While both Congress and the president have extensive legal powers, they cannot easily change the law to protect abortions under federal law. The United States Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. Congress, as the legislative branch, has the power to make laws, while the president, as the executive branch, has the power to enforce them. However, the president does have the authority to veto legislation passed by Congress, which can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Congress has oversight over American weapons sales to allies. Some Democrats say lawmakers should try to delay or even block them until further review. This demonstrates the role of Congress in overseeing the president's actions in foreign policy and national security. US weapons makers are teaming up with Kyiv to produce military gear in the war-torn country, likely, in part, at the taxpayer's expense. This collaboration highlights the complex relationship between the military-industrial complex, Congress, and the executive branch.
As previously reported, the U.S. House of Representatives, by a vote of 221-202, voted under the Congressional Review Act to override the president's decision on a particular issue. This shows that Congress has the power to check the president's actions through legislative means. Brazil's Congress has pushed through a new law that includes several anti-Indigenous measures that strip back land rights and open up protected areas for development. This highlights how Congress can pass laws that may go against the president's agenda.