Congress and the President

CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT

Section 3; Chapter 6

Gaby, Sarah, Shelby, and Kevin

INTRODUCTION

America’s political system often brings Congress and the president into direct conflict…

VS.

CONSTITUENTS AND CONFLICT

Presidents promote policies that they feel are in the best interest of the entire nation.

Individual states and congressional districts elect their own members in Congress. These representatives often have much narrower interests than those on the national level.

This leads to conflict between the federal and state governments on public policy.

CHECKS AND BALANCES The system of checks and balances

serves to counteract the powers of each of the branches of governmentFor example, the president can veto a bill,

but then Congress can override the veto if they feel that it would benefit their state or district. Likewise, the members of Congress can strengthen the chances of the president vetoing the bill by offering their support.

PARTY POLITICS!!! Politics often play a role in the friction

between the president and congress It is rare history for a party to control

the White House and both houses of Congress and this causes additional disagreementsFor example, when Clinton was

president in 1995 there was a Republican majority in Congress

The conflicts that arise considerably slow the legislative process

This slow down is known as gridlock

ORGANIZATION AS A CAUSE OF CONFLICT

Because of the organization of Congress, the members have many potential weapons they can use to resist a president’s proposal. This includes the Senate’s unlimited debate rule, the committee system, and for (Committee chair people) their powerful positions.

Revision or defeat attempts on a proposal are major conflicts in governments.

DIFFERENT POLITICAL TIMETABLESSHELBY

Presidents have about 3 years to present, develop, and move their programs through Congress before preparing for reelection; members of Congress potentially have many more than two 4 year terms(and each of their terms can be either 6 or 2 years) the president is limited to.

For the above reason, many lawmakers and members of Congress are not usually very eager to act or vote on legislation. They are content to wait until they have a better chance of passing their bills or movements.

CURBING EMERGENCY POWERS The president is given extra powers during times of

emergency. These powers include declaring martial law and

seizing property, transportation and communications. The National Emergencies Act requires a president to

notify Congress to declare a state of emergency, and doesn’t allow a state of emergency to be longer than one year. Examples: FDR had authority to close the nation’s banks during WWII George W. Bush used these powers to suspend the law allowing

military officers to retire.

CONTROLLING BUDGET POWERKEVIN

The president has a large responsibility in regulating the national budget.

The national budget is the financial plan laid out yearly for the national government.

Impoundment is the act of the president refusing to allocate money to a program that Congress has vetoed on.

The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act was passed in 1974 Set up budget committees for each house Set up Congressional Budget Office which aided

Congress in financial areas and limited the president’s impoundment power

LEGISLATIVE AND LINE-ITEM VETOESKEVIN

In 1983 the Supreme Court declared the legislative veto to be unconstitutional

In 1997 the Line Item Veto Act was passed. It allowed for Congress to put lines back into a bill that the president has vetoes with a 2/3 vote

In 1998 the Line Item Veto Act was challenged in the Supreme Court claiming it did not obey Article 1 of the Constitution.

FIN.