How can Presidents win in Congress?

The US Presidency

Introduction

Separation of powers Checks and balances Limited government President must lead, bargain,

compromise, and persuade

Powers

Propose legislation – State of the union address.....

Submit an annual budget Sign bills into law Veto legislation – bargaining tool Nominations – Supreme Court,

executive appointments Treaties

Circumstances

Popularity of the President eg. size of the President’s election victory, opinion polls

Divided government – Bush 2006 mid term elections; Obama 2010

United government.................. Filibuster proof majority............ Crises – post 9/11, Patriot Act. Gulf of

Tonkin

Power to persuade

Tactics – offering pork, national TV............

Vice President – tied vote – 2003 350 billion dollar tax cut

Use of EXOP – work the corridors and committee rooms of Capitol Hill

Cabinet eg. Treasury Secretary – tax/fiscal stimulus

Party leaders in Congress

Most important?

United government Popularity of the President Honeymoon period Lame duck Charismatic authority – Clinton.

Obama. Congress – reasserts itself –

Watergate. Vietnam.

Sting in the tail

Bennett – ‘A President who uses a combination of formal powers, informal persuasion, popularity and legislative skill, and is fortunate enough to be in favourable circumstances, a clear mandate and united government, can hope to get many proposals through Congress’.