Political Capital

The president of the United States, commonly perceived as the "leader" of the United States, in reality is limited by two different branches of government and exists merely as a piece of a larger puzzle that makes up the American political system rather than wielding absolute dictatorial power. However, the Green Lantern Theory of Presidency posits that the president is able to achieve any policy objective if he or she tries hard enough and uses the right tactics to persuade the right people.

While, the theory is slightly idealistic and perhaps stretches the truth of the extent of what a president can accomplish, it does shed crucial light on a far more important political concept: "political capital." In the context of political science, political capital refers to how much influence one can assert to produce desired legislative outcomes. For example, the president would exert political capital onto various members of Congress and lawmakers in order to pass desired policies.

However, political capital is not infinite. With electoral victories, or increasing popularity, political capital, too, increases. On the other hand, with defeats or unpopular actions, political capital can also be lost. In a way, this concept of political capital can be imagined as a sort of invisible currency that the president is able to expend in order to produce his or her desired outcomes.

This theory holds explanatory power for a large portion of American history, for so much of it is based on the political atmosphere of the United States. When a popular president comes into office and has lots of political capital to expend, they are able to get away with the passing of many policies: Jackson with the Indian Removal Act, Wilson with the Espionage and Sedition Acts, and Roosevelt with Japanese internment. Ultimately, political capital plays an important role in deciding what policies pushed for by various presidents of the United States are actually able to come into existence.

Some still dispute the very existence of political capital. In a way, the entire idea does sound a bit preposterous. Does the president really have this pot of political capital he or she can reach into and give to various members of Congress to get policies to pass? It sounds a bit too unrealistic. Ezra Klein of Vox, for example, criticizes the very idea of political capital, arguing that it is far too simplistic in that it does not account for the many variables that influence politics beyond just the president. Additionally, he argues that it ignores many fundamental Congressional realities that a president like Obama had to face: an increasingly polarized Congress and staunch conservative opponents criticizing his every move.

While some still dispute its existence, overall, the concept of political capital is an interesting perspective to take in analyzing the various dynamics of American politics throughout history and how the president interacts with other branches of government.

https://politicstheorypractice.wordpress.com/2016/04/06/does-political-capital-matter/