How can presidents win in congress
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Transcript of How can presidents win in congress
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’.