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Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Debrief, Congress and the Executive III

For next time, Thurber, ch. 6.

LARP v IRL

  • Compressed time
  • No dilatory tactics
  • No press, public, staff, House, or SCOTUS
  • Limited role of POTUS (see below)
  • Inherent limitations of simulation
But role-play is still powerful

Presidents and closing the deal (Thurber, ch. 15)

Review from March 7

Vetoes (Davidson 300-303).  Biden has not vetoed any bills yet.


1— Strongly Support Passage
2— Support Passage
3— Do not Object to Passage
4— No Position on Passage
5— Oppose
6— Strongly Oppose
7— Secretary’s Veto Threat (single and multiple agency)
8— Senior Advisor’s Veto Threat
9— Presidential Veto Threat

Why presidents can make deals (320-321)
  • Breaking stalemate
  • Horse-trading
  • Concessions BBB becomes IRA
  • NOT going public
  • Sticking to the terms of debate
  • Knowledge of Congress and policy
Slightly out of order, but in light of today's events

The Founders knew about the possibility of crooked presidents:

Article I, Section 3, Clause 7:

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Alexander Hamilton (in Federalist No. 72) 
An avaricious man, who might happen to fill the office, looking forward to … yield[ing] up the emoluments he enjoyed … might not scruple to have recourse to the most corrupt expedients.

An ambitious man, too, when … seated on the summit of his country’s honors, … would be … violently tempted to embrace a favorable conjuncture for attempting the prolongation of his power, at every personal hazard.


The House
  • "Due process" does not apply.  
  • The Fifth Amendment says no person shall "be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law." Impeachment merely removes a person from office.
The Senate

The Grounds

The Special Case of the President







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