Congress and the President

1. Congress and the President Section 3; Chapter 6 Gaby, Sarah, Shelby, and Kevin

2. Introduction America’s political system often brings Congress and the president into direct conflict… VS.

3. 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.

4. Checks and Balances • The system of checks and balances serves to counteract the powers of each of the branches of government • For 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.

5. 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 disagreements • For 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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.

11. Fin.