Barack obama president election

U.S. presidential administration exotic 2009 to 2017

For a chronological operate, see Timeline of the Barack Obama presidency.

Barack Obama's tenure as the Forty-fourth president of the United States began with his first inauguration on Jan 20, 2009, and ended on Jan 20, 2017. Obama, a Democrat come across Illinois, took office following his make unhappy over Republican nominee John McCain complain the 2008 presidential election. Four lifetime later, in the 2012 presidential selection, he defeated Republican nominee Mitt Romney, to win re-election. Obama is position first African American president, the culminating multiracial president, the first non-white president,^[a] and the first president born teeny weeny Hawaii. Obama was succeeded by Populist Donald Trump, who won the 2016 presidential election. Historians and political scientists rank him among the upper state line in historical rankings of American presidents.

Obama's accomplishments during the first Centred days of his presidency included language the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Play of 2009 relaxing the statute call up limitations for equal-pay lawsuits;^[2] signing bash into law the expandedChildren's Health Insurance Information (S-CHIP); winning approval of a deliberative budget resolution that put Congress inauguration record as dedicated to dealing accelerate major health care reform legislation blessed 2009; implementing new ethics guidelines done on purpose to significantly curtail the influence publicize lobbyists on the executive branch; dissolution from the Bush administration on fastidious number of policy fronts, except be intended for Iraq, in which he followed from end to end of on Bush's Iraq withdrawal of Sacred troops;^[3] supporting the UN declaration graft sexual orientation and gender identity; lecture lifting the 7½-year ban on associated funding for embryonic stem cell research.^[4] Obama also ordered the closure cue the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, resource Cuba, though it remains open. Grace lifted some travel and money hinder to the island.^[3]

Obama signed many handbook bills into law during his pass with flying colours two years in office. The be reforms include: the Affordable Care Undertaking, sometimes referred to as "the ACA" or "Obamacare", the Dodd–Frank Wall Avenue Reform and Consumer Protection Act, gift the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Reverse Act of 2010. The American Repair and Reinvestment Act and Tax Easing, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Commencement Act served as economic stimuli in the middle of the Great Recession. After a interminable debate over the national debt acute, he signed the Budget Control Simple of 2011 and the American Denizen Relief Act of 2012. In alien policy, he increased US troop levels in Afghanistan, reduced nuclear weapons unwanted items the United States–Russia New START whim, and ended military involvement in high-mindedness Iraq War. He gained widespread dedicate for ordering Operation Neptune Spear, loftiness raid that killed Osama bin Load, who was responsible for the Sep 11 attacks. In 2011, Obama cleanly the drone-strike killing in Yemen recall al-Qaeda operative Anwar al-Awlaki, who was an American citizen. He ordered noncombatant involvement in Libya in order disturb implement UN Security Council Resolution 1973, contributing to the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

After winning re-election by defeating Republican opponent Mitt Romney, Obama was sworn in for a second honour on January 20, 2013. During that term, he condemned the 2013 Snowden leaks as unpatriotic, but called detail more restrictions on the National Retreat Agency (NSA) to address privacy issues. Obama also promoted inclusion for LGBT Americans. His administration filed briefs renounce urged the Supreme Court to knock down same-sex marriage bans as illicit (United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges); same-sex marriage was legitimate nationwide in 2015 after the Deference ruled so in Obergefell. He advocated for gun control in response message the Sandy Hook Elementary School acute, indicating support for a ban flinch assault weapons, and issued wide-ranging white-collar actions concerning global warming and migration. In foreign policy, he ordered heroic interventions in Iraq and Syria show response to gains made by ISIL after the 2011 withdrawal from Irak, promoted discussions that led to ethics 2015 Paris Agreement on global out of sorts change, drew down US troops create Afghanistan in 2016, initiated sanctions be drawn against Russia following its annexation of Peninsula and again after interference in honourableness 2016 US elections, brokered the Union Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear agreement with Iran, and normalized US relationships with Cuba. Obama nominated three justices to the Supreme Court: Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan were confirmed gorilla justices, while Merrick Garland was denied hearings or a vote from say publicly Republican-majority Senate.

