Presidential Signing Statement Analysis

The U.S. President has a veto right over any bill approved by Congress. This practically means that "if the president doesn't like a bill, he or she vetoes it" (Kowalski 2012: 22). Even with this, his authority can be challenged if two-thirds of the senators and House of Representatives vote accordingly. The Congress also has the ability to limit the president's actions as a result of the fact that it has power over the finances. Similarly, each body in Congress can check the other, considering that all proposals have to be issued

If the bill is vetoed, the president can then make changes to the bill that he or she sees necessary and then send it back to congress for reassessment. The framers of the constitution created a legislative process that required each branch to contribute to the legislative process. As a result, a vetoed bill must go through congress and the legislative process again. The bill must also receive, at minimum, two thirds votes from the House of Representatives and the Senate before it can become an official law. Finally, if the president does not sign nor veto a bill for ten days, excluding Sundays, it will automatically become a law. However, in certain circumstances, the president can use a pocket veto. A pocket veto may only be used on a bill that is proposed within the last ten days of the presidency. When a pocket veto is used, the president does not sign or veto the bill. Rather, after ten days of no action, the bill is automatically rejected. As Chief in Legislature, the president, in a sense, has the last word in the legislative process.

The relationship between the president and Congress has changed drastically in the past two hundred years. The framers of the constitution did not want an executive power in charge of the whole country in fear of it turning into a monarchy. They knew they needed a leader for America though. The framers did not want political parties. “Political parties established after Washington left the presidency” (Mandate). The relationship between Congress and the president changed in a very visible way. In the past, the president would meet to discuss issues with Congress, but that is not how it is today. Also the president would have to go through congress to pass a bill or an amendment, but presidents found a way around going through congress. The president can sign a bill without congress’s approval. For example, president Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln wanted to pass an amendment that would end slavery but Congress said no. Lincoln then did what the people wanted and signed the emancipation proclamation anyways to end slavery. Also known as the thirteenth amendment. Some presidents even put the people in power.

If he signs it, it is printed and made law, but if he vetoes the bill, it is sent back to Congress where they can adjust it to fit the Presidents wishes. Congress can also take a vote in which they would need a two thirds vote majority in order to overrule the veto.

Const., Art. II, § 3, the President recommends and influences the American Congress in areas of public policy, as well as issues related to foreign, and domestic agendas. By virtue of being the president, Mr. Obama can greatly influence, but may not be directly involved in, drafting legislation. As was the case during President Reagan's administration, the line-item veto was a method to "X-out" certain key but objections and his way of doing this his

The president has the power to sign bills into laws. The president also has the power to veto laws and send them back to the house. If a disagreement between the house and executive branch, the president has the authority. The president may also appoint or remove justices from their seats if needed.

The president also has the power Veto laws passed by congress. The president has the power to make political appointment and negotiate treaties with foreign countries, however this power also requires the approval of the senate. The President is responsible for making a for appointing his cabinet and federal judges. The president is capable of calling congress in session and the power to adjourn congress.

However, some ways the president’s power gets limited includes needing the approval of the Senate for treaties and appointing government officials, not being able to officially declare war, and not being able to make any laws as their own opinion unless they make an executive order. The Constitution gave these powers to the president so the executive branch limits what the Congress can do. For example, if the president does not gain the veto law power, the Congress would force the president to sign all laws passed by the Congress. As a result, the Congress would be similar to the British monarch when they tightened control over the 13 colonies, making laws that only benefits themselves. Article 2 section 2 lists the powers of the president, and how the president gets limited on

Moreover, the author states that it is imperative to entitle president of the veto power for he is able to possess the

As the veto, the president is therefore the most important asset while dealing with the U S Congress. The president can reject a bill that’s being passed by the U S Congress. The president uses either the veto message or the pocket veto mechanism to reject a bill. The governor of California has similar veto powers in that he can reject a legislation that the house is passing. The governor has an amendatory veto that allows him to send the bill back to the legislature with the appropriate amendments. (Ferguson 159)

going public remains a potent weapon in the president’s arsenal, for advocating his own agenda and blocking initiatives from adversaries in Congress.

A presidential signing statements is a written comment issued by a President at the time of signing legislation (Woolley). When signing a bill to law, the President can write a comment about how he plans to authorize the bill. Many presidential sign statements are expressing the President’s opinion about the legislation. There are many types of signing statements that are controversial, because they can dictate which portions of a bill the president would not execute because it might infringe on the executive powers granted in the Constitution (Moyers).

Even in matters of national security the president has secured new and immense power by way of the USA PATRIOT act, which, remains unfettered to this day. It would be appropriate to compare the process our leaders undertake to the ancient tale of Icarus. We find that often, our presidents simply fly to close to the sun in their quest for power. This is most apparent in their abilities to harness the power of the media, build a co-operative relationship with congressional law makers, or to implement domestic policy. In these areas, one president or another has enjoyed some level of power and success for a time; that success however, would not be absolute. Often, the power they wield, which they have empower to help them lead, would be threatened by a plethora of oppositional actors and stimuli in the political field, some of the oppositional forces would

Presidential power has increased immensely over recent years and little is being done in an attempt to restore the original intent of the Constitution. There are multiple factors that affect this, including the executive orders of presidents, the Constitution giving an unequal distribution of power between the executive and legislative branch, the failure to use checks and balances, and the ineffectiveness of Congress. With the lack of congressional involvement in legislative decisions, the president has the ability to take matters in their own hands.

Former President Barack Obama signed a mere fourteen laws within his first one hundred days in office. While it seems like a small number in comparison to Donald Trump, some of which included keeping the government funded and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 which relaxed the statute of limitations for equal pay lawsuits, and the implementation of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (Business Insider). These laws helped to impact our country and make a difference; they held a weight in the way our country would continue. It can be argued that fourteen laws are a small amount, but the significance of these laws is what is critical. Obama chose not to abuse his power, but to rather sign bills that mattered most.