ABSTRACT
The rise of the imperial presidency in the post-World War II era is well-documented, threatening the balance of power in the American separated system. The Trump presidency has been no exception, as the bully pulpit and executive powers have been used aggressively by the Administration. Congress, paralyzed by polarization and its own institutional rules, seems unable to respond, with the president’s co-partisans apparently eager to cede power to the executive in exchange for favorable policy outcomes. While this view is widespread, this chapter argues it is not accurate. In fact, Congress, especially on foreign policy matters, has worked to limit presidential power. Even during the 115th Congress, when Republicans had unified control of Congress, President Trump was forced to retreat on a number of issues after congressional leaders signaled opposition. The chapter offers three possible explanations of congressional push-back in the modern, polarized era, and offers suggestions for how scholars might measure each. Recent advances in techniques such as machine learning and text analysis, offer exciting ways to capture the conveyance of information through informal statements and actions.
