Congressand

The PresidentChapter 6, Section 3

Cooperation and ConflictCooperation and Conflict

The President is elected by a national electorate.

Representatives and Senators are elected by a narrower slice of the population.

In order to get anything done, Congress and the President must cooperate.

But there is often conflict.

• How will this difference in constituents create conflict?

• How will the conflict be affected if both the President and Congress are from the same party?

• How will the conflict be affected if the President is from one party and the Congress from a different party?

Is this conflict good or bad?

The organization of Congress may be a weapon in this conflict.

The organization of Congress may be a weapon in this conflict.

• Rules of procedure– Ex: Filibuster

• Committee system– Chairperson

Differing Political TimetablesDiffering Political Timetables

• How long does a President have to get things done?

• How long does a Senator have to get things done?

• How long does a Representative have to get things done?

The Struggle for Power Between Congress and The President

• During first 150 years, Congress dominated policy making. (Exceptions: Jackson and Lincoln)

• Strong Presidents during Depression and W.W. II (Roosevelt) and Cold War (Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ, Nixon) resulted in steady growth of Presidential power.

• Presidential Power especially grew during W.W. II through “emergency powers”

• Economy• Wages• Prices• Rationing

• But these powers continued after the war. • Technically, U.S. stayed in state of

“emergency” for 35 years.

The Struggle for Power Between Congress and The President

The President’s Emergency PowerThe President’s Emergency Power

President can:• Declare martial law• Seize property• Control transportation• Control communication• Send troops (either in country or overseas)

(notify Congress within 48 hours / no more than 60 days)

• Freeze wages and prices

In mid-1970s, Congress began to push back by restricting the President’s power in

• War-making• Budgeting• Declaration of emergencies

The Struggle for Power Between Congress and The President

Emergency power used to be automatic.

Now, presidents must notify congress when they intend to declare a national emergency.

State of Emergency cannot last more than one year unless President gets additional approval from Congress.

The President’s Emergency Power

The President’s Emergency Power

Budget Impoundment

• Presidents used to “impound” money (refuse to spend money that Congress appropriated)

• A 1974 law requires President to spend money appropriated by Congress unless Congress approves President’s request not to spend it.

Different Veto’sDifferent Veto’s

• Legislative Veto: Congress enabling the Executive branch from doing a certain governmental things.

• Presidential Veto: President ability to enable or deny legislature from Congress.

• Line- Item Veto: Enabling them to veto only certain lines or items in a bill.