evaluate the view that presidents since 1993 have been 'imperial presidents' (30 marks)

Question 1

imperial presidency

Answer 1

A presidency characterised by the misuse and abuse of the powers of the presidency.

Question 2

imperilled presidency

Answer 2

Congress restricting the power of the president.

Question 3

unilaterialism

Answer 3

actions or decisions performed by one group, in this case, the president

Question 4

Bill Clinton: imperial president

Answer 4

• he managed to become president without the popular vote, with only 43% of support
• stood ready to launch 20,000 troops to Haiti without congressional permission
• he used troops in NATO peacekeeping missions in the Federal Public of Yugoslavia, which was argued to go against the War Powers Act 1973

Question 5

Bill Clinton: imperilled president

Answer 5

• he failed to pass his policies like healthcare reform as it lacked clear focus
• even with a democratic congress, he still failed to pass healthcare reforms

Question 6

George W. Bush: imperial president

Answer 6

2001
- he announced the ‘war on terror’ and invaded Afghanistan and Iraq
- he used executive orders to authorise controversial anti-terrorist measures, like : surveillance of suspects without a court order and detaining alleged terrorists at Guanatanemo Bay detention centre
- after 9/11, his approval rating rose dramatically
- he managed to pass a lot of legislation, like the Patriot Act 2001, The Homeland Security Act 2002 and The No Child Left Behind Act 2002

Question 7

George W. Bush: imperilled president

Answer 7

• he did not act unilaterally, as he received permission from Congress beforehand
• he was reined in by the Supreme Court for Guanatanemo Bay, for holding enemy combatants without rights in 2 separate cases: Hamdan v Runsfeld and Bounediene v Bush
• he failed to pass social security reform in 2006
• in his last 2 years, he was more of a lame duck president, as people lost interest on his ‘war on terror’ and he was criticised for his handling of Hurricane Katrina
• the Republicans lost control of Congress to the Democrats, making it hard for him to pass laws and he faced a lot of scrutiny

Question 8

Obama: imperial president

Answer 8

• passed a lot of foreign policy
• launched a major offensive in Afghanistan in 2010 and he signed a 4 year extension to Bush’s Patriot Act
• he launched 10 times as many airstrikes in the Middle East and Asia as Bush
• he sanctioned a military intervention in Libya without congressional approval
• Obamacare was passed

Question 9

Obama: imperilled president

Answer 9

• although he introduced Obamacare, after republican takeover of Congress, he had to compromise his vision to fit their preferences
• the Senate refused to discuss his nominee for the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland in 2016

Question 10

Trump: imperial president

Answer 10

• removed popular policies despite criticism
• removed The Iran Nuclear Deal, The North America Free Trade Agreement (replaced with US-Mexico-Canada Agreement)

Question 11

Trump: imperilled president

Answer 11

• lack of popularity
• impeached twice (one of them was for influencing the Capitol Hill Raid)