The Presidency WHAT DO WE EXPECT OF OUR PRESIDENT? Chapter 14.
CHAPTER 12 THE PRESIDENCY. THEME A ‑ The Power of the President vs Other Institutions Presidents...
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Transcript of CHAPTER 12 THE PRESIDENCY. THEME A ‑ The Power of the President vs Other Institutions Presidents...
CHAPTER 12THE PRESIDENCY
THEME A ‑ The Power of the President vs Other InstitutionsPresidents and Prime Minister The Powers of the PresidentSee Qualifications and Benefits of the Presidency
Presidents and prime ministersPresidents and prime ministers
– Characteristics of parliaments Characteristics of parliaments Parliamentary system twice as Parliamentary system twice as common common Chief executive chosen by Chief executive chosen by legislature legislature Cabinet ministers chosen from Cabinet ministers chosen from among members of parliament among members of parliament Prime minister remains in power as Prime minister remains in power as long as his or her party or coalition long as his or her party or coalition maintains a majority in the maintains a majority in the legislaturelegislature
Presidents and prime ministersPresidents and prime ministers
– Differences Differences Presidents are often outsiders; prime ministers are Presidents are often outsiders; prime ministers are always insiders, chosen by party members in always insiders, chosen by party members in parliament parliament Presidents choose their cabinet from outside Presidents choose their cabinet from outside Congress; prime ministers choose members of Congress; prime ministers choose members of parliament parliament Presidents have no guaranteed majority in the Presidents have no guaranteed majority in the legislature; prime ministers always have a majority. legislature; prime ministers always have a majority. The United States usually has a divided government. The United States usually has a divided government. Presidents and the legislature often work at cross-Presidents and the legislature often work at cross-purposes purposes
– Even when one party controls both branches Even when one party controls both branches – A consequence of separation of powers A consequence of separation of powers – Only Roosevelt and Johnson had much luck with Only Roosevelt and Johnson had much luck with
CongressCongress
The powers of the presidentThe powers of the president
– Formal powers found in Article II Formal powers found in Article II Not a large number of explicit powers Not a large number of explicit powers Potential for power found in ambiguous Potential for power found in ambiguous clauses of the Constitution, such as power clauses of the Constitution, such as power as commander in chief and duty to "take as commander in chief and duty to "take care that laws be faithfully executed"care that laws be faithfully executed"
– Greatest source of power lies in Greatest source of power lies in politics and public opinion politics and public opinion
Increase in broad statutory authority Increase in broad statutory authority Expectation of presidential leadership Expectation of presidential leadership from the publicfrom the public
THEME B ‑ The Institutionalization of the
Presidency
The Evolution of the PresidencyConcerns of the Founders
The evolution of the presidencyThe evolution of the presidency
– Delegates feared both anarchy and Delegates feared both anarchy and monarchy monarchy
Idea of a plural executive Idea of a plural executive Idea of an executive checked by a councilIdea of an executive checked by a council
– Concerns of the Founders Concerns of the Founders Fear of military power of president who Fear of military power of president who could overpower states could overpower states Fear of presidential corruption of Senate Fear of presidential corruption of Senate Fear of presidential bribery to ensure Fear of presidential bribery to ensure reelectionreelection
The Evolution of the PresidencyThe Evolution of the Presidency– The president's term of office The president's term of office
Precedent of George Washington and two terms Precedent of George Washington and two terms
Twenty-second Amendment in 1951 limits to two Twenty-second Amendment in 1951 limits to two terms terms
Problem of establishing the legitimacy of the office Problem of establishing the legitimacy of the office
Provision for orderly transfer of powerProvision for orderly transfer of power
– The first presidents The first presidents Prominent men helped provide legitimacy Prominent men helped provide legitimacy
Minimal activism of early government contributed Minimal activism of early government contributed to lessening fear of the presidency to lessening fear of the presidency
Relations with Congress were reserved; few vetoes, Relations with Congress were reserved; few vetoes, no adviceno advice
Evolution of the PresidencyEvolution of the Presidency
– The Jacksonians The Jacksonians Jackson sought to Jackson sought to maximize powers of maximize powers of presidency presidency
Vigorous use of veto for Vigorous use of veto for policy reasons policy reasons
Challenged CongressChallenged Congress
The Evolution of the PresidencyThe Evolution of the PresidencyThe reemergence of Congress The reemergence of Congress
With brief exceptions the next hundred years was a With brief exceptions the next hundred years was a period of congressional ascendancy period of congressional ascendancy Only Lincoln expanded presidential power Only Lincoln expanded presidential power – Asserted "implied powers" and power of commander Asserted "implied powers" and power of commander
