Essay 14

a) The president has the enumerated power to enforce policy within the US. This allows him to employ federal agents to make sure that laws are followed. The president also has the enumerated power to veto legislation coming out of congress. This allows the president to control US policy. For example, the president may veto a bill on gun control to maintain the status quo.
b) Party polarization limits the president’s ability to influence domestic policy making in Congress by stopping bills from even getting to the president. As party lines stiffen, there are less moderates to pass legislation and actually get it to the desk of the president. The lame-duck session limits the president’s ability to influence domestic policy making in Congress by diminishing the presidents power. During the lame duck session, the president has already been voted out of office and so he is often seen as less powerful. Therefore, his lobbying and pull in congress is diminished and the presidents power to pouch his own agenda is limited. 

2008-2)A number of factors enable presidents to exert influence over Congress in the area of domestic policy. However, presidents are also limited in their influence over domestic policymaking in Congress.

a) The Constitution grants the president certain enumerated powers. Describe two of these formal powers that enable the president to exert influence over domestic policy.

b) Choose two of the following. Define each term and explain how each limits the president’s ability to influence domestic policy making in Congress.

*Mandatory spending

*Party polarization

*Lame-duck period

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap08_gopo_us_sgs.pdf