Congress And The Presidency An Unequal Relationship 14congress And ✓ Solved
Congress and the Presidency: An Unequal Relationship Congress and the Presidency: An Unequal Relationship Jorge Gonzalez SS236M2 Purdue Global University March 15, 2021 Thesis Thesis: The legislative branch is more powerful than the executive branch because it is in charge of making laws. Comment by Erica Johnson: This is not convincing. The executive branch can veto laws and issue executive orders. Comment by Erica Johnson: Outline I. As per the U.S.
Constitution, Congress has the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers (Whitehouse.gov, 2021). a. In 2008, George W. Bush vetoed the Medicare Improvement bill. However, the veto was overridden by Congress with significant majority. Comment by Erica Johnson: Cite b.
In 1998, Congress exercised its power over the executive when President Bill Clinton was subject to an impeachment vote in the House of Representatives and then the impeachment trial in the Senate. c. Finally, the senate refused to confirm the appointment of Debo Adegbile to be the head of the Civil Rights Division within the Justice Department. Comment by Erica Johnson: When? II. As per the U.S.
Constitution, the President who is the head of the executive branch, has the power either to sign legislation into law or to veto bills enacted by Congress (Whitehouse.gov, 2021). Comment by Erica Johnson: He has more powers than this. a. President Roosevelt vetoed 635 bills from congress during his terms in office. Congress managed to successfully override 9 bills only. Comment by Erica Johnson: Theodore or Franklin? b.
President George W. Bush committed US military forces to Iraq and Afghanistan without the Congressional authorization under the Constitution War Clause after the 9/11 terror attack. c. In 2015, President Barack Obama vetoed a bill authorizing the controversial Keystone XL pipeline (Eilperin & Zezima, 2015) III. The legislative branch has more power than the executive branch because it can enact legislation and declare war, and it can also confirm or reject many Presidential appointments. Congress can also override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses.
Comment by Erica Johnson: Checks and balances a. For example, Congress declared war On August 7, 1964, when it passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. The resolution authorized President Lyndon Johnson to take any measures he believed were necessary to retaliate and to promote the maintenance of international peace and security in Southeast Asia (history.state.gov, n.d.). Comment by Erica Johnson: They gave him a lot of power. b. The above example is interesting because it shows the power of the Llegislative branch over the Eexecutive branch.
Before the resolution was made, President Johnson had requested permission from Congress to increase the presence of US military forces in Indochina. The President could not act on his own after two destroyers stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam reported that they had been fired upon by North Vietnamese forces. c. This example is important to me because it shows how Congress exercises its powers. It also shows how the Llegislative and the Eexecutive branch work together. Comment by Erica Johnson: This does not support your argument above that the legislative is more powerful.
References Comment by Erica Johnson: You must use the course text. Eilperin J. and Zezima K. (2015, February 24). Obama Vetoes Keystone XL bill. The Washington Post. The executive branch. (2021, January 17).
The White House. The legislative branch. (2021, January 15). The White House. Milestones: 1961–1968. (n.d.). Office of the Historian.
Competency Assessment Rubric All competency criteria must be met to earn a B grade and pass this Course Outcome. A predefined number of mastery criteria must be met to earn an A grade, indicating mastery of the Course Outcome. See the CLA and Grade Criteria Chart below. MET NOT YET MET Legislative Branch: Check on Executive Branch Competency Explains how the legislative branch acts as a check against the executive branch. X Mastery Supports description of legislative branch’s checks with specific, referenced examples.
X Executive Branch: Check on Legislative Branch Competency Explains how the executive branch acts as a check against the legislative branch. X Mastery Supports description of executive branch’s checks with specific, referenced examples. X Executive Versus Legislative Branch: Analysis Competency Explains how either the executive or legislative branch wields more power at the expense of the other branch. X Explains why an analysis of executive versus legislative powers is important to the student. X Mastery Supports description of legislative and/or executive branch’s power with specific, referenced examples.
X Total Competency Criteria: Total Mastery Criteria: CLA and Grade Criteria Chart CRITERIA CLA Score Grade Points Meets all competency criteria and 2–3 of mastery criteria 5 A 1000 Meets all competency criteria and 0–1 of mastery criteria 4 B 850 Meets 3 of competency criteria 3 Not Yet Competent* 0 Meets 2 of competency criteria 2 Not Yet Competent* 0 Meets 1 of competency criteria 1 Not Yet Competent* 0 Meets 0 competency criteria 0 Not Yet Competent* 0 No submission NA Not Yet Competent* 0 *Not Yet Competent grades convert to an F at term end. *If work submitted for this competency assessment does not meet the minimum submission requirements, it will be returned for revision without being scored.
If the work submitted does not meet the minimum submission requirements by the end of the term, you will receive a failing score. Minimum Submission Requirements Minimum Submission Requirements MET NOT YET MET · Full-sentence outline format X · APA formatting (including in-text citations and a separate reference page following the outline) X · Three sources (including the class text and two additional outside sources) X
Paper for above instructions
Congress and the Presidency: An Unequal RelationshipJorge Gonzalez
Purdue Global University
March 15, 2021
Thesis
The legislative branch is inherently more powerful than the executive branch in the United States government framework due to its constitutional authority over law-making, war declaration, and checks against executive powers. While the executive branch plays an influential role, the scope of its authority is significantly checked by the legislative branch.