in chief in chief – Justified by emergency conditionsJustified by emergency conditions
President mostly a negative force to Congress until President mostly a negative force to Congress until the New Deal the New Deal Since the 1930s power has been institutionalized in Since the 1930s power has been institutionalized in the presidency the presidency Popular conception of the president as the center of Popular conception of the president as the center of government contradicts reality; Congress often government contradicts reality; Congress often policy leaderpolicy leader
The office of the presidentThe office of the president
– The White House Office The White House Office Contains the president's closest assistants Contains the president's closest assistants Three types of organization Three types of organization
– Circular Circular – Pyramid Pyramid – Ad hocAd hoc
Staff typically worked on the campaign: a Staff typically worked on the campaign: a few are experts few are experts Relative influence of staff depends on how Relative influence of staff depends on how close one's office is to the president'sclose one's office is to the president's
The Executive Office of the The Executive Office of the PresidentPresident
Composed of agencies that report Composed of agencies that report directly to the president directly to the president Appointments must receive Senate Appointments must receive Senate confirmation confirmation Office of Management and Budget Office of Management and Budget most important most important – Assembles the budget Assembles the budget – Develops reorganization plans Develops reorganization plans – Reviews legislative proposals of Reviews legislative proposals of
agenciesagencies
THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT
The White House Office- Executive Office of the President
1. Office of Management and Budget (OMB)2. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)3. Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)4. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)5. Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
The cabinetThe cabinet
Largely a fiction, not mentioned Largely a fiction, not mentioned in Constitution in Constitution President appoints or controls President appoints or controls more members of cabinet than more members of cabinet than does prime minister does prime minister Secretaries become Secretaries become preoccupied and defensive preoccupied and defensive about their own departmentsabout their own departments
Independent agencies, Independent agencies, commissions, and judgeships commissions, and judgeships
President appoints members of President appoints members of agencies that have a quasi-agencies that have a quasi-independent status independent status
Agency heads serve a fixed term and Agency heads serve a fixed term and can be removed only "for cause" can be removed only "for cause"
Judges can be removed only by Judges can be removed only by impeachmentimpeachment
THEME C ‑ How the President is SelectedThe Electoral College
House has chosen two Presidents ‑ Jefferson in 1800 and John Quincy Adams in 1824( Jackson had more votes)
The evolution of the presidencyThe evolution of the presidency
– The electoral college The electoral college Each state to choose own Each state to choose own method for selecting electors method for selecting electors
Electors to meet in own capital Electors to meet in own capital to vote for president and vice to vote for president and vice president president
If no majority, House would If no majority, House would decidedecide
The Vice PresidentThe Vice President
May succeed on death of president May succeed on death of president – Has happened eight times Has happened eight times – John Tyler defined status of ascending vice John Tyler defined status of ascending vice
president: president in title and in powerspresident: president in title and in powers
Rarely are vice presidents elected Rarely are vice presidents elected president president – Unless they first took over for a president who Unless they first took over for a president who
died died – Only five instances otherwise: Adams, Jefferson, Only five instances otherwise: Adams, Jefferson,
Van Buren, Nixon, and BushVan Buren, Nixon, and Bush
"A rather empty job" "A rather empty job" – Candidates still pursue it Candidates still pursue it – Preside over Senate and vote in case of a tie Preside over Senate and vote in case of a tie
THEME D ‑ Presidential Power
1. The Veto (2/3 vote required for override2. Executive Privilege. 3. Impoundment
The power to persuadeThe power to persuade
– Formal opportunities for persuasion Formal opportunities for persuasion – The three audiences The three audiences
Other politicians and leaders in Washington, D.C.; Other politicians and leaders in Washington, D.C.; reputation very important reputation very important Party activists and officials inside Washington Party activists and officials inside Washington The various publicsThe various publics
– Popularity and influence Popularity and influence Presidents try to transform popularity into support in Presidents try to transform popularity into support in Congress Congress Little effect of presidential coattails Little effect of presidential coattails Members of Congress believe it is politically risky to Members of Congress believe it is politically risky to challenge a popular president challenge a popular president Popularity is unpredictable and influenced by factors Popularity is unpredictable and influenced by factors beyond the president's control.beyond the president's control.
