Best Answer
The President plays an important role in both the budgetary process and policymaking, even if the roles are less formal and direct than many people realize. The President and his Administration help establish the priorities for the nation, which is how a President impacts policymaking. Likewise, the President submits budget recommendations to Congress, but is not actually responsible for the budget. The two process are similar, but different, so they will be addressed sequentially.
The President’s role in developing the nation’s budget is dictated by statute and by precedent. The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 has the President present the budget recommendations to Congress by the first Monday of February. These recommendations are based upon the President interacting with federal agencies to determine their budget requirements, anticipated tax revenues, and deficit/surplus considerations. The budget helps outline the President’s priorities and accompanied by supporting evidence that backs up the recommended expenditures. The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires Congress to adopt a budget resolution by April 15th. The budget resolution is not the same thing as the budget but is more like an outline or blueprint for the details of the budget. The process of reconciliation is designed to bring the budget resolution in line with any existing spending guidelines or laws.
The President’s role in policymaking is fluid. In his Constitutional role, the President is responsible for carrying out and enforcing laws made by Congress and his real power over legislation is in deciding whether to sign legislation or exercise the veto. However, the President is also responsible for appointing Cabinet members to head the executive departments, determining who runs non-Cabinet executive agencies, and overseeing federal commissions. Through these appointments, the President can significantly impact both foreign and domestic policy.
