Evaluate the view that the President is more powerful than Congress essay plan A Level

Powers of Presidency and Congress




President – Commander-in-Chief – more powerful

 Obama in Libya
 GW Bush with Saddam Hussein
 Trump with Soleimani
 Obama with Osama Bin Laden

Congressional power of the purse – less powerful

 Vietnam War
 Pelosi $600m to $350m Iraq Bush



President – Chief Diplomat – more powerful

 Obama visited UK – improve relations
 Sole executive agreements
o NAFTA
o Paris Climate Accords

Congress – treaties + Congressional executive agreements

 Treaties – START, Chemical Weapons Ban (HW Bush)
 Congressional executive agreements – NAFTA (X4 trade. 1993-2015 $1trillion trilateral trade
– 125% increase)



Chief legislator – more powerful

 Power of the veto – Obama used 12 just 1 overturned, HW Bush used 15 pocket vetoes
 Signing statements
o GW Bush used 157
o Obama on National Defence Authorisation Act showing issues with it
o GW Bush altering implementation on anti-torture legislation
 Propose legislation
o Trump on immigration, Gantanamo, increase nukes
 EOs
o Trump Keystone XL
o Biden: Gender Identity discriminatio3n
o Biden: All Americans to serve military
o Biden 32 in 1 month

Congress – less powerful

 Overturn vetoes – Obama Justice for Sponsors Against Terrorism Act
 Propose legislation – e.g. Save Our Seas Act 2.0 Sen Whitehouse + Rep Young