The power to say no The power to say no
– Veto Veto Veto message Veto message
Pocket veto (only before end of Congress) Pocket veto (only before end of Congress)
Congress rarely overrides vetoesCongress rarely overrides vetoes
– Executive privilege Executive privilege Confidential communications between Confidential communications between president and advisers president and advisers
Justification Justification – Separation of powers Separation of powers – Need for candid adviceNeed for candid advice
U.S. v.Nixon U.S. v.Nixon (1973) rejects claim of (1973) rejects claim of absolute executive privilegeabsolute executive privilege
Impoundment of fundsImpoundment of funds
Defined: presidential refusal to Defined: presidential refusal to spend funds appropriated by spend funds appropriated by Congress Congress
Countered by Budget Reform Act of Countered by Budget Reform Act of 1974 1974 – Requires president to notify Congress of Requires president to notify Congress of
funds he does not intend to spend funds he does not intend to spend – Congress must agree in forty-five daysCongress must agree in forty-five days
Attempts to reorganize the executive branchAttempts to reorganize the executive branch
An item on presidential agendas since the An item on presidential agendas since the administration of Herbert Hoover administration of Herbert Hoover
Bush and the Department of Homeland Defense Bush and the Department of Homeland Defense – White House Office of Homeland Security created in White House Office of Homeland Security created in
aftermath of terrorist attack of September 11 aftermath of terrorist attack of September 11
Small staff Small staff
Little budgetary authority Little budgetary authority
No ability to enforce decisionsNo ability to enforce decisions– Bush's call for a reorganization Bush's call for a reorganization
Creation of third largest cabinet department Creation of third largest cabinet department encompassing twenty-two federal agencies encompassing twenty-two federal agencies
170,000 employees and an annual budget of almost 170,000 employees and an annual budget of almost $40 million$40 million
Problems of successionProblems of succession
What if the president falls ill?What if the president falls ill?If vice president steps up, who becomes vice If vice president steps up, who becomes vice president? president? – Succession Act (1886): designated secretary of state Succession Act (1886): designated secretary of state
as next in line as next in line – Amended in 1947 to designate Speaker of the HouseAmended in 1947 to designate Speaker of the House
Twenty-fifth Amendment resolved both issues Twenty-fifth Amendment resolved both issues – Allows vice president to serve as "acting president" if Allows vice president to serve as "acting president" if
president is disabled; decided by president, by vice president is disabled; decided by president, by vice president and cabinet, or by two-thirds vote of president and cabinet, or by two-thirds vote of Congress Congress
– Requires vice president who ascends to office on Requires vice president who ascends to office on death or resignation of the president to name a vice death or resignation of the president to name a vice president - Must be confirmed by both houses president - Must be confirmed by both houses
Impeachment Impeachment
Judges most frequent Judges most frequent targets of impeachment targets of impeachment
Indictment by the House, Indictment by the House, conviction by the Senateconviction by the Senate
THEME E ‑ Presidential CharacterEisenhower ‑ orderly, careful and complete staff workKennedy ‑ improvisorJohnson ‑ deal maker, persuasion in "face to face" encounters
THEME E ‑ Presidential Character
Nixon ‑ Mistrustful, open attacks on the pressFord ‑ genialCarter ‑ outsider ‑ close addition to detail.
THEME E ‑ Presidential Character
Reagan ‑ communicator, wide latitude to subordinates
Bush - hands-on managerClinton - focus on detail, compromiser.Bush: a different kind of outsider
For more information about this topic, link to the Metropolitan Community College Political Science Web Site
http://socsci.mccneb.edu/pos/polscmain.htm
http://www.whitehouse.gov/
Self - Test