While presidents may sometimes talk about bureaucratic reorganization in terms of reducing waste and increasing efficiency, the goal may be to increase presidential control in service of political aims.

Ambassadorships are sometimes given as patronage appointments to reward political supporters.

Congress might sometimes pass bills specifically to compel the president to veto them, making the president look extreme to the public.

Because only Congress has appropriations powers, Donald Trump was left without any options to increase border wall funding beyond the limited amount that Congress had already explicitly allocated for that purpose.

The doctrine of acquiescence suggests that Congress’s silence on presidential actions implies approval of those actions, such as executive orders.

The two-presidencies thesis posits that presidents are:

Presidents may in limited circumstances exercise “ex post” budget influence by reallocating federal funds after legislation has already passed.

In the context of budgetary control, the president’s “ex ante influence” refers to:

Presidents have used the National Emergencies Act to try to claim additional unilateral powers.

Unilateral presidential actions, such as executive orders, must always be approved by Congress to take effect.