end of unit essay - the presidency

1. Evaluate the extent to which there is an ‘imperial presidency’ in the USA.

Intro

• Define concept of imperial presidency (coined by Arthur Schlesinger Jr.), where president acts beyond constitutional limits, especially in foreign policy + executive power.

• Introduce debate: Some argue recent presidents have expanded executive power, while others point to Congress and courts as checks.

Expansion of executive power in foreign policy supports imperial presidency thesis.

• Trump (1st term): Ordered the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani (2020) without congressional approval, showing unilateral military action.

• Biden: Continued drone strikes and withdrew from Afghanistan (2021) without much congressional input, highlighting executive control over military decisions.

• Trump (2nd term): Negotiated a peace deal with Russia over Ukraine without Ukrainian or European involvement, bypassing diplomatic norms and Congress.

Domestic executive orders demonstrate an imperial presidency.

• Trump (1st term): Signed over 200 executive orders, including the controversial travel ban on Muslim-majority countries, bypassing Congress.

• Biden: Used executive orders to reverse Trump-era policies, such as rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and canceling Keystone XL pipeline (2021).

• Trump (2nd term): Issued over 50 executive orders in his first month, dramatically shaping policy without legislative approval.

Checks on the president show limits to the imperial presidency.

• Trump (1st term): Impeached twice (2019 and 2021), showing Congress can check presidential overreach.

• Biden: Supreme Court struck down his student loan forgiveness plan, illustrating judicial limits on executive power.

• Trump (2nd term): Facing legal challenges over military policies and border security, showing continued checks on presidential authority.

Conc

• While presidents expand executive power, checks from Congress, courts, and public opinion prevent a fully imperial presidency. Recent examples suggest the presidency is powerful but not without limits.

2. Evaluate the extent to which the president controls foreign policy.

Intro

• Define the president’s foreign policy powers (commander-in-chief, treaties, executive agreements) and congressional limits (Senate approval for treaties, War Powers Act).

• Debate: Some argue the president has near-total control, while others highlight congressional and international constraints.

Presidents have significant control over military and defense policy.

• Trump (1st term): Ordered Soleimani strike (2020) and increased defense spending without congressional interference.

• Biden: Unilaterally withdrew from Afghanistan (2021), showing executive dominance over military decisions.

• Trump (2nd term): Lifted restrictions on military strikes, revoking Biden-era rules limiting such actions.

Presidents shape diplomacy but face limitations.

• Trump (1st term): Held direct summits with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un (2018, 2019) without congressional oversight, showing control over diplomacy.

• Biden: Rebuilt NATO alliances post-Trump and led sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, but worked through international institutions, showing some limits.

• Trump (2nd term): Negotiated a deal with Russia over Ukraine without consulting NATO or Congress, demonstrating strong presidential control.

Congress and courts can check presidential foreign policy.

• Trump (1st term): Congress blocked his attempt to withdraw from NATO, limiting his control over alliances.

• Biden: Faced congressional pushback on arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Israel, showing legislative checks.

• Trump (2nd term): Facing lawsuits over executive foreign policy decisions, showing legal limits.

Conc

• Presidents have strong foreign policy power but constrained by international bodies, Congress + domestic legal challenges. Trump’s and Biden’s presidencies show that while the president is the key foreign policy actor, they do not have total control.

3. Evaluate the view that the presidents’ constitutional roles give them major political power.

Intro

• Define constitutional powers of president (Article II of U.S. Constitution: commander-in-chief, veto, executive orders, appointments, foreign policy).

• Debate: Does Constitution make the president dominant, or do checks (Congress, courts, federalism) limit them?

The president’s constitutional powers provide significant authority.

• Trump (1st term): Used veto power to block congressional resolutions (e.g., National Emergency declaration over the border wall).

• Biden: Used executive orders to implement key policies on climate and immigration without needing Congress.

• Trump (2nd term): Expanded executive powers by appointing key conservative judges, shifting legal interpretations in his favour.

The system of checks and balances limits the president’s constitutional power.

• Trump (1st term): Impeachment (2019, 2021) showed congressional power to hold presidents accountable.

• Biden: Supreme Court ruling against student loan forgiveness (2023) demonstrated judicial limits.

• Trump (2nd term): Congress blocked some of his early executive orders, showing legislative resistance.

Political realities (public opinion, party politics) shape presidential power.

• Trump (1st term): Lost control of the House in 2018, limiting legislative power despite constitutional authority.

• Biden: Struggled with opposition from moderate Democrats (e.g., Joe Manchin) on major bills.

• Trump (2nd term): Faces divided government, reducing ability to pass major legislation.

Conc

• Constitution gives the president strong powers, but checks and political factors prevent dominance. Presidency is powerful but not absolute.

4. Evaluate the extent to which the president can get his way in Congress.

Intro

• Define president’s relationship with Congress (veto power, party control, executive orders vs. legislation).

• Debate: Some argue the president can dominate if they have party control, while others highlight congressional independence.

Presidential success in Congress depends on party control.

• Trump (1st term): Passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017) easily with Republican control of Congress.

• Biden: Passed Inflation Reduction Act (2022) and COVID relief bill when Democrats controlled both chambers.

• Trump (2nd term): Struggled to pass major bills due to a divided Congress.

Presidents use executive actions when Congress resists.

• Trump (1st term): Declared a national emergency to fund the border wall after Congress refused.

• Biden: Used executive orders for student loan forgiveness and climate policies when Congress blocked action.

• Trump (2nd term): Issued over 50 executive orders early to bypass congressional gridlock.

Congressional resistance and judicial checks limit presidential power.

• Trump (1st term): Congress rejected attempts to repeal Obamacare despite GOP control.
  Biden: Faced opposition from moderate Democrats, limiting ambitious reforms.
  Trump (2nd term): Supreme Court struck down some executive actions, limiting authority.

Conc

• Presidential success in Congress depends on party alignment and political context. Presidents often rely on executive actions when legislative avenues fail.