction were found and the war on terror cost the tax payer $6.4trillion. His executive order to open Guantanamo Bay remains controversial
What were Bush’s aims in education policy and how successful were they?
This was a cornerstone of his election campaign
Secured the No child left behind Act of 2002, expanding the federal government’s role in education and insuring children in failing schools be moved elsewhere
Reforms did not improve education standards in the US, but was a clear light on his compassionate conservatism
What were Bush’s aims in major tax cuts and how successful were they?
Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act and the Jobs and Growth Tax Act, introducing tax cuts of $1.35 trillion. While he would argue, it helped economic growth, he squandered the government’s economic benefits of Clinton’s era, in a time when military spending vastly increased
