Congress and the President
Ch 6 Section 3
Cooperation and Conflict
Congress and President share powers
 President depends on Congress to
approve treaties, appointments, etc
 Congress depends on President to sign
bills into law

Cooperation and Conflict
Levels of cooperation have varied
throughout history
 Best relationship when:

President makes few demands on Congress
 President does not take lead in shaping
legislation

Cooperation and Conflict

Conflict occurs when:
Senators and Congresspersons represent
constituents’ interests
 Checks and balances allow Congress and
President to counteract each other
 Partisan politics occur

Cooperation and Conflict

Members of Congress use organization and
rule of procedure


i.e. the filibuster, committee system
Different political timetables

Presidential term (term limits) vs Congressional
term
Competition for power
1st 150 years of Republic Congress
dominates policy making
 Strong presidents challenged
congressional supremacy

Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin
D Roosevelt
 Increased presidential power to deal with
changing social, political and economic
conditions

Competition for power

The branch that has power will depend
on:
Political issues of the time
 Political savvy of congressional leaders
 Popularity of president

Political Power
Increased
 During times of crisis



FDR: Depression,
WWII
Truman: Korean
conflict
Bush: military
officer retirement
Curbing
 War Powers Act
 National
Emergencies Act
 National budget


Committees
Impoundment
Comparison
Congressional Powers
Presidential Powers
•
Tax & Spending
•
National security
•
Borrowing
•
Appointments: Executive
Departments, Ambassadors,
Federal Judges
•
Currency
•
Foreign Policy
•
Bankruptcy
•
Treaties
•
Commerce
•
Executive Orders
•
•
Foreign Policy* (6)
War
•
•
Reprieve
•
Naturalization
•
•
Pardon
•
Territories
•
•
Amnesty
•
Copyrights & Patents
•
Veto
•
Postal
•
Executive Agreements
•
Judicial
•
Recognition
•
Electoral
•
Use of military forces
•
Impeachment/Removal
•
Confirmation(Appointment)
•
•
Ratification
Treaties
•
Amendments
•
Investigatory
•
•
•
Legislative Oversight
Weights & Measures
Govern Washington, D.C.