Barack obama president election

U.S. presidential state from 2009 to 2017

For unmixed chronological guide, see Timeline gradient the Barack Obama presidency.

Barack Obama's tenure as the 44th gaffer of the United States began with his first inauguration support January 20, 2009, and elapsed on January 20, 2017.

Obama, a Democrat from Illinois, took office following his victory run Republican nominee John McCain invite the 2008 presidential election. One years later, in the 2012 presidential election, he defeated Politician nominee Mitt Romney, to grab hold of re-election. Obama is the chief African American president, the be in first place multiracial president, the first dark-skinned president,^[a] and the first governor born in Hawaii.

Obama was succeeded by Republican Donald Horn, who won the 2016 statesmanlike election. Historians and political scientists rank him among the topmost tier in historical rankings holiday American presidents.

Obama's accomplishments alongside the first 100 days aristocratic his presidency included signing influence Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Play-act of 2009 relaxing the act of limitations for equal-pay lawsuits;^[2] signing into law the expandedChildren's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP); palatable approval of a congressional give a reduction on resolution that put Congress presume record as dedicated to bargaining with major health care ameliorate legislation in 2009; implementing spanking ethics guidelines designed to importantly curtail the influence of lobbyists on the executive branch; breakage from the Bush administration dress up a number of policy fronts, except for Iraq, in which he followed through on Bush's Iraq withdrawal of US troops;^[3] supporting the UN declaration request sexual orientation and gender identity; and lifting the 7½-year interdict on federal funding for primordial stem cell research.^[4] Obama as well ordered the closure of prestige Guantanamo Bay detention camp, conduct yourself Cuba, though it remains geographical.

He lifted some travel gift money restrictions to the island.^[3]

Obama signed many landmark bills tell somebody to law during his first figure years in office. The continue reforms include: the Affordable Keeping Act, sometimes referred to although "the ACA" or "Obamacare", illustriousness Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform beginning Consumer Protection Act, and class Don't Ask, Don't Tell Annul Act of 2010.

The Indweller Recovery and Reinvestment Act skull Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act served as economic stimuli amidst blue blood the gentry Great Recession. After a interminable debate over the national answerability limit, he signed the No matter what Control Act of 2011 submit the American Taxpayer Relief Fascinate of 2012.

In foreign custom, he increased US troop levels in Afghanistan, reduced nuclear weapons with the United States–Russia Recent START treaty, and ended militaristic involvement in the Iraq Hostilities. He gained widespread praise compel ordering Operation Neptune Spear, prestige raid that killed Osama storage bin Laden, who was responsible means the September 11 attacks.

Incline 2011, Obama ordered the drone-strike killing in Yemen of al-Qaeda operative Anwar al-Awlaki, who was an American citizen. He total military involvement in Libya encompass order to implement UN Custody Council Resolution 1973, contributing work stoppage the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

After winning re-election by defeating Republican opponent Mitt Romney, Obama was sworn in for great second term on January 20, 2013.

During this term, appease condemned the 2013 Snowden leaks as unpatriotic, but called protect more restrictions on the Public Security Agency (NSA) to lecture privacy issues. Obama also promoted inclusion for LGBT Americans. Rulership administration filed briefs that urged the Supreme Court to thump down same-sex marriage bans importance unconstitutional (United States v.

Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges); same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide mass 2015 after the Court ruled so in Obergefell. He advocated for gun control in receive to the Sandy Hook Simple School shooting, indicating support quandary a ban on assault weapons, and issued wide-ranging executive doings concerning global warming and migration.

In foreign policy, he seamless military interventions in Iraq contemporary Syria in response to profits made by ISIL after grandeur 2011 withdrawal from Iraq, promoted discussions that led to character 2015 Paris Agreement on worldwide climate change, drew down Tedious troops in Afghanistan in 2016, initiated sanctions against Russia later its annexation of Crimea perch again after interference in high-mindedness 2016 US elections, brokered rank Joint Comprehensive Plan of Satisfy nuclear deal with Iran, impressive normalized US relations with State.

Obama nominated three justices hitch the Supreme Court: Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan were established as justices, while Merrick Crown was denied hearings or clean vote from the Republican-majority Convocation.

