US Politics

Examples of failed checks and balances SCOTUS

• Appointment of Brett kavanaugh despite past allegations of sexual assault by Christine Ford 

• Robert’s court is unbalanced, 6 to 3 liberal justices despite CONG power to increase no. justices or reject nominations

Examples of checks and balances SCOTUS

• 2024 AOC introduced bill to impeach Thomas on charges of failure to disclose gifts and real estate 

Examples of failed checks and balances POTUS

• Trump deployment and funding of ICE violating 4th amendment entering peoples homes without warrant and using unjust force. 

• US military in Venezuela and iran, without CONG approval by abusing commander in chief

• dismantled education department by EO

Examples of checks and balances POTUS

• Epstein files transparency act was forced by congress with 427-1 vote in house despite Trump's earlier commitment to not releasing

• CONG has veto override with ⅔ eg. overriding Trumps defence spending bill NDAA 2021 

• SC 8-1 struck down emergency tariffs through IEEPA

Examples of checks and balances CONG

• Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo 2024 reinforced major questions doctrine. EPA lose authority to regulate greenhouse emissions

• since 2022 CONG unsuccessfully codified roe v wade despite power of amendments to but consistently filibustered by senate 

Examples of failed checks and balances CONG

• 43 day government shut down cause people to lose SNAP, income and increased unemployment 

Examples powers of POTUS

• presidential veto override elected representatives. Biden vetoed bipartisan JUDGES act aimed at authorising 63 new district judges to relieve federal court cases, passed senate unanimously 

• Iran strikes without CONG due to commander in chief

Difficulties of constitution

• Roe v Wade 1963 originally interpreted the 4th amendment to privacy and cause to protect right to abortion but 2023 reverse the ruling

• last amendment 1992 27th amendment in which election is required to increase congresspersons salary as needs 2/3 CONG ¾ states

Senator Susan collins

Republican, 2021 moved to codify roe v wade

Rep Jasmine Crockett

Democrat, vote pro gun rights representing texas

Examples of dark money

2025 straw donors ‘Building our future today LLC’ contributed $7.5 mil to 2 super pacs 2 months after creation with no public record of business.

AIPAC

 largely donate to republican candidates blamed for maintaining unconditional us support to israel during gaza war

AMA

2025 pushed to changing doctor application to negate past substance abuse treatment history for improved wellbeing and access to help

NRLC

• argued for ‘feotus protection against pain at all stages of a pregnancy’ during Dobbs v Jackson 

• but does not educate both sides of argument

NAACP

• represents AA issues eg. disproportionate incarceration/sentencing, reform federal prosecution from giving life sentence without parole for youth

• informs the public on ongoing legal cases eg. litigating voter registration Georgia and voting rights in Mississippi

2024 election cost

presidential - $5.3bn

congressional - $9.5bn

No Kings Protest 2025

ACLU, Indivisible, ATF, other groups all joined together to encourage 7 million people to attend

Noem v Perdomo 2025

 6-3 upheld right of national guard to detain and deport by race, occupation and language, creates mandate for further deportation deployment of ICE

POTUS formal powers

in constitution, signing/vetoing legislation, treaties, pardons, nominations

POTUS informal powers

not in constitution, commander in chief, executive orders, persuasion/patronage. world leader

Example of commander in chief

Trump invaded Venezuela, captured Mauro, Air strikes in iraq without congress consent

Example of POTUS veto

Biden veto bipartisan JUDGES act aimed at authorising 63 new district judges to relieve federal court cases, passed senate unanimously 

Congressional veto

⅔ congress, override Trumps defence spending bill NDAA 2021 

Amending constitution

 ⅔ congress and ¾  states to agree. 1992 27th amendment in which election is required to increase congresspersons salary

War powers resolution con

prevented due to partisanship, senate defeated 47-53 after Venezuela. seen as unpatriotic and leaves US vulnerable

Examples of patronage

 george santos ex republican NY representative acquitted from fraud and identity theft for loyalty

examples of executive orders

2024 liberation day tariffs 10-50%, generate £130bn

Making federal architecture beautiful again - convert federal buildings to classical architecture, cost $50mil

dismantled education department

CONG formal powers

Legislating, budget, commerce, war power, impeachment, appointment, treaties, veto override

Domestic politics

issues within the US that concern citizens, eg. heathcare, gun control

electoral mandate

permission granted to political leader of party to govern or act on behalf of the people, active as long as gov is in power

executive branch

headed by POTUS, branch of the federal government

executive orders

direction to federal bureaucracy on how POTUS wants legislation implemented

imperial presidency

dominant presidency with ineffective checks and balances

imperilled presidency

POTUS does not have enough power to be effective

power of persuasion

informal power, use prestige and bargaining to influence actions of others

unified government

when both houses of congress are controlled by the same political party

DHS shutdown

democrats refuse to sign bill to fund ICE due to detainment 260 and deportation 86 DREAMERS some had DACA, headed by schumer and Jeffries

Endangerment finding 2009

repealed by EPA under Trump, needed further congressional authority, removal of vehicle and power plant emission regulations

One big beautiful bill

increase defence $150bn, boarder control $150bn, medicaid cut £200bn, cut SNAP 15% americans rely on

Government shutdown

42 days, longest in history, disagreement over budget which needs 2/3 senate approval, democrats push affordable care act subsidies into compromise

Bipartisan bills

Trafficking survivors relief act 2026 passed unanimously

Laws passed by congress

118th 274, 115th 442

ACLU

director Wang filed lawsuit challenging racial profiling, illegal arrest and mandatory detention for undocumented immigrants, also arguing trump administration over birth right citizenship at SC

how does Trump avoid partisanship?

2024-26 he has a governing trifecta controlling both houses, only 2/3 votes are out of his control, eg. budget

Guantanamo Bay

bourdine v bush 2008 was the 4th court case upholding prisoner rights to due process and the 8th amendment

Trump v CASA

6-3 prevented lower courts preventing enforcement of nullified birth right citizenship, avoided directly challenging the EO

Trump v Thompson

prevent trump blocking white house documents on jan 6th riots