Trump ‘accountable?’ Easier said than done

In the current controversy over President Trump’s challenge to the Electoral College vote and the attack on the U.S. Capitol, we hear a lot about accountability. But what does this mean in the context of U.S. political institutions that divide authority among three branches of government, and how can Congress hold the president accountable? 

Many observers, foreign and domestic, often are confused about the lines of authority in American government. In parliamentary systems, the direction is clearer. The elected legislature chooses the political executive, led by the prime minister and the legislature and parliament can remove the executive, either informally through internal party checks or formally through a majority vote of no confidence. The reasons for the removal of the government may be legal, including corruption, incompetence or simply policy differences. If a successful vote of no confidence occurs, the government steps down, to be replaced, perhaps after a caretaker government, through a general election or legislative (intra- or inter-party) negotiations.

In contrast, lines of authority and representation in the U.S. are more complex, with shared responsibility in many realms, often summarized as separation of powers and checks and balances. Perennial arguments occur over institutional limits to authority and the relationship of different actors, which has reached a crisis point as the Trump administration winds down. Trust in the president is now at such a low point that maintaining his authority for another 10 days is considered dangerous. Some of his closest Cabinet members have seized the opportunity to vote with their feet, discovering principles and reversing years of fealty to the president.

With the coming Democratic control of both chambers of Congress and the presidency (unified government), legislators can be more assertive in attempting to rein in Trump. The Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has been skillful in this effort, acting quickly after the insurrection on Jan. 6. Rejecting the Republicans’ weak offer of a censure, Pelosi has given the president three options: 1) resign; 2) be subject to the 25th Amendment on presidential disability and step aside, leaving temporary leadership to Vice President Pence; 3) undergo a second impeachment process by the House, which could lead to the president’s conviction by the Senate, even after he leaves office on Jan. 20. This way of holding the U.S. head of government (and state) accountable is more complicated and politically fraught than in parliamentary systems. READ MORE