Evaluate the effectiveness of congressional methods to limit the power of the President

three arguments for?

1. divided government
2. funding of President
3. can impeach or investigate

three arguments against?

1. United government
2. has to compromise on funding
3. very difficult to successfully impeach

P1 - divided government?

* scrutiny is often better in divided government opposition part more willing to exercise its powers + directly challenge the President = legislative gridlock due to lack of agreement  
* gridlock considered effective check on President preventing them from acting alone 

P1 - divided government - example?

* inability of president + Congress agree on annual budget plagued Obama’s presidency – led to 16 day budget shutdown in 2013  

P2 - united government?

* unified government = reduced scrutiny → increasing its power but under divided government Presidents rely on more imperial powers to bypass Congress  
* Congress fails to appropriately check the President + it cannot effectively act as a check or balance on Presidential power whatever the Congressional majority + mechanisms in place fail 

P2 - united government - example?

* in 2012 Obama issued a directive to grant people eligible for the DREAM Act a reprieve from deportation despite the law having not passed Congress + Bush Jr = little scrutiny/congressional opposition to military action in Iraq  

P3 - funding of President?

Congress has ability to defund wars + retain some control over foreign policy even in times of government shutdown  

prevented unilateral action from President → Congress in effective in overseeing actions of President + can impact domestic + foreign policy 

P3 - funding of President - example?

* 2011 House of Reps passed motion to cut funding for US military involvement in Libya against Obama  

P4 - has to compromise on funding?

* president refuses to approve the budget = government shutdown – Congress suspended + power to act limited – compromise required to govern effectively  
* Trump refused to cooperate – gridlock renders congress ineffective  

P4 - has to compromise on funding - example?

* 2018-2019 federal government shutdown when 116th Congress refused to pass Trump’s appropriations bill → impasse federal funds US-Mexico border wall  

P5 - can impeach or investigate?

*  The House can impeach a member of the executive branch + the Senate can then hold a trial in order to decide whether or not to remove them - House Committee on Oversight + Reform sole role of scrutinising executive  
* Key form of oversight + consequence for president abusing power  

P5 - can impeach or investigate - example?

* Trump is the only American president to have been impeached twice by the House  

P6 - very difficult to successfully impeach?

* Particularly during unified government – requires bipartisan agreement in both House + Senate to successfully impeach president – unlikely current levels partisanship  
* Method of oversight is weak + ineffective   

P6 - very difficult to successfully impeach - example?

* Trump was impeached twice by the House but was acquitted both times by the Senate