Presidential Checks on Congress

President veto acts or resolutions passed by Congress

1. President Barack Obama vetoed the Keystone XL Pipeline (pipeline delivering crude oil from western Canada to the Gulf Coast of USA) due to its pervasive threat to the environment. (2015)

2. Obama vetoes legislation that was an attempt to undo mich of his Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

3. Trump vetoed a resolution revoking his declaration of a national emergency at the US-Mexico border.

4. Trump vetoed a military defence bill which proposed $740bn and calling for the removal of confederate leaders’ names from USA military bases.

5. Bush used his veto 11 times over his 8 years of presidency.

6. Biden

President often threaten the veto to dissuade Congress from passing an unwelcome measure.

1. Obama made 4 veto threats in 2015 state on union address on the topics of stiffer Iran sanctions, diluting or overturning the Affordable Care Act, loosening Wall Street oversight and tightening immigration controls.

President can issue executive orders to bypass formal legislation.

1. Trump introduced a travel ban on visitors from several Muslim countries.

2. Biden bypassed Congress twice in December 2023 to continue selling ‘emergency’ arms to Israel.

Presidents can use their commander in chief role to deploy US troops overseas, thereby avoiding congressional approval of declaring war.

1. 2001 and 2003, George Bush ordered the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.