EXOP and Congress in US Politics

Subjects | Politics Notes | US Politics

Executive Office of the President (EXOP)

⇒ The Executive Office of the President, also known as EXOP or EOP, consists of immediate staff and support staff reporting to the President.

⇒ A significance of the Executive Office of the President includes the body being more helpful to the President in running the country.

Primary Responsibilities of EXOP

⇒ Preparing the budget (OMB)

⇒ Planning long term economic strategies (Council of Economic Advisors)

⇒ Co-ordinating the country's diplomatic and military services (National Security Council)

⇒ Running the White House Office, where the president's advisors work with him to develop the admins political strategies, provide advice on response to emergencies, present the President's proposal to the American people and the wider world, liaise and negotiate with Congress and provide a link between the White House and the government departments

The President and Congress

Power of Congress

⇒ Due to the Constitution, Congress has theoretically enjoyed superiority within the US government over the president

⇒ Congressional advantage:

Role is to check the executive
Independence from the executive
Power of the purse i.e. they have the ability to authorise spending
Approve/refuse appointments
Override Presidential veto

Constraints on the President

Presidential Role	Constraints on the President
Head of State Appointment of ambassadors Emergency Powers	Only with advice and consent of Senate Congress has powers of general scrutiny and public investigation
Chief Executive Policymaking Control of agencies like CIA Appointments Control of bureaucracy Control of cabinet Budget	Congress has power of impeachment and trial Limited by public opinion and two 4-year terms Congress hold purse strings Scrutiny of agencies by Congressional committees Spending and efficiency scrutinised by Congress Bureaucracy is too large to control effectively Choice limited by considerations like public opinion and Senate approval
Commander-in-chief Control of the armed forces	Congress declares war Congressional control through laws allowed by Constitution
Chief Diplomat	Senate has to approve treaties Congress holds purse strings
Chief Legislator	•Separation of powers - hard to control a bill Congress can override a veto
Party Chief	Parties too decentralised to control and separation of powers prevents party patronage in Congress

Extra

⇒ Also see our notes on: