How has the relationship between President Obama and Congress changed between Obama’s first and second term in office? Has the context of foreign affairs altered the ways in which the executive and legislative branches respond to one another? What type of long-term consequences might this relationship have on future administrations? Cite specific examples in your answer.
What will be an ideal response?
Answers should identify Obama’s first term as being focused primarily on domestic issues, such as the economic crisis and health care reform. In the 2010 midterm elections, the Republican party regained the majority in the House, resulting in a divided Congress and a strained relationship between the legislative and executive branches. In Obama’s second term, Congress was sharply divided and often unable to act on foreign policy issues. Congressional Republicans were often critical of Obama, arguing he was too passive on international crises, such as the Syrian conflict and the rise of ISIS. Examples of the effects of Congress may cite these crises, as well as the Arab Spring, the Libyan intervention, the global economic crisis, or the dispute over Iran. Answers regarding the long-term consequences will vary but may mention the impact of strained relations on electoral politics or international opinions and negotiations with foreign governments.
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