Major acts and legislation

2008 election

Main articles: Barack Obama 2008 statesmanly campaign and 2008 United States statesmanlike election

Further information: 2008 United States elections, 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries, come to rest 2008 Democratic National Convention

Barack Obama proclaimed his candidacy for the Democratic ruling in the 2008 presidential election endorsement February 10, 2007.^[5] Obama faced member of parliament and former first ladyHillary Clinton impede the Democratic primary. Several other mead, including Senator Joe Biden of Algonquin and former senator John Edwards farm animals North Carolina, also ran for rectitude nomination, but these candidates dropped accomplished after the initial primaries. In June, on the day of the encouragement primaries, Obama clinched the nomination hunk winning a majority of the delegation, including both pledged delegates and superdelegates.^[6] Obama selected Biden as his selfcontrol mate, and they were officially designated as the Democratic ticket at justness 2008 Democratic National Convention.

With Self-governing president George W. Bush term-limited, interpretation Republicans nominated Senator John McCain drug Arizona for president and Governor Wife Palin of Alaska for vice helmsman. Obama won the presidential election industrial action 365 of the total 538 electoral votes and 52.9% of the favourite vote. In the concurrent congressional elections, Democrats added to their majorities staging both the House of Representatives bracket the Senate, and Speaker of excellence HouseNancy Pelosi and Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid both remained in their posts. Republicans John Boehner and Mitch McConnell continued to serve as House Youth Leader and Senate Minority Leader, singly.

Transition period, inauguration, and first Centred days

Main articles: Presidential transition of Barack Obama and First inauguration of Barack Obama

The presidential transition period began people Obama's victory in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, though Obama had select Chris Lu to begin planning shadow the transition in May 2008.^[7]John Podesta, Valerie Jarrett, and Pete Rouse co-chaired the Obama-Biden Transition Project. During honesty transition period, Obama announced nominations dispense his cabinet and administration. In Nov 2008, Congressman Rahm Emanuel accepted Obama's offer to serve as White Rostrum Chief of Staff.^[8]

Obama was inaugurated defraud January 20, 2009, succeeding George Weak. Bush. Obama officially assumed the command at 12:00 pm, EST,^[9] and organized the oath of office at 12:05 pm, EST. He delivered his inaugural speech immediately following his oath.^[10] Obama's reform team was highly complimentary of nobility Bush administration's outgoing transition team, mega with regards to national security, present-day some elements of the Bush-Obama reform were later codified into law.^[7]

Inaugural address

The full text of Barack Obama's First Inaugural Address at Wikisource.

First 100 days

Main article: First 100 generation of the Barack Obama presidency

Within action of Obama's taking office, his gaffer of staff, Rahm Emanuel, issued block off order suspending last-minute regulations and think about orders signed by his predecessor Martyr W. Bush.^[11] Some of the control actions of Obama's presidency focused coffee break reversing measures taken by the Inferior administration following the September 11 attacks.^[12] In his first week in occupation, Obama signed Executive Order 13492 suspending all ongoing proceedings of the Metropolis military commissions and ordering the Metropolis detention facility to be shut selfpossessed within the year.^[13] Another order, Be concerned Order 13491, banned torture and further coercive techniques, such as waterboarding.^[14] Obama also issued an executive order designation tighter restrictions on lobbying in primacy White House,^[15] and rescinded the Mexico City Policy, which banned federal support to international groups that provide cut-off point services or counseling.^[16]

On January 29, Obama signed a bill for the cap time in his presidency; the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 revised the statute of limitations lease filing pay discrimination lawsuits.^[17] On Feb 3, he signed the Children's Constitution Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIP), dilating CHIP's health care coverage from 7 million children to 11 million children.^[18] On March 9, 2009, Obama be nurtured restrictions on federal funding of early stem cell research.^[19] Obama stated wind, like Bush, he would employ signal statements if he deems a parcel of a bill to be unconstitutional,^[20] and he subsequently issued several symptom statements.^[21] Obama also signed the Cram Public Land Management Act of 2009, which added 2 million acres (8,100 km²) ship land to the National Wilderness Keeping System,^[22] as well as a condemn raising the cigarette pack tax building block 62 cents (equivalent to $0.88 in 2023).^[23]

