Chapter 14 (p. 400) Presidency in action (Details to chapter 13)
Chapter 13: The Presidency
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Transcript of Chapter 13: The Presidency
Chapter 13: The Presidency
The Basics35 Years Old
Natural Born Citizen14 year Residency
White, Protestant, MalesKennedy and Obama
13/43 have served 2 terms6 chose not to7 failed at reelection
Succession and Impeachment
“Accidental Presidents”9 VP’s have taken over upon death/resigning
Gerald Ford example
ImpeachmentHouse SenateJohnson and ClintonNixon resigned
Disability and SuccessionWoodrow Wilson
25th Amendment (1967)Presidential Capacity
Notification in writingVP and majority of the
CabinetHouse or Reps
Line of Succession
VP, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore, Secretary of State…Cabinet in order of addition
Presidential PowersOriginal intent vs Today’s
reality
Most sensitive powers went to Congress-War, taxing, commerce-Senate must ok treaties and appointments
4 year terms, Electoral College
America’s role in the world and technology are changing it
The Presidency Today1970’s skepticism of
powerVietnam, Watergate“Executive Privilege”
Ford and Carter strugglesReagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush
The Chief ExecutivePreside, execute, administer“…faithfully execute the laws…”
$3.7 trillion budget and over 4 million employees
Appoints nearly 2,500 positions-more attention on loyalty creates more centralized policy
Budgeting and Accounting Act 1921
Vice PresidentStrategic selection for
elections
Preside over the Senatetie-breaking vote
Presidential Capacity
Succession
More active lately
The CabinetWashington’s
precedent3 + A.G.
Congress must approve new positions and appointments
Secretaries of…
Executive OfficeNational Security
Council (NSC)
Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
White House StaffTrue employees of the
President
Jefferson had 2; paid for out of his own pocket
Today, over 600
Chief of Staff is the bossCongressional liaisonsPress SecretaryPolitical Advisors
The First LadyNo official duties
Usually take up a causei.e. Childhood Health
Adams, Madison, and Wilson
Clinton acted as part of the gov
Presidential Leadership of Congress
Shared powers require co-op. and persuasion
Chief LegislatorState of the UnionSigning LawsVeto Power (options)
Effective threat (4%)Signing Statements
Clinton v City of New YorkNo line item vetoes
Resources for Passing Legislation
1. Party LeadershipParty coalitionD/R’s not all the sameLoyal to const.Must use cong. LeadersLose seats in midterms
Decentralized partiesMust convert opp. party
Resources for Passing Legislation
2. Public SupportPublic opinion (polls)pressures cong.
Can depend on pop. of the Pres.
Electoral Mandates1932, 1964, 1980claimed too often
Resources for Passing Legislation
3. Legislative SkillsHoneymoon
Bargaining, personal skills
Agenda Setting
Limited political capital; must decide where to use it
National Security PolicyChief Diplomat
Recognition/AmbassadorsTreaties (Senate o.k.)Executive Agreements
Commander in ChiefCivilian control of military(standing army, alliances)
War Powers Resolution 1973Consult w/ Cong.60 days w/o Cong. approvalConcurrent resolution would end action Legislative veto = unconstitutional
National Security PolicyCrisis Manager
Missile Crisis, Iran, 9/11, Katrina, BP
President is able to act decisively
National Security is easier
to lead
Domestic Policy requires persuasion
Power of the PeopleMore visible
president-daily appearances
Staged events Approval ratings
allow for more infuence
“Popularity”“Pocketbook”
The Public PresidencyBully Pulpit
speeches/events to gather public support
Mobilize public support to pressure congress-Reagan’s 1981 tax cuts
(unusual)
The President and the PressIntermediary for the
people
Adversarial after 1960’sPress wants infoPres. wants message
Whitehouse press secretary-Briefings-Scripted
The President and the Press“Body Watch”
-where is he, what is he doing…?(substance?)
Coverage is more superficial, oversimplified, and overblown
Thematic coverage: Ford, G.W. bush