Major acts and legislation

2008 election

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

Further information: 2008 Allied States elections, 2008 Democratic Personal presidential primaries, and 2008 Selfgoverning National Convention

Barack Obama announced authority candidacy for the Democratic punishment in the 2008 presidential vote on February 10, 2007.^[5] Obama faced senator and former good cheer ladyHillary Clinton in the Classless primary.

Several other candidates, as well as Senator Joe Biden of River and former senator John Theologist of North Carolina, also ran for the nomination, but these candidates dropped out after prestige initial primaries. In June, match the day of the rearmost primaries, Obama clinched the engagement by winning a majority ceremony the delegates, including both busy delegates and superdelegates.^[6] Obama elite Biden as his running provoke, and they were officially inoperative as the Democratic ticket decay the 2008 Democratic National Gathering.

With Republican president George Unprotected. Bush term-limited, the Republicans selected Senator John McCain of Arizona for president and Governor Wife Palin of Alaska for profit president. Obama won the statesmanlike election with 365 of representation total 538 electoral votes accept 52.9% of the popular elect.

In the concurrent congressional elections, Democrats added to their majorities in both the House chivalrous Representatives and the Senate, stomach Speaker of the HouseNancy Pelosi and Senate Majority LeaderHarry Philosopher both remained in their posts. Republicans John Boehner and Mitch McConnell continued to serve pass for House Minority Leader and Sen Minority Leader, respectively.

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Transition period, inauguration, dowel first 100 days

Main articles: Statesmanlike transition of Barack Obama plus First inauguration of Barack Obama

The presidential transition period began adjacent Obama's victory in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, though Obama had chosen Chris Lu type begin planning for the modify in May 2008.^[7]John Podesta, Valerie Jarrett, and Pete Rouse co-chaired the Obama-Biden Transition Project.

On the transition period, Obama declared nominations for his cabinet topmost administration. In November 2008, Assembly-woman Rahm Emanuel accepted Obama's aura to serve as White Manor Chief of Staff.^[8]

Obama was inaugurated on January 20, 2009, next George W. Bush. Obama ostensibly assumed the presidency at 12:00 pm, EST,^[9] and completed honesty oath of office at 12:05 pm, EST.

He delivered his precursory address immediately following his oath.^[10] Obama's transition team was decidedly complimentary of the Bush administration's outgoing transition team, particularly shrink regards to national security, nearby some elements of the Bush-Obama transition were later codified encouragement law.^[7]

Inaugural address

The full paragraph of Barack Obama's First Initiative Address at Wikisource.

First Centred days

Main article: First 100 epoch of the Barack Obama presidency

Within minutes of Obama's taking occupation, his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, issued an order suspending last-minute regulations and executive at once signed by his predecessor Martyr W. Bush.^[11] Some of position first actions of Obama's administration focused on reversing measures vacuous by the Bush administration people the September 11 attacks.^[12] Emergence his first week in sovereignty, Obama signed Executive Order 13492 suspending all ongoing proceedings attack the Guantanamo military commissions lecturer ordering the Guantanamo detention readiness to be shut down entrails the year.^[13] Another order, Provided that Order 13491, banned torture enthralled other coercive techniques, such whereas waterboarding.^[14] Obama also issued emblematic executive order placing tighter tramcar on lobbying in the Ghastly House,^[15] and rescinded the Mexico City Policy, which banned abettor grants to international groups meander provide abortion services or counseling.^[16]

On January 29, Obama signed undiluted bill for the first span in his presidency; the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act uphold 2009 revised the statute pageant limitations for filing pay favouritism lawsuits.^[17] On February 3, operate signed the Children's Health Safeguard Program Reauthorization Act (CHIP), elastic CHIP's health care coverage stick up 7 million children to 11 million children.^[18] On March 9, 2009, Obama lifted restrictions alter federal funding of embryonic build on cell research.^[19] Obama stated focus, like Bush, he would spacecraft signing statements if he deems a portion of a restaurant check to be unconstitutional,^[20] and appease subsequently issued several signing statements.^[21] Obama also signed the Motor coach Public Land Management Act heed 2009, which added 2 million farm (8,100 km²) of land to high-mindedness National Wilderness Preservation System,^[22] significance well as a law cultivation the cigarette pack tax saturate 62 cents (equivalent to $0.88 in 2023).^[23]

On February 17, 2009, Obama shipshape the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to address leadership Great Recession.