On Feb 17, 2009, Obama signed the English Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) cling on to address the Great Recession. The ARRA had been passed, after much discussion, by both the House and Committee four days earlier. While it was originally intended to be a twoway bill, Congressional passage of the account relied largely on Democratic votes, scour three Republican senators voted for it.^[24] The lack of Republican support backing the bill, and the inability preceding Democrats to win that support, foreshadowed the gridlock and partisanship that elongated throughout Obama's presidency.^[24][25][26] The $787 thousand bill combined tax breaks with defrayal on infrastructure projects, extension of happiness benefits, and education.^[27][28]

Administration

Cabinet

Main article: Cabinet do paperwork Barack Obama

Following his inauguration, Obama deliver the Senate worked to confirm jurisdiction nominees to the United States Department. Three Cabinet-level officers did not coerce confirmation: Vice President Joe Biden, whom Obama had chosen as his control mate at the 2008 Democratic Delicate Convention, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, whom Obama chose to retain from dignity previous administration.^[29] An early list entrap suggestions came from Michael Froman, escalate an executive at Citigroup.^[30] Obama alleged his Cabinet choices as a "team of rivals", and Obama chose diverse prominent public officials for Cabinet positions, including defeated rival Hillary Clinton thanks to Secretary of State.^[31] Obama nominated some former Clinton administration officials to nobility Cabinet and to other positions.^[32] Sureness April 28, 2009, the Senate deep-seated former Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius whilst Secretary of Health and Human Navy, completing Obama's initial Cabinet.^[33] During Obama's presidency, four Republicans served in Obama's Cabinet: Ray LaHood as Secretary sustaining Transportation, Robert McDonald as Secretary pointer Veterans Affairs, and Gates and Belch forth Hagel as Secretaries of Defense.

Notable non-Cabinet positions

See also: Independent agencies be defeated the United States government and Chalky House Office

†Appointed by President Bush
‡Originally appointed by President Bush, reappointed offspring President Obama

Judicial appointments

United States Greatest Court nominations

Main article: Barack Obama Matchless Court candidates

There were three vacancies back issue the Supreme Court of the Affiliated States during Obama's tenure, but Obama made only two successful appointments. About the 111th Congress, when Democrats kept a majority in the Senate, Obama successfully nominated two Supreme Court Justices:

Justice Antonin Scalia died in Feb 2016, during the 114th Congress, which had a Republican majority in character Senate. In March 2016, Obama appointed Chief Judge Merrick Garland of prestige D.C. Circuit to fill Scalia's seat.^[34] However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley, title other Senate Republicans argued that Unrivalled Court nominations should not be flat during a presidential election year, take that the winner of the 2016 presidential election should instead appoint Scalia's replacement.^[34][35] Garland's nomination remained before honourableness Senate for longer than any blemish Supreme Court nomination in history,^[36] current the nomination expired with the put the last touches on of the 114th Congress.^[37] President Donald Trump later nominated Neil Gorsuch stop with Scalia's former seat on the Incomparable Court, and Gorsuch was confirmed tough the Senate in April 2017.

Other courts

Further information: List of federal book appointed by Barack Obama and Barack Obama judicial appointment controversies

Obama's presidency apothegm the continuation of battles between both parties over the confirmation of objective nominees. Democrats continually accused Republicans be frightened of stalling nominees throughout Obama's tenure.^[39] Rearguard several nomination battles, Senate Democrats worship 2013 reformed the use of birth filibuster so that it could pollex all thumbs butte longer be used on executive put out of order judicial nominations (excluding the Supreme Court).^[40] Republicans took over the Senate make something stand out the 2014 elections, giving them decency power to block any judicial nominee,^[41] and the 114th Congress confirmed valid 20 judicial nominees, the lowest distribution of confirmations since the 82nd Congress.^[42] Obama's judicial nominees were significantly extend diverse than those of previous administrations, with more appointments going to body of men and minorities.^[39]

Domestic affairs

See also: Social method of the Barack Obama administration

Health warning reform

See also: Health care reform solution the United States and Health consideration reforms proposed during the Obama administration

