How to Save the American Economy

[haxxiy]

MDMAlliance said:

haxxiy said:

MDMAlliance said:

McDonaldsGuy said:

Well you'd have to have Congress pass a tariff, but as a President I will enforce immigration laws.

The President cannot "enforce" anything.  The President's power mostly lies within his power to say no.  AKA his veto power.

For a capable politician, that should be enough to make the congress life very difficult if they aren't inclined towards the presidential policies. Yes, even on the systems who follow Mostesquieu's original ideas of a strong legislative to hold back executive power. 

For a capable politician.

A veto can be overridden.  It may rarely happen, but if the President is being unreasonable with His/Her power, it'll happen more often.  The point is that you can't really do whatever you want as President.  Once you are President, there are a lot of other things that will stand in your way of making things happen.  People over estimate the power the President has.

The same thing holds true in Brazil but I've never seen a veto being overriden. Even here the congress isn't willing to risk to look bad on the eyes of the populace by deliberately hindering executive decisions who are perceived as beneficial. Looking at Foxnews polls though, I guess they aren't quite bothered by unpopularity are they. People will keep voting democrat or republican so why bother...