I. Constitutional Powers of Congress
According to the U.S. Constitution, Congress wields substantial power, which includes the creation of laws, declaring wars, and covering a range of appointments and investigations (Whitehouse.gov, 2021).
a. In 2008, then-President George W. Bush vetoed the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, but Congress countered his veto with a significant majority, underscoring the power of the legislative branch (Gee, 2016).
b. The power of Congress over the executive was glaringly visible during President Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1998, when he was impeached by the House and subsequently tried in the Senate (Baker, 1999).
c. Additionally, in March 2014, the Senate exercised its power by refusing to confirm Debo Adegbile for the post of head of the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department, signaling its role in appointments (Chappell, 2014).
II. Powers of the Executive Branch
Conversely, the executive branch is led by the President, who has various powers that can influence legislation and executive actions. These include the capability to sign legislation, enact executive orders, and veto bills (Whitehouse.gov, 2021).
a. President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously vetoed numerous bills, a total of 635, during his terms, yet Congress managed to override only nine of these, illustrating the tension and dynamic between the two branches (Rosenberg, 2013).
b. President George W. Bush’s unilateral military engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan post-9/11 raised questions regarding the necessity of congressional authorization under constitutional war powers (Hoffman, 2016).
c. In 2015, President Barack Obama vetoed the bill authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline, signifying the executive's capacity to challenge Congress's legislative initiatives (Eilperin & Zezima, 2015).
III. The Legislative Branch’s Power Over the Executive Branch
The balance of power between Congress and the executive branch raises crucial discussions about the actual extent of each branch’s powers. The legislative branch’s ability to enact legislation, declare war, and confirm or reject presidential appointments positions it as a stronger governing body.
a. For instance, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed on August 7, 1964, granted significant war powers to President Lyndon Johnson, demonstrating Congress's willingness to delegate authority in matters of national security (Office of the Historian, n.d.).
b. However, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution also illustrates Congress's complex dynamic with the executive; it provided the President with considerable military leverage, yet placed the Congress in a position of responsive legislative power.
c. This showcases both the cooperative and adversarial roles that the legislative and executive branches play in governance, further illustrating the constitutional cleverness embedded within the U.S. political system.
IV. Checks and Balances Between Branches
The principle of checks and balances ensures that no single branch exceeds its powers. Congress serves as a check against the executive branch through mechanisms like impeachment, appointment confirmation, and the power to override vetoes.
a. The impeachment of President Trump in 2019 by the House is a recent example of Congress exerting its authority over the executive (Eckholm, 2019).
b. The confirmatory power of Congress is equally significant; judges and cabinet members cannot assume office without Senate approval, ensuring legislative oversight of critical appointments (Kirkland, 2020).
c. In sum, while the executive branch possesses substantial authority, the structural design of the U.S. government bestows the legislative branch with numerous checks that undergird its overall power within the federal system.
V. Why this Analysis Matters
Understanding the power dynamics between Congress and the presidency is vital to better comprehend contemporary political issues and governorship. As political resolutions emerge, the tension between these branches shapes policy-making and influences national strategies.
a. For example, recent tensions surrounding governmental funding and immigration policy demonstrate how exigent moments lead to clashes between the legislative and executive branches (Sullivan, 2020).
b. Furthermore, analyzing these dynamics clarifies how power flows and shifts within the government, enabling citizens to evaluate political actions meaningfully.
c. This analysis enhances civic awareness, enabling a more informed electorate capable of engaging with their government and advocating for their interests.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while both the Congress and the presidency hold significant powers within the U.S. government, the legislative branch ultimately defines its authority through its constitutional mandate to create laws and check the executive’s powers. This unequal relationship, fraught with checks and balances, ensures a structural equilibrium as both branches navigate the complexities of governance.
References
Baker, C. (1999). The Impeachment of President Bill Clinton: Causes and Consequences, Congressional Research Service.
Chappell, B. (2014). Senate Votes Against Confirming Civil Rights Nominee, NPR.
Eckholm, E. (2019). House Votes to Impeach Trump, The New York Times.
Eilperin, J., & Zezima, K. (2015). Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Bill, The Washington Post.
Gee, M. (2016). How Trump’s Presidency Compares to Other Leaders in Vetoes, The Washington Post.
Hoffman, F. (2016). War Powers and the Presidency After September 11, National Security Archive.
Kirkland, K. (2020). Senate Confirmation of Presidential Appointments, National Constitution Center.
Office of the Historian. (n.d.). Milestones: 1961–1968, U.S. Department of State.
Rosenberg, J. (2013). A Presidential Veto is Not Absolute, Harvard Law Review.
Sullivan, A. (2020). Trump's Immigration Policies and Congressional Response, Brookings Institution.
Whitehouse.gov. (2021). The Executive Branch, The White House.
Whitehouse.gov. (2021). The Legislative Branch, The White House.