Presidential-Congressional Relations How does public opinion, presidential patronage, iron triangles, the distribution of power within congress, and whether the presidents agenda involves, foreign or domestic policy affect the president’s ability to mobilize congressional support for his programs and bills? Are these relations between the president and congress showing signs of support towards elite or popular democracy? These are the questions brought to light in this paper and each factor will be discussed as to why these functions operate as they currently do. Without congressional approval the president is helpless as to his power to but a bill or a proposal into law. Therefore, it is mandatory for the president to gain congress’s support for his bill, or at least his main goals associated with this program. The first factor that contributes to a presidential proposal being successful is the president’s ability to rally public opinion in support of his bill.The best way to get a proposal through congress is keep the public informed and active as its situation. Public opinion is key for success because the public has direct access to its congress-people and is able to voice their opinions as to what they want accomplished and sway their congress-person’s position. If enough people from their respective districts voice concern over the standings of said bill they may change their opinion in favor over to this current standpoint of public opinion. The president may chose to rally public opinion in a number of ways.In order to gain public’s interest on a given topic, it is necessary to get its attention. The president has many options available to him, as the most public of all American figures. Through press, the president has to him available millions of possible supporters of his programs that he is pushing. The president may chose to hold a press conference, run commercials, hold a “f...
