factors affecting scrutiny

• Poll ratings

  Obama had a mid 50% approval rating and passed Obamacare

  Bush had 90% approval rating and was able to get Department of Homeland Security
• Policy area

  Congress unlikely to scrutinise foreign policy
• Party control

  If a government is unified or divided

  • After the midterm elections in Bush’s first term, the party control of the Republican party increased so from 2002-2006 there was a united government
  • JASTA - bipartisan approach to override Obama’s veto
• Election cycle

  Congress more likely to listen to constituents when they are up for reelection

  Lame duck presidency

  • Obama had done his two terms -> November 2014- November 2016, there wasn’t a lot you can do
• Partisanship

  Parties have grown ideologically farther and farther apart, causing a strain in the relationship between the president and the party

  • Democrats on average have become more liberal whilst Republicans on average have become much more conservative (Pew Research 2022)
• Partisanship

  Decrease in centrist Congressmen

  • More than 160 centrist Congressmen in 1971-72
  • 2012 - a centrist Democrat Specter was replaced in the Senate by conservative Republican Toome
• Partisanship

  House of Reps - partisanship increased by gerrymandering
• Partisanship

  Acts displaying bipartisanship

  • 2012 Jobs Act
  • 2013 Bipartisan Budget Act
  • 2015 Every Student Succeed Act
  • CARES Act 2020
• National events

  Unlikely to scrutinise in times of national emergency like 9/11 BUT did scrutinise Hurricane Katrina

  • Congressional committee investigated its handling
  • Accused of not treating lower income and black residents especially when paralleled with the Miami fires which were treated differently