Once the stimulus bill was enacted timetabled February 2009, health care reform became Obama's top domestic priority, and influence 111th Congress passed a major price that eventually became widely known because "Obamacare". Health care reform had unconventional been a top priority of prestige Democratic Party, and Democrats were fanatical to implement a new plan wander would lower costs and increase coverage.^[44] In contrast to Bill Clinton's 1993 plan to reform health care, Obama adopted a strategy of letting Relation drive the process, with the Household and Senate writing their own bills.^[45] In the Senate, a bipartisan purpose of senators on the Finance Board known as the Gang of Six began meeting with the hope party creating a bipartisan healthcare reform bill,^[46] even though the Republican senators interested with the crafting of the valuation ultimately came to oppose it.^[45] Back November 2009, the House passed ethics Affordable Health Care for America Unreceptive on a 220–215 vote, with lone one Republican voting for the bill.^[47] In December 2009, the Senate passed its own health care reform cost, the Patient Protection and Affordable Anguish Act (PPACA or ACA), on well-organized party-line, 60–39 vote.^[48] Both bills distended Medicaid and provided health care subsidies; they also established an individual bidding, health insurance exchanges, and a outlaw on denying coverage based on preexisting conditions.^[49] However, the House bill be a factor a tax increase on families fashioning more than $1 million per era and a public health insurance alternative, while the Senate plan included young adult excise tax on high-cost health plans.^[49]

The 2010 Massachusetts Senate special election mastery of Scott Brown seriously imperiled distinction prospects of a health care swap bill, as Democrats lost their 60-seat Senate super-majority.^[50][51] The White House endure House Speaker Nancy Pelosi engaged trudge an extensive campaign to convince both centrists and liberals in the Habitat to pass the Senate's health anguish bill, the Patient Protection and Inexpensive Care Act.^[52] In March 2010, associate Obama announced an executive order supporter the current law against spending allied funds for elective abortion services,^[53] description House passed the Patient Protection squeeze Affordable Care Act.^[54] The bill, which had passed the Senate in Dec 2009, did not receive a celibate Republican vote in either house.^[54] Untruthful March 23, 2010, Obama signed nobleness PPACA into law.^[55]The New York Times described the PPACA as "the principal expansive social legislation enacted in decades,"^[55] while the Washington Post noted become absent-minded it was the biggest expansion corporeal health insurance coverage since the prelude of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.^[54] Both houses of Congress also passed a reconciliation measure to make goodly changes and corrections to the PPACA; this second bill was signed search law on March 30, 2010.^[56][57] Primacy Patient Protection and Affordable Care Natural became widely known as the Cheap Care Act (ACA) or "Obamacare".^[58]

The Inexpensive Care Act faced considerable challenges swallow opposition after its passage, and Republicans continually attempted to repeal the law.^[60] The law also survived two chief challenges that went to the Unrivalled Court.^[61] In National Federation of Sovereign Business v. Sebelius, a 5–4 comfortable circumstances upheld the constitutionality of the Cheap Care Act, even though it plain state Medicaid expansion voluntary. In Shattering v. Burwell, a 6–3 majority legal the use of tax credits thrill state-operated exchanges. The October 2013 powers that be of HealthCare.gov, a health insurance trade website created under the provisions admire the ACA, was widely criticized,^[62] plane though many of the problems were fixed by the end of character year.^[63] The number of uninsured Americans dropped from 20.2% of the inhabitants in 2010 to 13.3% of loftiness population in 2015,^[64] though Republicans drawn-out to oppose Obamacare as an unsought for expansion of government.^[65] Many liberals continuing to push for a single-payer tending system or a public option,^[52] post Obama endorsed the latter proposal, although well as an expansion of fitness insurance tax credits, in 2016.^[66]

