US Presidency

Chapter 3

Hurricanes & Koreans

President as Head of State has important symbolic role.

Bush seen as symbol of American resolve and pride after 9/11 but heavily criticised after not visitings places affected by Katrina in 2005.

Trump criticized for being first president to meet with Kim Jong-UN

Article II, section 1 of Constitution

The Executive Power shall be vested in a President of the USA.

As head of executive, Prez makes 4000 appointments to federal posts, and can dismiss or appoint them at any time.

WHCNAA

Obama created the White House Council on Indigenous American Affairs, told Indigenous people ‘You will be on my mind every day I am in the White House’ via an executive order.

Trump did not re-establish the WHCNAA, he removed reservation status and the border wall destroyed sacred burial sites on tribal lands.

Biden re-established it, and created White House Gender Policy Council

Limits of executive orders

Can’t be used in a way that falls under legislate roles of Congress

Public + Congressional outcry can backfire

Biden first two years major legislation goals

American Rescue Plan Act (2021)

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021)

Inflation Reduction Act (2022)

partially due to mandate

COVID-19 Handling

US had 7 million cases, 200,000 deaths and damage to economy by 2020 election.

Biden seen as level-headed alternative and didn’t campaign in person for 174 days to show he was following guidelines.

Biden had narrow victory

Executive order blocked

32 executive orders in first 100 days office (Obama averaged 35/year)

In 2017, issued orders to ban immigration from various countries. US Attorney General Sally Yates dismissed + Defense/Homeland security depts sidelined.

Initial executive order blocked by federal judge, but a revised travel ban continued after Trump v Hawaii 2018 from SC.

Liz Cheney

After Jan 6th US Capitol Attack, she co-led house investigation into his actions.

Trump attacked her and she lost position as GOP Conference chair to Trump-endorsed challenger, despite a 93% aligned voting record with Trump.

NSC

National Security Council briefs President daily and consult NSA over major security issues.

Puts them in rivalry with secretary of state who does not have such regular contact with president

Trump criticised for appointing chief political advisor Steve Bannon as senior Councillor in NSC for politicising the position.

Bannon removed after falling out with Trump

OMB

Office of Management and Budget

Largest office with 500 employees, only EXOP office in which head needs to be confirmed by senate.

Advises president on allocation of funds for annual budget ($4tn)

Oversees spending in all federal departments and agencies

Reince Priebus

Surprise pick for Trump’s first chief of staff as a Republican Insider but meant Trump could make connections with republicans and gain congressional support.

Chief of Staff

Ron Klein, Biden’s first chief of staff praised for negotiating with centrist Democrat Senator Joe Manchin (important for legislative achievements)

Trump’s 2nd chief of staff, Kelly did so badly that Trump no longer consulted or spoke to him and so was replaced.

Obama v Congress

After 2010 midterms, John Boehner took control of the house and set alternative political agenda to Obama.

Led to gridlock and federal government shutdown in 2013.

Obama eventually had to accept budgetary cuts he would not have otherwise proposed.

Trump v Congress

Struggled to pass ACA through HoR and failed in senate despite majorities in both chambers.

Opposition came from conservatives who felt it didn’t go far enough and moderates who were concerned about loss of health insurance coverage and increased costs.

Experienced the longest federal government shutdown in history in 2018-19 after standoff over funding for border wall with Nancy Pelosi.

2 Impeachments

Biden v Congress

After Republicans won house in 2022, the Speakers disagreed with the proposed 2024 budget.

Led to repeated threats of shutdown & short-term legislation passing monthly from late 2023 through to early 2024.

Prez v SC

Obama criticised them for their Citizens United ruling in 2010.

When they refused to hear a challenge to 2020 presidential election outcome, Trump’s outrage lead to the 6 Jan Capital Riots, which resulted in criticism from senior republicans and 2nd impeachment.

Bush policy aims

Major tax cuts for the wealthy

Commitment to public education (No Child Left Behind act imposed federal education standard on states)

Social security reform for elderly, were controversial in both parties and failed to pass

War on Terror worked. Led to Iraq war, homeland security dept, patriot act (mass surveillance of internet/phone us) and Guantanamo bay.

Obama policy aims

Health insurance for all - ACA, but he compromised on public option.

Close Guantanamo bay - Failed, but number of detainees declined majorly

Remove US Troops from Iraq and increase US involvement in Afghanistan - Largely achieved with Congress agreeing to first term troop surge in Afghanistan

Stimulus package for economy - Achieved with 2009 legislation that led to additional spending of $787bn

Immigration reform to grow paths to citizenship - Failed, partial success via executive orders but many struck down by SC

Trump policy aims

Repeal ACA - Failed

Build border wall - Only 3 miles built

Reduce trade deficit & expand trade deals - Got certain deals but ultimately trade deficit increase

Cut taxes - Successful

Suspend immigration - A revised ban on immigration passed and deemed constitutional in 2018

Signing statements

line-item veto declared unconstitutional in clinton v new york 1998

In 2019, Trump signed national defense authorization act but raised 50 concerns (record number), provisions tailored to limit dealing with north korea, russia and saudi. Signing showed trump would ignore this.

ultimately signing statement just words on a page.

Obama signed statement saying he would not use drone strikes to kill US citizens in the US, even though he signed a law permitting it.

executive agreement

Treaty that doesn’t need senate ratification..

Obama’s Iran deal in 2015 to lift trade embargos and lift freezing of iranian assets.

In 2015 senators wrote open letter to Iran saying they didn’t recognise it as having any force in US law

2015 China environment deal (negotiated in secret)

Unilateral war powers

Libya 2011 when Obama ordered air strikes without consulting Congress which helped destablise Libyan government

Requirement for speed, secrecy and expertise in war decision-making since WW2 has led to this but arguably unconstitutional

Funding power Congress wars

Clinton took executive action in Bosnia despite protests from Congress, house voted to withdraw funding in 1995, a measure that was only narrowly defeated.

War Powers Act 1973

To stop Nixon continuing war in Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia they passed the War Powers Resolution in 1973 overturning a Nixon veto.

Clinton forced to withdraw troops from Somalia via this act. but Largely unsuccessful in preventing presidential action.

Senate & Treaties

Senate has power to ratify treaties.

In 1999, they easily defeated Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty on nuclear weapons with Clinton failing to get the 2/3 vote required.

UN Disablity-rights treaty was defeated in senate in 2012 despite Obama heavily campaigning for it and signing for it in 2009

Boehner letter to Obama

‘I respect your authority as CIC and support our troops as they carry out their mission’, asked him to answer a few key questions.

Very passive although he did later propose resolution to end US involvement.

Boehner overstepping his role in foreign policy

Invited Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before joint session of Congress and seen as overstepping his authority. Even US Jewish lobby groups criticised the act.

Iraq War Democrats End

After mid-terms they tried to end, in which Pelosi and Harry Reid created legislation that gave timeline for troop withdrawal as well as Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022 which got widespread support from Republicans in the senate.