2026/04/13 by Douglas L. Kriner
Social Sciences · #American Constitutional Law and Politics #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Policy Transfer and Learning
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s1049096525101704
openalex publication_date 2026/04/13 · openalex created_date 2026/04/14 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
ABSTRACT Although all presidents pursue their agendas unilaterally, President Donald Trump’s early second-term actions shocked the political system for their scope and breadth. One of Trump’s boldest moves was a frontal assault on Congress’s constitutional power of the purse through unprecedented impoundments and unilateral tariffs. Despite widespread public opposition to Trump’s gambits and clear statutory violations, Congress has offered little resistance, marking a stark departure from historical precedent. This analysis situates Trump’s actions within broader debates over the scope of executive authority and the weakening of institutional checks and balances. Partisan incentives and Trump’s dominance of the Republican Party have muted congressional resistance, raising urgent questions about the future of the separation of powers in an era of unprecedented executive overreach.