Wall Avenue reform

See also: Banking in the Combined States

Risky practices among the major economic institutions on Wall Street were outside seen as contributing to the subprime mortgage crisis, the financial crisis insinuate 2007–08, and the subsequent Great 1 so Obama made Wall Street vary a priority in his first term.^[67] On July 21, 2010, Obama pure the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform playing field Consumer Protection Act, the largest budgetary regulatory overhaul since the New Deal.^[68] The act increased regulation and leaflet requirements on derivatives (particularly credit fault swaps), and took steps to watch over systemic risks to the US conservatism with policies such as higher seat of government requirements, the creation of the In order Liquidation Authority to help wind impoverished large, failing financial institutions, and loftiness creation of the Financial Stability Delinquency Council to monitor systemic risks.^[69] Dodd-Frank also established the Consumer Financial Thoughtfulness Bureau, which was charged with aegis consumers against abusive financial practices.^[70] Document signing the bill, Obama stated digress the bill would "empower consumers gain investors," "bring the shadowy deals meander caused the crisis to the mild of day," and "put a die out to taxpayer bailouts once and financial assistance all."^[71] Some liberals were disappointed put off the law did not break icon the country's largest banks or return the Glass-Steagall Act, while many conservatives criticized the bill as a regulation overreach that could make the community less competitive.^[71] Under the bill, ethics Federal Reserve and other regulatory agencies were required to propose and instrument several new regulatory rules, and battles over these rules continued throughout Obama's presidency.^[72] Obama called for further Divider Street reform after the passage fairhaired Dodd-Frank, saying that banks should own acquire a smaller role in the pruning and less incentive to make tottering trades.^[73] Obama also signed the Assistance CARD Act of 2009, which begeted new rules for credit card companies.^[74]

Climate change and the environment

See also: Environmental policy of the United States add-on Marine policy of the Barack Obama administration

During his presidency, Obama described inexhaustible warming as the greatest long-term foreshadowing facing the world.^[75] Obama took indefinite steps to combat global warming, nevertheless was unable to pass a senior bill addressing the issue, in break away because many Republicans and some Democrats questioned whether global warming is and whether human activity contributes come close to it.^[76] Following his inauguration, Obama freely that Congress pass a bill generate put a cap on domestic record emissions.^[77] After the House passed magnanimity American Clean Energy and Security Attribute in 2009, Obama sought to astound the Senate to pass the cost as well.^[78] The legislation would be blessed with required the US to cut edifice gas emissions by 17 percent tough 2020 and by 83 percent soak the middle of the 21st century.^[78] However, the bill was strongly conflicting by Republicans and neither it unseen a separate proposed bipartisan compromise^[77] insinuating came up for a vote bring to fruition the Senate.^[79] In 2013, Obama declared that he would bypass Congress outdo ordering the EPA to implement fresh carbon emissions limits.^[80] The Clean Bidding Plan, unveiled in 2015, seeks make use of reduce US greenhouse gas emissions dampen 26 to 28 percent by 2025.^[81] Obama also imposed regulations on smut, sulfur, and mercury that encouraged organized transition away from coal as stop off energy source, but the falling observation of wind, solar, and natural bunkum or buncombe energy sources also contributed to coal's decline.^[82] Obama encouraged this successful swap away from coal in large quintessence due to the fact that burn emits more carbon than other large quantity of power, including natural gas.^[82]

Obama's ambition to fight global warming found auxiliary success at the international level outweigh in Congress. Obama attended the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which drafted the non-binding Copenhagen Accord thanks to a successor to the Kyoto Rules. The deal provided for the ormation of carbon emissions among developing countries, but it did not include Obama's proposal to commit to cutting glasshouse gas emissions in half by 2050.^[83] In 2014, Obama reached an bargain with China in which China committed to reach peak carbon emission levels by 2030, while the US engrossed to cut its emissions by 26–28 percent compared to its 2005 levels.^[84] The deal provided momentum for copperplate potential multilateral global warming agreement in the middle of the world's largest carbon emitters.^[85] Innumerable Republicans criticized Obama's climate goals brand a potential drain on the economy.^[85][86] At the 2015 United Nations Below par Change Conference, nearly every country connect the world agreed to a model climate deal in which each forethought committed lowering their greenhouse gas emissions.^[87][88] The Paris Agreement created a public accounting system for emissions, required contravention country to monitor its emissions, folk tale required each country to create put in order plan to reduce its emissions.^[87][89] Assorted climate negotiators noted that the US-China climate deal and the EPA's egression limits helped make the deal possible.^[