Is the President the most powerful figure in the USA?

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Is the President the most powerful figure in the
USA?
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Or?
Potentially a lame duck?
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• The Constitution
• The Constitution was written in 1787
• It explains the rights that all Americans have
  and how the country is governed.
• Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances are
  crucial.
• The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of
  Rights.
• Famous amendments include the 2nd (guns) and 5th
  (right to remain silent)
• Very difficult to change.

The defining document of American politics
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The US System of Government
The USA is a Federal Democracy born of the twin
Ideas of Federalism and Democracy
Democracy is the ideology which allows
people freedom of speech, thought and equality
of opportunity
Federalism is where there is a central government
to give unity and strength To a country whilst
allowing a large measure of independence
to Individual states in running their own
affairs.
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Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances
http//www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/ms/usa/ind
ex.shtml
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4 years
2 years
6 years
Life
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Presidential Power

• Chief Executive
• Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces
• Negotiates treaties
• Chief planner of public policy
• Appoints Supreme Court justices, ambassadors,
  executive officers, cabinet secretaries
• Can veto acts of Congress (Child healthcare)
• Executive orders override the lawbooks
• Offers huge patronage among the political
  establishment
• Popularity makes him almost untouchable in
  peoples eyes (Imperial Presidency)

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Presidential Limitations

• Only Congress can declare war
• Congress must agree the Federal budget (no budget
  no power)
• Congress passes Constitutional amendments
• Congress can override veto with a supermajority
• Congress can impeach and convict a President
• Congress ratifies treaties
• Congress confirms Presidential nominations (John
  Bolton)
• Separate elections to the President
• Many areas are not Federal issues

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Supreme Court

• Judicial review declares laws unconstituonal
  (null and void)
• Job for life
• All legal matters in the U.S. subject to SC
  rulings
• SC responsible for the social changes in the U.S.
• Abortion, racial segregation, school prayer, Bush
  win in 2000, gave right of appeal to Guantanamo
  inmates.
• Gay marriage the next battleground?

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Mid-Term elections 2006

• Republicans lost control of both Houses.
• Iraq, incompetence and corruption all factors.
• Votes against Republicans, not for Democrats
• Nancy Pelosi the new Majority leader.
• Congress was able to block almost all Bush
  proposals.
• Effectively made Bush a lame-duck President.

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Patronage?
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Any thoughts?