Checks on the US President
Checks on the US President - paragraph completion
3 paragraphs argue one side. You write the rebuttal and the interim judgement.
How this works. Each pre-written opening argues one side of the theme. Your job is the rebuttal: answer it with the named cases, then end on an interim judgement. Your writing saves on this device.
Paragraph 1 · theme: Bit recently
Evaluate the view that the checks on the US President are effective.
The opening (given) - rebut this
Bit recently is often used to argue the view. War powers: Routinely ignored - the June 2025 Iran strikes the latest case. Impeachment: Two impeachments of Trump 1, two acquittals on party lines. Read alone, these make the case look one-sided.
Your task - write the rebuttal
Answer back using the cases that point the other way: Federalism and the states (Sanctuary-city resistance in both Trump terms; red-state resistance under Biden.); Supreme Court (Executive orders from both parties blocked in the courts.); Congress: legislation + the purse (Obama's agenda hit a wall after the 2010 midterms.). Finish with an interim judgement that backs your line of argument.
Paragraph 2 · theme: Checks domestic power
Evaluate the view that the checks on the US President are effective.
The opening (given) - rebut this
Checks domestic power is often used to argue the view. War powers: Not a domestic check. Impeachment: A deterrent at most. Read alone, these make the case look one-sided.
Your task - write the rebuttal
Answer back using the cases that point the other way: Federalism and the states (States can refuse cooperation and set divergent policy.); Congress: legislation + the purse (Lasting domestic change needs statute and money.); Midterms + public opinion (A lost chamber ends the legislative presidency.). Finish with an interim judgement that backs your line of argument.
Paragraph 3 · theme: President can bypass
Evaluate the view that the checks on the US President are effective.
The opening (given) - rebut this
President can bypass is often used to argue the view. Supreme Court: Rulings bind - but a president picks the future Court. Midterms + public opinion: No president has found a way around the calendar. Impeachment: Cannot be bypassed, only survived. Read alone, these make the case look one-sided.
Your task - write the rebuttal
Answer back using the cases that point the other way: Congress: legislation + the purse (The pen-and-phone presidency - DACA, climate rules, Paris - until the next president reverses it.); Federalism and the states (Funding conditions pressure states - the federal lever is money.); War powers (Notification and finesse substitute for authorisation.). Finish with an interim judgement that backs your line of argument.