US presidency Flashcards
Factors affecting presidential power
Government majority
- Trifecta Government (Bush 2003-7, Obama 2009-11, Trump 2017-19, Biden 2021-23)
Popular support
- Bush 90% in 2001(9/11), 25% in 2008(outgoing, after wars, lame duck)
- Obama 69% in 2009
- Biden 54% at start, now 56% disapproval
Major events
- 9/11 Bush
- Obama recession
- Trump and Biden covid
- Wars (Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan)
Media Image
- Trump and Fox news
- Obama seen as a deviation from status quo
- Biden and Fox news
Charisma
- Obama yes
- Biden no
- Trump - riling up his base but not while in office
Length of term
- Approval ratings decrease with length of term
- Less co-operation from congress in second term as president cannot be re-elected
Loyalty
- Trump had incredible control over the party - protected from impeachment twice
Imperilled presidency
President does not have enough power to be effective
Imperial presidency
President going beyond the powers of the constitution
Informal presidency
President acting through EOs and unilateral powers rather than legislation
Powers of Persuasion
President must work with congress to be effective
Examples of imperial presidency
Trump domestic - Muslim Travel Ban (caveat of SC challenges) (2017)
- National emergency border wall - overrides congress’ attempt to end it (2019)
Bush foreign - Vetoing budgetary constraints to try and get a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq (2007)
Examples Imperilled presidency
Obama domestic unilateral
- DAPA and extending DACA - struck down by supreme court (2014 - 2016)
Obama domestic persuasion
- Gun control failure, immigration reform (DREAM Act) failure
- Merrick Garland not appointed
Trump domestic persuasion (2016)
- Attempt to repeal Obamacare failed
Trump domestic unilateral
- DACA recission failure - challenged by SC as arbitrary
US v Nixon - limits on executive privilege (1974)
Examples of Informal presidency
Obama domestic unilateral
- DACA - EO (2012)
Obama foreign unilateral
- Paris climate agreement (2015)
- JCPOA (2015) - iran nuclear deal
- Cuban thaw (normalisation of relations) (2014)
- Lybian intervention (2011)
- Operation Neptune Spear - killing Bin Laden (although authorisation came from AUMF 2001 - so persuasion)
Trump foreign unilateral
- China trade war (continued by Biden in targeted areas)
- North Korea summit
- Withdrawal from JCPOA
Biden unilateral domestic
- Covid 19 response
President persuasion examples
Bush foreign
- USA Patriot Act (2001)
- AUMF (2001) - authorisation of military force in regards to those involved in 9/11
Obama domestic
- ACA 2010
- Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (2010)
Obama foreign
- New START 2010
Trump domestic
- Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017) - singular piece of important legislation passed
Trump foreign
- USMCA 2018 (congressional executive agreement for free trade)
Biden domestic
- IRA - biden compromise with Senator Manchin
- ARPA - (american rescue plan) stimuli packages
- Bipartisan infrastructure act - also compromise with manchin
- CHIPS and Science Act - large investment
