chapter 13southwest.mpls.k12.mn.us/uploads/my_presidency2.pdfgreat expectations ... how they got...
TRANSCRIPT
The Presidents
Great Expectations
Americans want peace, prosperity, and security.
Americans want a president who is powerful
and who can do good like Washington,
Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Kennedy.
Yet Americans do not like a concentration of
power because they are individualistic and
skeptical of authority.
The Presidents
Great Expectations
Americans want peace, prosperity, and security.
Americans want a president who is powerful
and who can do good like Washington,
Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Kennedy.
Yet Americans do not like a concentration of
power because they are individualistic and
skeptical of authority.
The Presidents
Who They Are
Formal Requirements:
○ Must be 35 years old
○ Must be a natural-born citizen
○ Must have resided in U.S. for 14 years
Presidential Backgrounds
A haberdasher from Missouri, a war
hero, a Boston-Irish politician, a small
town Texas boy, a California lawyer, a
former Rose Bowl player…
…a peanut farmer turned governor, an actor
turned governor, a CIA chief and ambassador…
…a small state governor, a baseball
team owner, and a community
organizer turned senator.
The Presidents
How They Got There
Most run for office
The accidental presidency
<10% of US history an unelected president
The Presidents
How They Got There
22nd Amendment (1951)
Only 13 of 43 have served two complete
terms
○ Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe,
Jackson, Grant, Cleveland, Wilson, FDR,
Eisenhower, Reagan, Clinton and Bush
The Presidents
Impeachment
Impeachment is an accusation, requiring a majority vote in the House.
Charges may be brought for ―Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.‖
If impeached, the president is tried by the Senate with the Chief Justice presiding.
Only two presidents have been impeached—Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton—and neither was convicted.
The Presidents How They Got There
22nd Amendment (1951)
Impeachment
Succession – 25th Amendment (1967)
1. Vice President
2. Speaker of the House
3. President pro tempore
4. Cabinet heads in order
Constitutional Powers
Framers feared anarchy and monarchy
Created a unique chief executive
Reelection and short term of office
Relatively few powers
Constitutional Powers
Four Broad Powers Article 2
1. Administrative/Executive Powers
2. Legislative Powers
3. National Security Powers
4. Judicial Powers
Framers checked those powers considered
most dangerous
Power to declare war to the congress
Senate approves treaties and appointments
Expansion of Presidential Power
More power today than the Constitution
suggests.
Prominence of the US
Technology
Presidential Powers
The Expansion of Power
Presidents may develop new roles for and
expand power of the office.
Perspectives on Presidential Power
During the 1950’s and 1960’s people
favored a powerful president.
By the 1970’s, presidential power was
checked and distrusted by the public.
Perspectives on Presidential Power
Strong Presidency 1950s and 1960s
Strong-weak rating
The Imperial Presidency 1970s
Presidency too powerful
Nixon
Ford/Carter
Reagan
G.H.W. Bush
Clinton
G. W. Bush
Is the term ―Imperial Presidency‖ a
criticism? Why or why not?
How has the power of the presidency
grown since the country began?
The Chief Executive
Constitution: ―take care that the laws be faithfully executed‖
Fed. bureaucracy
$2.5 trillion a year
more than 4 million employees.
Appoints
500 high-level positions
2,500 lesser jobs
Chief Executive
Large executive branch
…complex public policy
…policy goals.
Centralized decision-making in the White House
Pro Con
Bureaucracy should
be more responsive
to elected officials
Bureaucracy should
be independent,
supporting intent of
laws
Chief Executive
The Vice Presidency
1. Preside over the senate and break tie votes
2. Assume the presidency if called upon
3. Symbolic constituency
4. Larger role
1. Al Gore
2. Dick Cheney
3. Joe Biden
Chief Executive
The Cabinet
Not in the Constitution
15 departments
○ 14 Secretaries
○ 1 Attorney General
Chief Executive
The Executive Office of the President
EEOB (Eisenhower Executive Office Building)
Chief Executive
National Security Council (NSC)
Created in 1947 to coordinate the president’s foreign and military policy advisers
Members include the president, vice president, secretary of state and defense, and managed by the president’s national security adviser
Chief Executive
Office of Management
and Budget (OMB)
1921
Prepares president’s budget
Performs managerial and
budgetary functions
Reviews regulations
Chief Executive
Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)
A 3 member appointed by the president to advise
on economic policy Inflation, unemployment,
Economic Report of the President
Chief Executive
Personal staff & key aides
Chief of staff, congressional liaisons, press secretary, etc..
