ALL EXAMPLES FOR PAPER 3 Flashcards
How many amendments are there? how many have been proposed
27 amendments, 11,000 proposed
Supreme Court being used to protect state rights
Texas v US (2016) ruled in favour of Texas Blocking Obama’s executive order of DAPP (Deferred Action for Parents Programme)
Supreme Court check on the executive
2018- Supreme Court ruled that Trump’s travel ban was unconstitutional because it discriminates based on people’s religion
Congress checks on the executive- veto pverride
2021- overturned veto of a defence spending bill, in favour of the National Defense Authorization Act
Example of Bipartisanship
2021- Biden’s Bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill
(Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 2021)
Federalism of Obama (2)
-Role of fed. govt increased due to introduction of Obamacare (2010) +
-BUT Allowed for states to pursue their own policy goals e.g. 2012- Colorado legalised marijuana for recreational use
Example of vagueness of constitution undermining its authority-
- Obergefell v Hodges 2015, in stating that gay
marriage was a constitutional right, some politicians and even a member of the Supreme Court
claimed that the Supreme Court was no longer following the Constitution
Example of federal government departments increasing-
Government has 15 departments, (up from 3 when the constitution was written)
E.g Homeland Security added in 2002
Growing globalisation increasing the role of the federal government
- the physical damage of 9/11 was estimated $55 billion, with New York needing federal money to help clean up
Example of federal law being overturned by the Supreme Court, allowing states greater freedom
Shelby vs Holder 2013: federal law was overturned when parts of the Voting Rights Act were declared unconstitutional.
Example of states deciding their own laws
-e.g cannabis is legal in 21 states
Head of State, the president attends global summits. (2)
the G7 summit
-At the World Economic Forum, Trump met with other world leaders 2020
Cabinet can be ignored
2017, Trump ignored his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and dropped the “two-state” solution for Middle East Peace
Trump veto
2019- UAE arms sales disapproval resolution
(to block the arms deal)
President has to answer to Congress, only when impeached
E.g 2021 impeachment of Trump from the January 6th trial
President being unable to count on party-
Bush’s Social Security reforms FAILED to pass through Congress
controversial amongst both Republicans and Democrats
National events increasing power
-After 9/11, Bush was able to begin Iraq War and create the Patriot Act 2001
Example of electoral mandate being powerful
- 2008 election, 53% of the vote
- first 2 years- budget stimulus, health care reform and beginning the process of moving troops from Iraq.
executive order 14020
Biden- Establish the White House gender policy Council
Example of national events weakening presidential power
2008 financial crisis- Obama had to prioritise an economic stimulus package;
Opposition to his healthcare policy increased, forcing him to water it down
Example of successful power of persuasion (Obama)
Obama was able to get the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010
Examples of prominent cabinet members (2)
-Hillary Clinton, as secretary of state in negotiating the START treaty in 2010
-Joe Biden
example of NSA work
2012- Susan Rice was interviewed as Obama’s NSA in the aftermath of the Benghazi attack
example of OMB
2017- Mick Mulvaney, head of the OMB was given the role of repealing Obamacare
How is the president able to influence the Supreme Court
- -Nominations to the Supreme Court- gives the president influence over the ideological balance of the Supreme Court
- -e.g Trump appointing Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 and Amy Coney Barret in 2020
Example of Congress veto override- (201^)
Veto override of 97-1 (in the Senate), of the 9/11’s victims bill 2016
