1. A. As outlined in Article 2 of the Constitution, the president is the principal legislator and is responsible for setting policy. The connection between Congress and the executive branch is one of the most important aspects of government. The Constitution is discreet about the president's role in legislative activity, however the president can gather information for the bureaucracy, provide a legislative agenda to Congress, and turn to the public to support his legislative agenda. The president can appeal to Congress to enact the laws he deems necessary. He can try to influence Congress through promises of support and favors. The President remains formally in contact with Congress through written letters, private meetings, parties, and telephone calls. When the president receives a bill, he chooses to veto it, use the pocket veto, sign it, or do nothing. If the president does nothing and Congress is still in session 10 days later, it becomes law. The president and the bureaucracy constitute a major source of information and influence for the president, but its awkward composition requires checks and can often work against the president. Maintaining control over over 2 million employees is itself a round-the-clock occupation. Those affiliated with the bureaucracy work to safeguard their own interests or departments when they are at risk of budget cuts. They may neglect the president's requests and delay or undermine his agenda. To gain the support of his bureaucracy, the president must negotiate and convince the executive offices of the presidency. The president is the chief administrator and leader of the executive branch of the federal government. This branch administers and implements laws passed by the legislative branch and is headed by the president. The executive......middle of paper......tes and municipalities. It is for this purpose that a reduction in federal aid is occurring through matching grants to block grants. This gave states greater flexibility in executing federally funded programs and reducing federal mandates by decentralizing federal responsibilities to lower levels of government. Supporters of block grants believe that block grants have increased government competence, and critics argue that block grants weaken the realization of national goals. The Supreme Court has decided that the federal government has only the power interpreted within the Constitution. The implicit powers of the federal government have long been contested between the federal government and confidence in the sovereignty of the states. The Supreme Court upholds the belief in the sovereignty of states. Therefore, states have the right to implement block grants.