CHECKS on the PRESIDENCY [AP Gov Review Unit 2 Topic 5 (2.5)]

Summary

In this video, the limits of presidential power are explored, focusing on how presidential appointments often lead to tension with the Senate. The president's ability to appoint ambassadors, White House staff, Cabinet members, and federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, is discussed. The Senate’s role in confirming these appointments creates frequent confrontations, especially when nominees are controversial. Key examples include Betsy DeVos, Robert Bork, and Brett Kavanaugh, highlighting the high-stakes nature of these battles. The video combines informative content with a casual, engaging tone to explain the checks on presidential power in the appointment process.

Takeaways

• 😀 The president's power often creates tension and confrontations with Congress, particularly with the Senate.
• 😀 The Senate has the constitutional power of advice and consent, which means many presidential appointments require Senate approval.
• 😀 Presidential appointments include ambassadors, White House staff, cabinet members, and federal court judges.
• 😀 Ambassadors are usually confirmed by the Senate without much opposition, as they represent the U.S. in foreign nations.
• 😀 White House staff do not need Senate approval and are typically close allies or campaign supporters of the president.
• 😀 Cabinet appointments require Senate approval and can cause significant tension, though they are generally approved after some scrutiny.
• 😀 One notable cabinet rejection occurred in 1989 when George H.W. Bush's nomination for secretary of defense was blocked over personal conduct issues.
• 😀 A highly contentious cabinet appointment under Donald Trump was Betsy DeVos as education secretary, which resulted in a 50-50 Senate vote, ultimately broken by Vice President Mike Pence.
• 😀 Appointments to the federal courts, especially the Supreme Court, are among the most contentious, as they can influence the judicial branch for decades.
• 😀 The confirmation process for Supreme Court nominees often becomes highly politicized, as seen in the rejection of Robert Bork in 1987 and the controversial confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of this video?

The video focuses on explaining the limits of presidential power, specifically how the president's agenda can create tension and confrontations with Congress.

How does the Senate exert power over presidential appointments?

The Senate has the constitutional power of 'advice and consent,' meaning it must approve many of the president's appointments, such as ambassadors, cabinet members, and federal judges.

What is the process for appointing ambassadors, and does the Senate play a significant role?

The president appoints ambassadors to foreign nations, and the Senate usually rubber-stamps these appointments without much resistance, meaning their approval is typically automatic.

Does the president's White House staff require Senate approval?

No, the president can appoint White House staff without Senate approval. These are typically individuals who were part of the president's campaign or are politically aligned with them.

What is the process for appointing members to the president's cabinet?

The president appoints members to the cabinet, which includes heads of major executive departments. These appointments require Senate approval, and while they are often approved without much opposition, there have been instances of contentious confirmation processes.

Can you provide an example of a cabinet appointment that faced significant opposition?

One notable example is Betsy DeVos, who was appointed as Secretary of Education by Donald Trump. Her confirmation was contentious due to her views on the privatization of education, and it ended in a 50-50 Senate vote, which was broken by Vice President Mike Pence.

What was the last time a cabinet appointee was outright rejected by the Senate?

The last time a cabinet appointee was outright rejected was in 1989, when George H. W. Bush's nomination of John Tower as Secretary of Defense was blocked due to allegations of being a womanizer and a drunkard.

Why are judicial appointments, particularly to the Supreme Court, so contentious?

Judicial appointments, especially to the Supreme Court, are contentious because federal judges hold their positions for life. These appointments have long-term implications on the country's laws and ideologies, making them a significant battleground for political influence.

What is meant by the term 'borking' in the context of Supreme Court nominations?

The term 'borking' refers to the intense opposition and character assassination that a Supreme Court nominee may face in the Senate. It originated from the rejection of Ronald Reagan's nominee, Robert Bork, in 1987.

What happened during the confirmation process for Brett Kavanaugh in 2018?

Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court was contentious, with Democratic senators challenging him over alleged past indiscretions and accusations of sexual misconduct. Despite this, Kavanaugh was confirmed by the Senate, but the process was highly polarized and his nomination was heavily debated.