What factors influence the relationship between Congress and the Presidency?
Events
Party Control/ Partisanship
Policy Area
Poll Ratings
Does the president have effective leadership and persuasion skills?
Election cycle
2019 US Congress shutdown over border wall
House Democrats not providing funding for Trump's wall
Longest shutdown ever
Domestic policy: funding for wall
The chair of the House Intelligence committee charged with investigating Russian involvement in the US elections, was criticised for lack of independence from Trump
Theory of 'imperial presidency' suggests that there are a range of tools a President can use to bypass checks
The President can create new policies without passing legislation through congress - i.e Executive orders
Obama used Executive orders on Gun control, immigration and federal pay
Trump used many executive orders in his first week of office, resulting in backlash
The timing of the next elections is crucial
When a government is united, the oversight exerted by Congress on the President can appear more relaxed
President cannot control the legislation that Congress produces, President uses veto a lot less during a unified Government
Congress has more oversight of Presidential actions domestically than in foreign affairs
Senate protested angrily that it should have had more of a say in the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal, Obama was able to enact it with little oversight
President Obama was routinely thwarted by Congress over issues such as Immigration and Gun Control, and passed little legislation in these areas
Congress can exert more influence over the president when his polls are low.
Obama was able to pass Obamacare with relatively few alterations
Unable to repeal and replace it in 2018 under President Trump
2010 Obama's popularity was around 50%, whereas Trump's popularity in 2017 was closer to 40%, sometimes less
Trump had a record breaking 39% approval rating after the 1st 100 days, and 45% after 1 year
Lack of popularity has made it easier for Congress to defy President Trump
Partisanship has made compromise harder
Strain the relationship with the President, with moderates becoming a rarity
Midterms - allows members to distance themselves from the President, making them more congressional district or state focused
In case of national emergencies, Congress often acts with deference
In the short term - direction from President
I.e Law such as PATRIOT act in response to 9/11 or funding following a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Katrina