18 named examples with their significance, drawn from the Panther database. Read them, then test yourself.
In test mode, tap an example to reveal why it matters.
The examples
Nixon and Watergate (1972-74): Imperial Presidency Checked(1972-74)(tap to reveal)- After the Supreme Court ordered release of the White House tapes in US v Nixon (1974), and the House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment, Nixon resigned on 9 August 1974.
Trump presidency (America First)(tap to reveal)- The Trump administration (2017-21) withdrew from the Paris Agreement, Trans-Pacific Partnership and Iran nuclear deal, questioning multilateral commitments in favour of bilateral deals.
Trump's Second Term: Executive Orders and Presidential Power (2025)(2025)(tap to reveal)- 100+ executive orders in first weeks: immigration, DEI, climate. Shows breadth of presidential action without Congress. But courts blocked multiple orders. Best current example for imperial presidency thesis and its limits.
2024 Presidential Election: Electoral College and Campaign Finance(2024)(tap to reveal)- Trump beat Harris 312-226 in the Electoral College, also winning the popular vote (first Republican since 2004). Total federal election spending reached a record $15.9 billion (OpenSecrets), the second most expensive presidential cycle ever (2020 was higher when adjusted for inflation). The presidential race alone cost about $5.5 billion. Outside spending on Harris vs Trump topped $2 billion. Dark money set an all-time record at $1.9 billion (Brennan Center).
Affordable Care Act: Survival Under Attack (2010-present)(2015)(tap to reveal)- Survived NFIB v Sebelius (2012) 5-4. Survived King v Burwell (2015). 50+ House repeal votes. Senate repeal failed 51-49 (McCain). Shows interaction of all three branches. Roberts upheld despite being conservative appointee.
Amy Coney Barrett and Merrick Garland: The Politics of Appointments(2024)(tap to reveal)- Merrick Garland (Obama nominee, 2016): Senate refused to hold hearings - 8 months from election. Amy Coney Barrett (Trump nominee, 2020): confirmed 8 days before election. ER 2024 praised this contrast as the clearest evidence of political nature of Supreme Court appointments process. Demonstrates Senate partisan control over Court composition.
Andrew Johnson Impeachment (1868): Reconstruction and Tenure of Office Act(1868)(tap to reveal)- Andrew Johnson was impeached in February 1868 for firing Edwin Stanton in breach of the Tenure of Office Act. The Senate acquitted him by one vote (35-19) in May 1868.
Bill Clinton Impeachment (1998-99): Partisan Process and Senate Acquittal(1998-99)(tap to reveal)- Clinton was impeached by the House in December 1998 on perjury and obstruction charges arising from the Lewinsky affair. The Senate acquitted him in February 1999; neither article got a simple majority.
DACA and the Limits of Executive Action on Immigration (2012-present)(2012)(tap to reveal)- Obama created DACA by executive order (700,000 protected). Trump tried to end it; courts blocked. Biden restored. Shows power and limits of executive orders: presidents can act where Congress fails but courts can constrain.
Elon Musk and America PAC: One-billionaire spending in the 2024 election(2024)(tap to reveal)- Elon Musk was the single biggest donor of the 2024 US election cycle, spending $290 million in total. $239 million of that went to his own Super PAC, America PAC, which spent $157 million directly backing Trump's presidential campaign. Musk also gave $10m to the Senate Leadership Fund and $20.5m to RBG PAC. Source: FEC year-end filings (Washington Post, CNN, Jan 2025).
Gaza, UN Security Council Vetoes, and R2P (2023-25)(2023)(tap to reveal)- US vetoed multiple UNSC ceasefire resolutions. ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas leaders. Shows double standards in R2P application and limits of international law when P5 members are involved.
Inflation Reduction Act (2022): Reconciliation and the Legislative Process(2022)(tap to reveal)- The IRA (2022) committed 369 billion dollars to climate and clean energy - the largest US climate spend in history. It passed via reconciliation 51-50 with Harris as tiebreaker; no Republican voted for it.
January 6th, Impeachment, and Congressional Oversight (2021-22)(2021)(tap to reveal)- Capitol stormed. Trump impeached twice (first president). Second acquittal 57-43 (short of 2/3). January 6th Committee produced 845-page report but no criminal referral acted upon immediately. Shows impeachment as political not judicial process.
Laken Riley Act 2025 - detention without bail for charged non-citizens(2025)(tap to reveal)- Laken Riley Act 2025 - non-citizens charged with theft subject to mandatory detention without bail.
NATO Withdrawal Controversy: Congressional Power vs Presidential Authority (2025-26)(2025)(tap to reveal)- In 2023, Congress passed Section 1250A of the 2024 NDAA, requiring two-thirds Senate consent or an Act of Congress before any presidential withdrawal from NATO. Rubio co-sponsored the provision before becoming Secretary of State. In early 2026, Trump stated he could withdraw unilaterally without congressional approval, directly contradicting the statute. This follows earlier threats to NATO commitments and withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and WHO.
New Deal and Great Society: Federal Power Expansion (1933-68)(2025)(tap to reveal)- FDR's New Deal (1933): federal government took responsibility for economic recovery, social security, banking regulation. LBJ's Great Society (1965): Medicare, Medicaid, federal education funding. ER 2025 praised use of New Deal/Great Society as historical evidence that federalism is not in decline - federal power has expanded in waves. Essential for 'federalism is in decline' questions.
Roberts Court tariff ruling 2025-26 - 5-4 against Trump on executive tariff powers(2026)(tap to reveal)- Roberts Court 2025-26: 5-4 ruling against Trump tariffs; Barrett sided with liberal justices.
Texas 2026 Senate Republican primary: Cornyn v Paxton, the most expensive Senate primary in US history(2026)(tap to reveal)- The 2026 Texas Republican Senate primary between 23-year incumbent John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton consumed over $122 million in spending, surpassing Arizona 2022's $109.5m record. Cornyn outspent Paxton roughly 17 to 1 on TV ads through three outside Super PACs (Texans for a Conservative Majority $23.3m, Lone Star Freedom Project $17.8m, dark-money group One Nation $10.9m). Paxton won anyway, with Trump's endorsement, on 26 May 2026.