Travel plans, answer letters
About 600 people
Completely loyal to the president
No senate confirmations
Harry Hopkins, Henry Kissinger, John Sununu
Chief Executive: Access
Hierarchical: the pyramid
or
Circular: wheel-and-spokes
Try to be original
Detail manager vs. delegator
Ad hoc approach
First Lady No official position
Has evolved
How is the White House difference from the
Executive Office staff?
What is the difference between a hierarchical
organization and a wheel-and-spokes system of
White House management?
How is the White House difference from the
Executive Office staff?
What is the difference between a hierarchical
organization and a wheel-and-spokes system of
White House management?
What is the cabinet and what does it do?
How is the White House difference from the
Executive Office staff?
What is the difference between a hierarchical
organization and a wheel-and-spokes system of
White House management?
What is the cabinet and what does it do?
Identify four formal powers of the presidents?
How is the White House difference from the
Executive Office staff?
What is the difference between a hierarchical
organization and a wheel-and-spokes system of
White House management?
What is the cabinet and what does it do?
Identify four formal powers of the presidents?
What is the process for the president to be
impeached?
How is the White House difference from the
Executive Office staff?
What is the difference between a hierarchical
organization and a wheel-and-spokes system of
White House management?
What is the cabinet and what does it do?
Identify four formal powers of the presidents?
What is the process for the president to be
impeached?
What is the 22nd Amendment?
How is the White House difference from the
Executive Office staff?
What is the difference between a hierarchical
organization and a wheel-and-spokes system of
White House management?
What is the cabinet and what does it do?
Identify four formal powers of the presidents?
What is the process for the president to be
impeached?
What is the 22nd Amendment?
What is the 25th Amendment?
Chief Legislator
Phrase is not in the Constitution.
Phrase invented to emphasize
president’s importance in the legislative
process.
Constitutional Powers
Initiate Policy “from time to time”
Veto legislation
State of the Union address
Chief Legislator Veto: the president can send a bill back to
Congress with his reasons for rejecting it. It
may be overridden with 2/3 support of both
Houses.
The Veto
Congress usually cannot override a
vote
Presidents often use the threat of a veto
to force Congress to modify legislation
A vetoed bill is often revised and then
passed in another form
Requires 2/3 vote in each chamber
Chief Legislator Veto: the president can send a bill back to
Congress with his reasons for rejecting it. It
may be overridden with 2/3 support of both
Houses.
Pocket Veto: a president can let a bill die
by not signing it when Congress adjourns
within 10 days of submitting a bill.
Chief Legislator Veto: the president can send a bill back to
Congress with his reasons for rejecting it. It
may be overridden with 2/3 support of both
Houses.
Pocket Veto: a president can let a bill die
by not signing it when Congress adjourns
within 10 days of submitting a bill.
Line Item Veto: ability to veto parts of a
bill--some state governors have it, but not
the president
Chief Legislator: Legislative Skills
Bargaining, personal appeals, consulting
with Congress, setting priorities,
―honeymoon‖ period, structuring votes
Bargaining: trading support for specific
benefits
Occurs less often than thought
Does not have to bargain with every
member of Congress
Chief Legislator: Legislative Skills
Strategic moves
Exploit the honeymoon period
Set priorities
Set the agenda for Congress
Allows for effective lobbying of Congress
○ Reagan was successful
○ Bush #41 was not
○ Clinton was not
○ Bush #43 was successful
Chief Legislator: Legislative Skills
Presidential legislative skills must
compete with…
Party, ideology, personal views and
commitments, constituency interests etc…
Presidents with legislative backgrounds
no more successful than those without
How effective are presidential vetoes?
