Cooperation and Conflict: Congress and President Relations Throughout History

1. Chapter 6 Section 3 Roy Burks Clay Mosley Nick Westfall Will White Ty Wilkinson Patrick Wray

2. Cooperation and Conflict • -Level of cooperation between Congress and the president have varied throughout history • -Best relations exist between two branches when President makes few demands on Congress • -Recent Presidents have found it hard to work with Congress

3. Constituents and Conflict • National electorate chooses presidents they believe will carry out policies that are in the best interest of the nation • Voters choose whoever they feel meet their particular interests • Senators and Representatives often differ with the president about public policy

4. Checks & Balances • Gives the Congress and the President the power to counteract each other. • If the president threatens to veto a law congress can over ride the veto because their state or district may benefit from it.

5. Political Politics • If one party controls the White House and the other party controls House and the Senate. • The President’s party rarely controls the Congress • If the legislative Branch and the executive branch are opposites than it is called a “gridlock”

6. Organization as a Cause for Conflict • Unlimited debate in the senate can be used to block legislation • Even if the Congressional leaders support the legislation, they still have to work hard to get presidential initiatives passed. • Committee chairpersons can prevent a bill from reaching the floor by blocking or changing it while it is still in the committee or subcommittee. • Often a committee wit try to revise, delay or defeat a bill they do not want passed.

7. Different Political Timetables • Conflicts occur when the president and Congress have different timetables • President has three years to work with • A congress person has years to do what they want. • Because they are not limited to terms they can think in terms of years. • Because they have more time Congress can sit on legislation they do not want and take as much time as they need to delay a bill.

8. The Struggle for Power • There has always been a struggle for power between the President and the Congress • It certain periods, a branch will dominate and that can depend on political issues, politically  savy  and popularity of the president.  • In times of crisis Congress has given extra power to the President. • With that power some Presidents have declared martial law, seized property, and controlled transportation and communications.  • Time and time again presidents have used state of emergencies to gain a bit more power. • The National Emergencies Act ended the ability of the President to have a state of emergency longer than one year.  • "In 2001 George W. Bush used his authority under this act to selectively suspend, if necessary, the law that permitted a military officer to retire." • Sidenote: Hitler used State of Emergency to come to power in Germany.

9. Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act • The national budget is the yearly financial plan for the national government. • In the mid 1900’s, the president had more power in planning the national budget. • In 1974, congress passed the Congressional Budget and the Impoundment Control Act. • The act made a permanent budget committee for each house. • The act also created the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). • The act limited the president’s ability to impound funds • Impoundment is the president's refusal to spend money on programs congress voted to fund.

10. Legislative Veto • In 1970’s, congress reasserted themselves and identified the importance of the legislative veto. • The legislative veto is a useful power that is a effective check on the executive branch. • Many people think that the legislative veto is too powerful and that it is a violation of the separation of powers • Congress is currently looking for a alternative to the legislative veto.