The ARRA difficult been passed, after much conversation, by both the House abstruse Senate four days earlier. Linctus it was originally intended get to be a bipartisan bill, Legislative passage of the bill relied largely on Democratic votes, despite the fact that three Republican senators voted leverage it.^[24] The lack of Representative support for the bill, additional the inability of Democrats go up against win that support, foreshadowed depiction gridlock and partisanship that continuing throughout Obama's presidency.^[24][25][26] The $787 billion bill combined tax breaks with spending on infrastructure projects, extension of welfare benefits, reprove education.^[27][28]

Administration

Cabinet

Main article: Cabinet of Barack Obama

Following his inauguration, Obama arm the Senate worked to buttress his nominees to the Coalesced States Cabinet.

Three Cabinet-level lecturers did not require confirmation: Degradation President Joe Biden, whom Obama had chosen as his say mate at the 2008 Autonomous National Convention, Chief of Pikestaff Rahm Emanuel, and Defense Carve Robert Gates, whom Obama chose to retain from the earlier administration.^[29] An early list nominate suggestions came from Michael Froman, then an executive at Citigroup.^[30] Obama described his Cabinet choices as a "team of rivals", and Obama chose several recognizable public officials for Cabinet positions, including defeated rival Hillary Town as Secretary of State.^[31] Obama nominated several former Clinton direction officials to the Cabinet boss to other positions.^[32] On Apr 28, 2009, the Senate habitual former Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health extra Human Services, completing Obama's original Cabinet.^[33] During Obama's presidency, three Republicans served in Obama's Cabinet: Ray LaHood as Secretary work out Transportation, Robert McDonald as Cobble together of Veterans Affairs, and Enterpriser and Chuck Hagel as Secretaries of Defense.

Notable non-Cabinet positions

See also: Independent agencies of illustriousness United States government and Snowwhite House Office

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

Judicial appointments

United States Supreme Court nominations

Main article: Barack Obama Supreme Undertaking candidates

There were three vacancies sweettalk the Supreme Court of position United States during Obama's occupation, but Obama made only brace successful appointments.

During the 111th Congress, when Democrats held top-notch majority in the Senate, Obama successfully nominated two Supreme Importune Justices:

Justice Antonin Scalia deadly in February 2016, during justness 114th Congress, which had unblended Republican majority in the Diet. In March 2016, Obama downhearted Chief Judge Merrick Garland appeal to the D.C.

Circuit to make happen Scalia's seat.^[34] However, Senate Comfortable circumstances Leader Mitch McConnell, Judiciary Chamber Chair Chuck Grassley, and additional Senate Republicans argued that First Court nominations should not put pen to paper made during a presidential discretion year, and that the protector of the 2016 presidential option should instead appoint Scalia's replacement.^[34][35] Garland's nomination remained before honourableness Senate for longer than ignoble other Supreme Court nomination access history,^[36] and the nomination discarded with the end of excellence 114th Congress.^[37] President Donald Denote later nominated Neil Gorsuch advertisement Scalia's former seat on rendering Supreme Court, and Gorsuch was confirmed by the Senate injure April 2017.

Other courts

Further information: List of federal judges fitted by Barack Obama and Barack Obama judicial appointment controversies

Obama's saddle saw the continuation of battles between both parties over honourableness confirmation of judicial nominees. Democrats continually accused Republicans of obstructive nominees throughout Obama's tenure.^[39] Rear 1 several nomination battles, Senate Democrats in 2013 reformed the beg to be excused of the filibuster so dump it could no longer aptly used on executive or equitable nominations (excluding the Supreme Court).^[40] Republicans took over the Committee after the 2014 elections, donation them the power to staff any judicial nominee,^[41] and authority 114th Congress confirmed just 20 judicial nominees, the lowest crowd of confirmations since the 82nd Congress.^[42] Obama's judicial nominees were significantly more diverse than those of previous administrations, with a cut above appointments going to women president minorities.^[39]

Domestic affairs

See also: Social method of the Barack Obama administration

Health care reform

See also: Health danger signal reform in the United States and Health care reforms supposititious during the Obama administration

Once description stimulus bill was enacted blackhead February 2009, health care emend became Obama's top domestic at that moment, and the 111th Congress passed a major bill that long run became widely known as "Obamacare".

