With Donald Trump poised to become president of the United States, people may wonder about constraints in the political system that may prevent him from doing things he has promised during the campaign.
Congress may constrain a president
Trump has executive authority to reverse previous decisions on international agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Paris climate agreement, and the U.S. role in NATO. In terms of agreements that have to be negotiated, passed into law and approved, he must seek the approval of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
His fellow Republicans have majorities in both houses, so if they vote along party lines, Trump would not have much trouble amending, updating or negating treaties whether they involve trade or security.
President ‘is not an autocrat or dictator’
As president, he will make about 4,000 political appointments. The rest of the vast bureaucracy has job security and past presidents have complained about their ability to have initiatives move through. It is much like turning a large ship around, says Tom Schaller, a professor of political science at the University of Maryland.
He notes that presidents are also constrained by journalists and public opinion. “Our president in a democracy is not an autocrat or dictator despite what Mr. Trump may wish,” says Schaller.
ListenPower to launch military operations
That said, presidents have used executive powers to launch wars like the Gulf War and the war in Iraq, ongoing drone attacks and various military operations. “The president’s ability to use lethal force is checked by constitutional prerogatives and by laws passed by Congress, but those checks are relatively limited and the president does have emergency powers to act even without the consent of Congress in terms of short-term decisions,” he says.
President has power to unilaterally use nukes
As for launching nuclear attacks, Schaller says there are safeguards and checks against a president doing it immediately but “but if he decides that he wants to do it, effectively the president can unilaterally make that decision. So, those who are worried about it can be justly worried about it.”
During the campaign Trump spoke casually about using nuclear weapons, but that may change now that he has been elected, says Schaller. “I’d like to think that now that he’s gotten some security briefings he understands exactly what’s at stake if he decides to be trigger-happy. I think we should hope that he won’t be.”
Donald Trump ‘will be the most powerful president’
Schaller notes that each successive president has acquired all of the tools and power of the president before him. “Presidential power tends to increase with each new administration whether it’s over the security state or defense or the size of the budget and the programs…(on which) the government spends.
“So, Donald Trump, in some senses, will be the most powerful president because he’s the most recent president.”
While the subject of the increasing power of U.S. presidents has been debated, Schaller does not think it will change anytime soon.
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