Congress and the Executive II

Because of a 1 pm meeting, student hour today will be immediately after class.  If that time does not work, email me for a Zoom.

LBJ and negotiation

Interview with the Bush leg affairs shop

The Biden legislative affairs shop

CQ on presidential success (review from a few weeks ago)

Presidential approval and the "decay curve"

Binder article in Thurber:  SALIENT issues often give way to gridlock, especially during divided government.

NAIL: Nominations, Appropriations, Investigations, Legislation

Nominations 

• Extent of confirmation power (about 1200 jobs)
• Nominations: Senate data
• Cabinet nominations rejected or withdrawn
• Hearings:  Whitehouse and White; DeVos

Appropriations

• Limitation riders and the case of ACA

Investigation and Oversight 

• GAO 
• CBO
• CRS
• Diminished institutional capacity
• The role of the press -- featuring an alum of this course!!

Legislation:  Executive Branch Organization and Laws on Reporting 

• Inspectors General  (Trump firings)
• Reporting requirements
• The old legislative veto and the Congressional Review Act.  (A rare example of one that becamelaw)  See Davidson, p. 339
• Congress "organizes" the executive:
  --  The "organization" of DHS.
-- DNI and the intelligence community

Subpoenas and Contempt of Congress

• The definitive encyclopedia article!
• Inherent contempt
• Civil contempt 
• Criminal contempt