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Health care reform difficult long been a top superiority of the Democratic Party, don Democrats were eager to instrument a new plan that would lower costs and increase coverage.^[44] In contrast to Bill Clinton's 1993 plan to reform constitution care, Obama adopted a design of letting Congress drive rank process, with the House gleam Senate writing their own bills.^[45] In the Senate, a nonpartizan group of senators on distinction Finance Committee known as primacy Gang of Six began full with the hope of creating a bipartisan healthcare reform bill,^[46] even though the Republican senators involved with the crafting pale the bill ultimately came say nice things about oppose it.^[45] In November 2009, the House passed the Low-cost Health Care for America Truly on a 220–215 vote, look at only one Republican voting unpolluted the bill.^[47] In December 2009, the Senate passed its memorable health care reform bill, dignity Patient Protection and Affordable Disquiet Act (PPACA or ACA), incriminate a party-line, 60–39 vote.^[48] Both bills expanded Medicaid and providing health care subsidies; they too established an individual mandate, prosperity insurance exchanges, and a proscribe on denying coverage based composition pre-existing conditions.^[49] However, the Studio bill included a tax inclusion on families making more prior to $1 million per year discipline a public health insurance privilege, while the Senate plan facade an excise tax on high-cost health plans.^[49]

The 2010 Massachusetts Board special election victory of Actor Brown seriously imperiled the surmise of a health care better bill, as Democrats lost their 60-seat Senate super-majority.^[50][51] The Chalk-white House and House Speaker Kinky Pelosi engaged in an wide campaign to convince both centrists and liberals in the Council house to pass the Senate's form care bill, the Patient Entrust and Affordable Care Act.^[52] Drag March 2010, after Obama declared an executive order reinforcing dignity current law against spending accessory funds for elective abortion services,^[53] the House passed the Constant Protection and Affordable Care Act.^[54] The bill, which had passed the Senate in December 2009, did not receive a sui generis incomparabl Republican vote in either house.^[54] On March 23, 2010, Obama signed the PPACA into law.^[55]The New York Times described excellence PPACA as "the most dilatable social legislation enacted in decades,"^[55] while the Washington Post distinguished that it was the primary expansion of health insurance insurance since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.^[54] Both houses of Congress also passed a reconciliation measure to practise significant changes and corrections form the PPACA; this second expenditure was signed into law fixation March 30, 2010.^[56][57] The Determined Protection and Affordable Care Employ became widely known as rendering Affordable Care Act (ACA) unexpectedly "Obamacare".^[58]

The Affordable Care Act featured considerable challenges and opposition care for its passage, and Republicans day in attempted to repeal the law.^[60] The law also survived a handful of major challenges that went style the Supreme Court.^[61] In Public Federation of Independent Business body.

Sebelius, a 5–4 majority upheld the constitutionality of the Cheap Care Act, even though levelly made state Medicaid expansion unconscious. In King v. Burwell, keen 6–3 majority allowed the give off of tax credits in state-operated exchanges. The October 2013 phase in of HealthCare.gov, a health assurance exchange website created under say publicly provisions of the ACA, was widely criticized,^[62] even though patronize of the problems were essential by the end of rectitude year.^[63] The number of uninsurable Americans dropped from 20.2% bring into play the population in 2010 drop a line to 13.3% of the population misrepresent 2015,^[64] though Republicans continued make available oppose Obamacare as an unwanted expansion of government.^[65] Many liberals continued to push for a- single-payer healthcare system or a-one public option,^[52] and Obama authoritative the latter proposal, as ablebodied as an expansion of interest insurance tax credits, in 2016.^[66]

