‹ All questionsPaper 3 US · 2025 · 30 marks
Evaluate the view that Congress fails to adequately hold the President to account.
Legislature
Mark scheme: agreement
AO1: Impeachment
AO2: There have been several attempts to impeach presidents without success - ultimately, a president may resign rather than face being impeached
AO3: This suggests that Congress fails to hold the President to account (Note: this could also be used for 'disagree' - arguably it demonstrates that Congress has and will use this power, and the fact that it has failed is not necessarily showing a failure to hold the President to account)
AO1: Executive orders
AO2: If Congress and the president are unable to agree on legislation, or Congress refuses to propose a presidential policy as a bill, the president may use an executive order to make the required change regardless
AO3: This suggests that Congress fails to hold the President to account
AO1: United government
AO2: In times of united government, Congress may be more likely to introduce presidential proposals and to pass them with minimal disagreement rather than fully scrutinising them or preventing unpopular/undesirable proposals from passing
AO3: This suggests that Congress fails to hold the President to account
AO1: Role as Commander-in-Chief
AO2: Presidents may use their constitutional role as Commander-in-Chief to be proactive on foreign policy with minimal restraint from Congress e.g. in deploying troops
AO3: This suggests that Congress fails to hold the President to account
AO1: Executive agreements
AO2: Presidents may make executive agreements without congressional approval in the first instance
AO3: This suggests that Congress fails to hold the President to account
Mark scheme: disagreement
AO1: Legislative role
AO2: Presidents must rely on members of Congress to introduce legislation as they have no direct power over Congress due to the separation of powers
AO3: This suggests that Congress may be able to hold the President to account if they do not agree with legislative proposals
AO1: Veto override
AO2: While presidents may veto congressional legislation they do not approve of, Congress has the ultimate power to override the veto and pass the legislation regardless, with a 2/3 majority in both chambers
AO3: This suggests that Congress may be able to hold the President to account
AO1: Power of the purse
AO2: The House of Representatives has constitutional control of the budget - presidents must seek approval for funding for executive programs, and cannot overrule Congress to gain funding
AO3: This suggests that Congress may be able to hold the President to account
AO1: Divided government
AO2: Congressional oversight of the presidency may be stronger during times of divided government, as the president cannot appeal to members of his party for support as easily, and must rely on the power of persuasion to get approval of their legislative proposals or for funding
AO3: This suggests that Congress may be able to hold the President to account
AO1: Treaties
AO2: While presidents may sign executive agreements, formal treaties must be ratified by a 2/3 majority in the Senate
AO3: This suggests that Congress may be able to hold the President to account
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