ETVT most presidents since 1993 have been effective in achieving their aims
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Course
Unit 4A GOV4A - The Government of the USA
Institution
AQA
This essay achieved a high A* (27/30) marked by an ALevel Politics examiner. This broad question is highly likely to appear on the upcoming 2024 Politics ALevel exam. Due to the broad nature of the question, the content within this essay can also be used for 'ETVT Presidents have been effective in ...
ETVT most presidents since 1993 have been effective in achieving their aims.
In American politics, the efficacy of presidential leadership has been a subject of ongoing
scrutiny and debate. Since 1993, a significant number of individuals have assumed the
Presidency, each guided by a distinct set of objectives and priorities. The term "aims" in the
context of this discussion will be defined as the successful implementation of policy
initiatives and the attainment of specific goals outlined during a president's tenure. This
essay contends that,to a relatively large extent, most presidents since 1993 have proven
effective in achieving their aims, as evidenced by the successful implementation of policies
that have shaped the course of the nation.
Due to the separation of powers, and strong checks and balances on the president’s power,
the constitution restricts the ability of the president to achieve their goals. Checks on the
Presidency by the Supreme Court restrict the President in achieving their aims by using the
limitations on the Constitution, this is done to prevent an over-powerful presidency. For
example, in 2014, the Supreme Court declared Obama’s executive order of DAPA and
DACA legislation unconstitutional as it required congressional support.This implies that
significant limitations demonstrate authority of the Supreme Court interpretations of the
Constitution, this prevents the President from holding arbitrary power. Suggesting that the
President cannot successfully achieve aims. In addition to this, Checks on the President by
Congress restrict the President in achieving their policy aims through a range of checks and
balances. An example for this is in 2017/18, Congress rejected Trump’s annual budget
which included the infrastructure for the wall along the south border of the US. This was one
of President Trump’s key plans which highlights how a President can be limited in achieving
and implementing policy as well as how Congress have significant control over the President
and can prevent the executive office from functioning, suggesting that the President is
limited in achieving aims. Despite this, the far stronger argument is shown through
Presidents bypassing checks. The president can bypass constitutional checks and balances
by using the tools of imperial policy, this leads to the President successfully achieving policy
aims. The President can instruct the executive branch, through executive orders, to carry out
certain practices without consulting Congress. For example in 2001, Bush established
Guantanamo Bay which allowed the creation of military tribunals to allow detention,
treatment and trial of non-US citizens involved in terrorism. This could be seen as an
effective way of creating new policy without the need for a congressional vote. Suggesting
that the President can use the tools of imperial policy to successfully achieve their aims.
Presidents have been known to make military decisions without consulting Congress,
ordering military action without consultation or consent from Congress using their role as
commander-in-chief can be seen as another way of bypassing key requirements of the
Constitution. In 1995, Clinton ordered airstrikes to intervene in the war in Bosnia after
congressional opposition. These unilateral war powers assist the President in carrying out
aims, this implies that the President can successfully achieve their goals. Overall,
Presidents can bypass constitution checks and balances which suggest an enhancement in
power which allows them to successfully achieve their aims.
Rise of political partisanship makes governing a divided government, especially with an
opposing majority in Congress, very difficult for a president to achieve policy aims. The
President is somewhat restricted by constitutional limitations; the President requires the
consent of Congress before passing legislation; rising partisanship can make this
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