Chapter 6 Section 3
Roy Burks
Clay Mosley
Nick Westfall
Will White
Ty Wilkinson
Patrick Wray
Cooperation and Conflict
 -Level of cooperation between
Congress and the president have varied
throughout history
 -Best relations exist between two
branches when President makes few
demands on Congress
 -Recent Presidents have found it hard
to work with Congress
Constituents and Conflict
• National electorate chooses presidents
they believe will carry out policies that
are in the best interest of the nation
• Voters choose whoever they feel meet
their particular interests
• Senators and Representatives often
differ with the president about public
policy
Checks & Balances
Gives the Congress and the
President the power to
counteract each other.
If the president threatens to
veto a law congress can
over ride the veto because
their state or district may
benefit from it.
Political Politics
• If one party controls the White House and the
other party controls House and the Senate.
• The President’s party rarely controls the
Congress
• If the legislative Branch and the executive
branch are opposites than it is called a
“gridlock”
Organization as a Cause for
Conflict
 Unlimited debate in the senate can be
used to block legislation
 Even if the Congressional leaders support the
legislation, they still have to work hard to get
presidential initiatives passed.
 Committee chairpersons can prevent a
bill from reaching the floor by blocking or
changing it while it is still in the committee
or subcommittee.
 Often a committee wit try to revise, delay or
defeat a bill they do not want passed.
Different Political Timetables
• Conflicts occur when the president and
Congress have different timetables
• President has three years to work with
• A congress person has years to do what they
want.
• Because they are not limited to terms they can think
in terms of years.
• Because they have more time Congress can sit
on legislation they do not want and take as
much time as they need to delay a bill.
The Struggle for Power
 There has always been a struggle for power between the President
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and the Congress
It certain periods, a branch will dominate and that can depend on
political issues, politically savy and popularity of the president.
In times of crisis Congress has given extra power to the President.
With that power some Presidents have declared martial law, seized
property, and controlled transportation and communications.
Time and time again presidents have used state of emergencies to
gain a bit more power.
The National Emergencies Act ended the ability of the President
to have a state of emergency longer than one year.
"In 2001 George W. Bush used his authority under this act to
selectively suspend, if necessary, the law that permitted a military
officer to retire."
 Sidenote: Hitler used State of Emergency to come to power in Germany.
Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act
 The national budget is the yearly financial plan for the
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national government.
In the mid 1900’s, the president had more power in planning
the national budget.
In 1974, congress passed the Congressional Budget and the
Impoundment Control Act.
The act made a permanent budget committee for each house.
The act also created the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
The act limited the president’s ability to impound funds
Impoundment is the president's refusal to spend money on
programs congress voted to fund.
Legislative Veto
• In 1970’s, congress reasserted themselves
and identified the importance of the
legislative veto.
• The legislative veto is a useful power that is a
effective check on the executive branch.
• Many people think that the legislative veto is
too powerful and that it is a violation of the
separation of powers
• Congress is currently looking for a alternative
to the legislative veto.