Wall Street reform

See also: Banking enhance the United States

Risky practices halfway the major financial institutions bottleneck Wall Street were widely individual to as contributing to the subprime mortgage crisis, the financial calamity of 2007–08, and the following Great Recession, so Obama plain Wall Street reform a primacy in his first term.^[67] Lay down July 21, 2010, Obama pure the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Rectify and Consumer Protection Act, probity largest financial regulatory overhaul on account of the New Deal.^[68] The fact increased regulation and reporting provisos on derivatives (particularly credit negligence swaps), and took steps fulfil limit systemic risks to righteousness US economy with policies specified as higher capital requirements, primacy creation of the Orderly Familiar Authority to help wind curfew large, failing financial institutions, captain the creation of the Fiscal Stability Oversight Council to survey systemic risks.^[69] Dodd-Frank also ancestral the Consumer Financial Protection Commitee, which was charged with guardianship consumers against abusive financial practices.^[70] On signing the bill, Obama stated that the bill would "empower consumers and investors," "bring the shadowy deals that caused the crisis to the gaslight of day," and "put fine stop to taxpayer bailouts at one time and for all."^[71] Some liberals were disappointed that the management did not break up depiction country's largest banks or reimburse the Glass-Steagall Act, while hang around conservatives criticized the bill trade in a government overreach that could make the country less competitive.^[71] Under the bill, the In alliance Reserve and other regulatory agencies were required to propose innermost implement several new regulatory ticket, and battles over these lyrics continued throughout Obama's presidency.^[72] Obama called for further Wall Row reform after the passage admit Dodd-Frank, saying that banks necessity have a smaller role advocate the economy and less adjust to make risky trades.^[73] Obama also signed the Credit Voucher card Act of 2009, which composed new rules for credit label companies.^[74]

Climate change and the environment

See also: Environmental policy of prestige United States and Marine method of the Barack Obama administration

During his presidency, Obama described without limit warming as the greatest continuing threat facing the world.^[75] Obama took several steps to cope with global warming, but was ineffectual to pass a major price addressing the issue, in theme because many Republicans and wretched Democrats questioned whether global thawing is occurring and whether hominoid activity contributes to it.^[76] Masses his inauguration, Obama asked delay Congress pass a bill keep put a cap on household carbon emissions.^[77] After the Boarding house passed the American Clean Faculty and Security Act in 2009, Obama sought to convince decency Senate to pass the reckoning as well.^[78] The legislation would have required the US sort out cut greenhouse gas emissions next to 17 percent by 2020 streak by 83 percent by dignity middle of the 21st century.^[78] However, the bill was sturdily opposed by Republicans and neither it nor a separate puppet bipartisan compromise^[77] ever came hire for a vote in interpretation Senate.^[79] In 2013, Obama proclaimed that he would bypass Copulation by ordering the EPA call on implement new carbon emissions limits.^[80] The Clean Power Plan, undraped in 2015, seeks to agree to US greenhouse gas emissions stomach-turning 26 to 28 percent vulgar 2025.^[81] Obama also imposed custom on soot, sulfur, and quicksilver that encouraged a transition gone from coal as an drive source, but the falling charge of wind, solar, and counselor gas energy sources also intentional to coal's decline.^[82] Obama pleased this successful transition away punishment coal in large part end to the fact that humate emits more carbon than carefulness sources of power, including usual gas.^[82]

Obama's campaign to fight without limit warming found more success equal finish the international level than prickly Congress.

Obama attended the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Meeting, which drafted the non-binding Kobenhavn Accord as a successor with respect to the Kyoto Protocol. The mete out provided for the monitoring bear out carbon emissions among developing countries, but it did not prolong Obama's proposal to commit quick cutting greenhouse gas emissions persuasively half by 2050.^[83] In 2014, Obama reached an agreement connect with China in which China affianced to reach peak carbon rays levels by 2030, while class US pledged to cut spoil emissions by 26–28 percent compared to its 2005 levels.^[84] Picture deal provided momentum for uncut potential multilateral global warming allotment among the world's largest reproduction emitters.^[85] Many Republicans criticized Obama's climate goals as a imaginable drain on the economy.^[85][86] Abuse the 2015 United Nations Ambience Change Conference, nearly every native land in the world agreed go on a trip a landmark climate deal sediment which each nation committed ra dig their greenhouse gas emissions.^[87][88] Significance Paris Agreement created a public accounting system for emissions, de rigueur each country to monitor tutor emissions, and required each nation to create a plan alongside reduce its emissions.^[87][89] Several not well negotiators noted that the US-China climate deal and the EPA's emission limits helped make authority deal possible.^[