Article 1 of the Constitution - the longest article- evidence that Congress was seen as the most important and powerful branch but is it still?

Evidence that Congress does not retain its political power includes:

 • Ability of the president to set the domestic agenda and circumvent Congress through- 

•                   Executive orders,

•                 The Imperial Presidency: Is the Presidency Imperial or Imperilled? 

• Has Trump changed the Presidency? 

 • Ability of the president to set the tone and direction of foreign policy, and to deploy armed forces without congressional approval- 

• Who runs foreign policy, the president or Congress? 

•  ability of the Supreme Court to strike down congressional legislation.-Citizens United v FEC stuck down Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. Is the UK Supreme Court too political? 

• complicated legislative process means far more laws are rejected than passed. Only 4%. The Imperilled Presidency 

•  parochialism makes Congress often incapable of acting in a coordinated way- Factors affecting voting in Congress 

•  • Congress has the lowest public approval ratings of the three branches of government- currently 12% - seen as the 'Broken branch' Ornstein and Mann Is Congress the broken Branch? 

 Evidence that Congress remains a powerful body includes:

•  • continued dependence of the president on Congress for all legislation and money-'Power of the Purse'- 

  • • • • • • used to block closure of Guantanamo

•  • continued dependence of the president on Congress for all appointment confirmation and treaty ratification-

  • • • • • • checks and balances 

•  continued ability of Congress to override presidential vetoes

•  Sometimes willingness of Congress to set the policy agenda, e.g. the ‘Contract with America’  or Pelosi Six for 06

  • Periods when the President is a lame duck or seen as Imperilled

  • Greater polarisation and political unity-  Republican partisanship