Essay: President’s powers in law making / how can presidents be successful leaders of congress

In this paper we will be examining the president’s powers in law making and what are the needed political ingredients that enable presidents to be successful leaders of congress. Examination will include in depth look into legislative skills, veto power and powers in lawmaking. Presidents with a comprehensive agenda and want reform they need to have congressional support. That support requires knowing what the public will stand against and the ability to persuade 535 senators and representatives. (Bresler et al., 2016)
Legislative skills
Legislative skills are important since they determine the type of relationship the president has with senators and representatives. Having a good relationship leads to more power in lawmaking within congress. Important legislative skills include legislative environment, sense of timing, establishing priorities, high-quality legislative liaison office, communication with the opposition and follow Jefferson’s advice.
Legislative Environment. A president must know their legislative environment. Being familiar with how congress works sets him up for leadership. An advisor for Franklin Roosevelt explained a president must know who the key players in an issue are. Presidents like Lyndon Johnson made it important to know a lot about congress. Unlike Jimmy Carter, whom was not aware of how congress worked that made him distant from the congress environment. (Bresler et al., 2016)
Sense of Timing. Presidents must know when to press an agenda and when to take time back from it. When a war happens the nation wants time to heal rather than have another plan pushed. Presidents like Harding, Truman and Eisenhower learned that they weren’t able to get reforms thru congress post war. Clinton attempted to push for healthcare reform before the nation even know what type of change they wanted, however George W. Bush’s tax cut plan was accepted. (Bresler et al., 2016)
Establish priorities. Presidents run their campaign promising things that they will change. The reality is that their whole agenda will probably not get covered. They instead need to establish what is most important and what issue the president should focus their energy on. Even after they choose where to focus on it has to have a chance to succeed in congress. Success early on in the presidency signifies future legislative victories. For example, Ronald Regan focused on the budget and taxes in the first year and received success. (Bresler et al., 2016)
Legislative liaison office. One thing is certain, presidents can not be everywhere or build a relationship with everyone in congress. They need to rely on someone that will be the point of contact between him/her and congress. Having a high quality legislative liason office is essential to allow congress to have more access to the white house or the president directly. Having that point of contact also provides the president with important information, from how many votes are needed to pass a bill and what members need to be percuaded. The liaison office has the capability of building important loyalty and support for presidents and their agenda.  (Bresler et al., 2016)
Consult with the opposition. A president needs to be able to communicate with party leaders in the opposite party as well as with their own in order to be successful in getting their agenda pushed. Keeping both parties in the loop allow to develop a relationship of feeling part of developing policy initiatives. By the president having a good working relationship with any member of congress that can report that back to the senate and the house. Unlike president Carter failed to communicate with the appropriate leaders of congress when he revealed his energy program in 1977, that plan was extensively revised and congress eventually rewrote it. (Bresler et al., 2016)
Jefferson’s Advice. Great innovations should not and cannot be forced upon slender majorities. Major innovations require the support of both of the parties or else they will not succeed. Truman worked closely with republicans in congress to gain support for his plans. Additionally, presidents Kennedy and Johnson created with relationships with Republican leaders in both houses to come to an agreement for their civil rights program.  Unlike Clinton failed early in his first term when his health care reform was rejected due to the fact he didn’t have a full democratic majority at the time. (Bresler et al., 2016)
Veto Power
The president has many constitutional and statutory powers to allow him/her to deal with congress. However, none are more important than the power of veto. President has the option to either veto, sign or do nothing. (Bresler et al., 2016)
Veto. As listed in Article I, Section 7, the president may veto a congressional bill within 10 days that it reaches his/her desk. The president then returns the bill to the congressional chamber with a message explaining the reasons for veto or suggesting changes to make the bill more acceptable. Congress still has the power to override the veto by two-thirds majority of each house of congress. Meaning the bill becomes law without the president approving it. If congress adjourns during a ten-day period, the president may use a pocket veto by killing it without providing any messages and without having to return it to congress. (Bresler et al., 2016) For example, president Obama veto the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism act fearing it would affect relations with Saudi Arabia. However, congress voted to override Obamas veto.
Sign. President has also the power to just sign the bill.