What three options does a president
have after Congress passes a bill?
How effective are presidential vetoes?
What three options does a president
have after Congress passes a bill?
What is the difference between the
following:
Veto
Pocket veto
Line-item veto
The President and National Security
Defense and Foreign Policy
Occupies much of the president’s time
__________________________________
Chief Diplomat
Commander in Chief
The President and National Security
Formal Constitutional Powers:
1. CinC – power to deploy troops
2. Appoints ambassadors subject to Senate
approval
3. Negotiates treaties, subject to Senate
ratification
4. Sole power to recognize (or not) nations.
5. Receive ambassadors and other public
ministers
The President and National Security
Informal Powers:
1. Negotiate executive agreements
2. Meet with world leaders
3. Manage international crisis
4. Access to secret/confidential information
President as Chief Diplomat
Derived from Constitutional powers
Congress normally defers to the
president in foreign affairs
Extends and terminate diplomatic
relations
Sole power to negotiate treaties
Senate can ratify or reject with 2/3 vote
Presidents rely more on executive
agreements than formal treaties
President as Chief Diplomat
Executive Agreements
Pact between president and head of a
foreign state
Do not need Senate approval
Not part of U.S. law
Not binding on future presidents
Examples include the Vietnam peace
agreement, and SALT I.
President as CinC
Constitution specifically gives the
president this power
Constitution specifically grants Congress
the power to declare war.
Great controversy between the
executive and legislative branches
The Problem Congress
Declare war
“raise and
support armies”
“provide and
maintain a navy”
“make rules for
the government
and regulation of
land and naval
forces”
President
“Commander in
chief of the
Army and
Navy...when
called into
actual Service
of the United
States;”
Undeclared “wars”
Clinton
Haiti
Bosnia
Somalia
Kenya
Yugoslavia
Iraq
Afghanistan
Sudan
Bush
Iraq
Afghanistan
Somalia
Columbia
Pakistan
Syria
Djibouti
Ethiopia
Solution: War Powers Resolution (1973)
Intended to limit the president’s ability to use military
Requirements
1. President must consult with Congress,
whenever possible, before using military
force
2. Mandates withdrawal of forces after 60 days
unless Congress declares war or grant
extension
3. Congress can pass a concurrent resolution
(which cannot be vetoed) ending US
participation.
War Powers Resolution (1973)
Every president considers it unconstitutional
Legislative veto??? -- Violation of the doctrine
of separation of powers
Presidents mostly ignore the law
Congress has difficulty challenging presidents
Largely political, not legal issue
President as Crisis Manager
Sudden, unpredictable, potentially dangerous event
Mostly in foreign policy
More today than in the past
Rapid action, secrecy, constant management, consistent judgment and expert advice.
Presidents still have to work with Congress for support and funding of foreign policies.
The President, Congress and National Security
Founders divided the powers
Supply and command
President has a more prominent role
Centralized leadership
Secrecy
Initiate policy
Two presidencies – domestic policy and
national security policy
How is an executive agreement different
than a treaty?
Identify three provisions of the War
Powers Act.
How effective has the War Powers Act
been?
Is the term ―Imperial Presidency‖ a
criticism? Why or why not?
President’s Judicial Powers
Granting Reprieves and Pardons
Constitutional Powers
A reprieve is a postponement of the
execution of a sentence
A pardon is a legal forgiveness of a crime
President’s Judicial Powers
Appointing Supreme Court Justices and
federal judges
Nominations must be confirmed by the
Senate
Presidents use this power to select judges
and justices with compatible philosophies.
