Although a president can negotiate treaties with other nations, treaties require the support of 2/3 of the senate. Hence forth, a number of treaties have failed to get the 2/3 support that is needed such as the Kyoto Treaty. Nevertheless, the President can get around this, Presidents may sometimes enter executive agreements, where the President enters an agreement with a leader of a foreign country. This agreement has the same status in international law as a treaty, and in his 7 year presidency, Bill Clinton made 209 treaties but over 2000 executive agreements.
In addition, while the President has much more authority in the subject of foreign affairs, his role in domestic affairs seems to be widely limited, as his domestic policy is subject to constitutional checks and balances. If both the majority party in Congress is the same as the party in the White House, it may be easier for a President to get his proposed legislation passed. For example, when Bush came into power, a Republican controlled congress meant that during his first term none of his legislation was vetoed. Nevertheless, when Democrat Clinton came to power, he often clashed with a Republican controlled Congress. During their clashes, Congress often won. Clintons health reform plans were watered down as was his gun control and anti-crime legislation. In addition, although the President is in charge of submitting the federal budget each year (drawn by the OBM), their freedom of action is often limited by the actions of Congress. Clinton is a key example of a president whom failed to reach a budgetary agreement with his legislature, and thus forth lead to the temporary closure of the Federal Government.
Nevertheless, the President can also veto legislation congress passes which he feels isn’t in the interests of the people or is impractical. Although Bill Clinton vetoed 36 times, only 2 of his veto’s were successful as Congress can overturn this decision, hence forth once again highlighting that the Presidents power is indeed limited. In addition, the President’s power is enhanced through executive orders, which allows the President to make policy without the approval of Congress. For example, President Truman used an executive order to end segregation in the military.
The Presidents power is also limited due to the media which provide a wide coverage of the President’s actions or decisions. Often, the president may be reluctant to behave in a certain way if he feels that he will be unpopular with the people. Therefore, the president has to be in touch with public if he wants to remain popular and face re-election.
Furthermore, although the President has the power to nominate Judges to the Surpreme court and to nominate executive branch officials, it is important to bear in mind that Congress has the ability to reject these nominees. For example, Congress rejected George Bushes nominee for Defence Secretary John Trower, as they didn’t trust his financial motives. Although he may have the power to recommend his choice of nominee, by no mean does he have the power to secure their positions.
Also, the President has the powerful role of pardoning felons. Although a largely uncontroversial issues, there was controversy following Carter’s pardoning of Nixon and the fact Clinton pardoned number felons on his last day of office.
In addition, although the President may be dubbed as the most ‘powerful man in the world’, he can be held accountable of his actions and punished by Congress. Congress can remove the President through impeachment for crimes such as bribery, high crimes, treason and misdemeanours. Although impeachment of a President may fail such as in the case of Bill Clinton, it goes without saying that the most ‘powerful man in the world’ , will most certainly lose some of his integrity and tarnish his reputation if he faces such a process.
In conclusion, many foreigners see the president as the most powerful man on the earth. This is due to the fact he plays a leading role in American foreign policy and Military affairs, and the fact the US is the mightiest country. From a domestic viewpoint, this is very different. Congress have an equal authority of domestic affairs as the President and the President faces more constrains on his power when making policy at home, and if they’re clashes over domestic policy Congress usually triumphs. Therefore, it is fair to sometimes claim that there are two presidencies, one whom can command great armies, impose American authority on weaker nations, distribute large sums of foreign aid to countries in distress (.e.g Ethiopia) and can press a single button that can result in nuclear attack. The other is a president whom is concerned with domestic policy and often faces an uncooperative congress, and struggles with immense financial constraints and has to deal with volatile public opinion. Hence forth, although the president may be perceived as the most powerful man on the earth by foreigners, within the USA he has very little powers.
Presidents Only Have the Power to Persuade