The Congress and Obamas Agenda - Essay Example

According to the U.S. Constitution the Congress retains the power to declare war and through its control of the purse strings can bring about a termination of a war, but it has no control over the actual conduct of the war, the power of which is retained by the President, and through this power defines the military strategy and troop deployments. (2).

          This separation of power shows that Congress has strong control over the purse strings or the expenditure that a President wants for the various agendas that the President believes are required for the nation. Given the current mindset of Congress, President Obama will find pushing through his agenda will not be easy. Dilution of the agenda is a strong possibility. This is not a novel situation. Examples of the failure of President Carter to push through his energy agenda, President Clinton his healthcare agenda, or President Bush his agenda to privatize Social Security highlight the role that Congress can play in making or breaking the agenda of a President. President Johnson’s success in getting Congressional support for his agenda can be an inspiration to President Obama. Close interaction between President Johnson and his staff with congress defines the strategy adopted by President Johnson. Success in getting Congressional support for a President’s agenda in the words of President Johnson, “if it’s really going to work, the relationship between the president and the Congress has got to be almost incestuous. He’s got to know them even better than they know themselves”. (3)

Conclusion

           The Separation of Powers as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution gives Congress a strong influence over President Obama’s agenda. This influence will make it difficult for President Obama to push through his agenda without diluting it to satisfy Congress. Ant improvement of the chances of his Agenda going through will depend on how closely he and his staff interact with Congress on the agenda.