Presidency

• The power of the president has been expanded due to the vague nature of the constitution, for example, Obama deploying troops in 2014 for military actions against ISIS in Syria and Iraq without specific authorization from Congress, justified by the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force
• Executive agreements allow presidents to make international agreements without seeking senate approval, like the 2015 Paris Agreement
• -No child left behind act 2002- George W Bush 

  -Patient Protection and Affordable Care act 2010- Obama 

  -Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017- Trump 

  -33% of Bushes' vetos were overridden 

  -Obama 1/12 Vetoes overridden 

  -Obama called for immigration reform and gun control consistently during the state of the union however failed to achieve other- did achieve gay rights reform however 

  -Trump failed in repealing Obama care 

  -Obama failed to have SC Justice- Merick, Garland confirmed by republican senate 

  -President Clinton- 139 recess appointments 
• -The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was passed in March 2010. It aimed to increase accessibility to healthcare coverage while reducing costs. Some key provisions included expanding Medicaid eligibility, requiring insurance companies to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions, and allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ health plans until age 26.
• -In 2015, President Barack Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which replaced NCLB. ESSA gave more power back to individual states regarding education policy decisions.
• Trump passed executive orders reimposing sanctions on Iran, which included separating families who crossed the US border illegally
• Clinton issued 381 signing statements
• Obama granted 212 pardons
• -During his presidency, Donald Trump enacted significant tax cuts through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The law reduced corporate taxes from 35% to 21%, lowered personal income taxes, and increased estate taxes.
• -George W. Bush vetoed several bills during his time in office, including one that would have expanded stem cell research using federal funds. However, only three of his vetoes were ultimately overturned by Congress.
• President Obama brokered the Iran Nuclear deal and the Paris climate change agreement through executive orders
• -George W. Bush proposed No Child Left Behind in 2001, which required schools to meet certain academic standards or face penalties. This legislation led to an emphasis on standardized testing and accountability measures within public schools.
• The UN 2012 treaty on convention with rights of persons with disabilities was rejected under Obama by the Senate
• -Bill Clinton introduced welfare reform in 1996 that ended cash assistance programs like Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and replaced them with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This program provided financial support but emphasized work requirements and time limits.
• Chuck Hagel had to resign as secretary of defense due to ideological incompatibility with Obama on Guantanamo Bay
• Obama used the White House as a "bully pulpit" to advocate for military action against Syria in his 2013 Rose Garden speech
• President Trump was ridiculed for a short and weak "coattails effect"
• -Bill Clinton's most notable legislative achievement was passing the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, also known as welfare reform. This act ended cash assistance programs like Aid to Families with Dependent Children and replaced them with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
• -President Joe Biden has taken several actions related to immigration since taking office in January 2021. These include reversing some of former President Trump's policies, such as ending the "Remain in Mexico" program that required migrants seeking asylum to wait outside the United States, and halting construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
• Obama was able to use the Sandy Hook shooting to advance the gun control agenda, but ultimately nothing substantial arose from this
• Trump's slow response to Hurricane Maria undermined his authority and popularity
• -In 2019, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border with Mexico, allowing him to redirect military funding towards building a wall along the border without congressional approval.
• -One major foreign policy decision made by President George W. Bush during his second term was the surge strategy in Iraq. This involved increasing troop levels in Iraq to combat insurgent activity and stabilize the country following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.
• After controversies of US military action in the Middle East under George W. Bush, Congress was more willing to try and exercise control over this area
• -Donald Trump has been criticized for his use of executive orders, particularly those related to immigration and environmental regulation. Some argue that these actions exceed the scope of presidential authority and undermine the role of Congress.
• In 2007, Democrats attempted to defund the Iraq war
• -Another notable action taken by President Bush during this time period was the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks.
• -The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. It aimed to expand access to healthcare coverage and reduce costs for individuals and families.
• -Ronald Reagan's economic policies included deregulation, tax cuts, and supply-side economics. He also signed into law the Kemp-Roth Tax Cut Act of 1981, which cut individual and business taxes across the board.
• -Barack Obama used his presidential powers to implement policies related to healthcare, immigration, and climate change without congressional approval. For example, he implemented the Affordable Care Act (ACA) through an executive order rather than waiting for legislation to pass.