Leadership
―Power of Persuasion‖
Three constituencies
1. Public
○ Use the polls
2. Political Pundits (media)
○ 100 days (the honeymoon)
3. Party
○ Be a good democrat (or republican)
Leadership: The Public
1. ―Do you approve or disapprove of the
way [name of the President] is handling
his job as president?‖
Over 50 years
Gallup
Data shows
Increase approval ratings Decrease approval ratings
Honeymoon period
Positive media coverage
Foreign policy success
―Rally‖ events
Strong economic growth
Low unemployment
Scandals
Gap between
expectations and
performance
Foreign events that go
badly over a period of
time
Weak economic growth
High unemployment
Leadership: The Public
Political resource
Operates in the background, sets limits
Some will always support the president,
some never will
Congress more in step with their
constituencies
―Going Public‖
Gives the president leverage, not
command
Leadership: The Public
Mandate: the people have spoken
Rarely exists, often claimed
Powerful symbol-legitimacy and credibility
Leadership: The Public
Going Public
Presidential appearances
Head of State
Approval ratings
Correlation b/w public approval and
presidential influence
Frequently, POTUS does not have
widespread support
Leadership: The Public
Mobilizing the Public
The president may attempt to motivate the
public to contact Congress.
A difficult task, given inattentive and
apathetic public
May backfire: a lack of response speaks
loudly
Leadership: The Public
Bully pulpit
Presidents attempt to gain public support through televised messages, with little success
The Public may not be receptive to the president’s message or misperceive it all together.
Media advisers, skilled communicators
○ FDR, JFK, Reagan, Clinton, Obama
Leadership: The Public
Political party identification
Honeymoon
President’s efforts and positions NOT
personality or pocketbook
Rally events: events involving
international relations directly involving
the US that are specific, dramatic and
sharply focused.
Leadership: The Media
Plays a key role in how the public
perceives the president.
Generally more successful than members
of Congress in using the media to set the
agenda
Leadership: The Media
Following factors give the president an
advantage over Congress in gaining
media attention:
1. Represents the entire nation
2. Leader of the ―free world‖
3. More powerful than any individual member
of Congress
4. Single voice vs. 535 members of Congress
Leadership: The Media
Media interpret and analyze –intermediary
Media needs stories, president wants to get a message out
Press Secretary
Press Conferences
―Body Watch‖
No systemic bias
Tends to emphasize the negativeRobert Gibbs
Leadership: Chief of the Party
The Bonds of Party
○ Being in the president’s party
creates a psychological bond
between legislators and
presidents, increasing
agreement.
Personal loyalties
Reelection
General ideological agreement
Distrust of the opposition party
Leadership: Chief of the Party
Slippage in Party Support
○ Presidents cannot always count on party
support, especially on controversial issues.
2/3rds of the time
Presidents forced to be active in party leadership
○ Primary obstacle – lack of consensus
Diverse constituencies
Leadership: Chief of the Party
Leading the party
Presidents can offer party candidates
support and punishment by withholding
favors.
Presidential coattails occur when voters cast
their ballots for congressional candidates of
the president’s party because they support
the president. Races are rarely won in this
way.
Understanding the American Presidency
The Presidency and Democracy
Concerns over the president having too much power often tied to policy concerns
Others argue there are too many checks and balances on the president
The Presidency and the Scope of Government
Some presidents have increased the functions of government.
Summary
Americans expect a lot from presidents.
Presidents work as part of an
organization.
Presidential leadership of Congress is
central but difficult
Presidential roles and responsibilities,
even national security, tied to
Madisonian system of checks and
balances
Is the term ―Imperial Presidency‖ a
criticism? Why or why not?
How has the power of the presidency
grown since the country began?
Is the term ―Imperial Presidency‖ a
criticism? Why or why not?
How has the power of the presidency
grown since the country began?
What events cause presidential approval
ratings to increase? Decrease?
Is the term ―Imperial Presidency‖ a
criticism? Why or why not?
How has the power of the presidency
grown since the country began?
What events cause presidential approval
ratings to increase? Decrease?
What is meant by presidential coattails
and how effective are they?
Describe what is meant by the term ―chief
legislator.‖
To what extent does the office of the
presidency enlarge the scope of
government? Why or why not? Provide
examples.
Describe what is meant by the term ―chief
legislator.‖
To what extent does the office of the
presidency enlarge the scope of
government? Why or why not? Provide
examples.
Assess how public support and party support
affects the president’s relationship with
Congress.
Describe what is meant by the term ―chief
legislator.‖
To what extent does the office of the
presidency enlarge the scope of
government? Why or why not? Provide
examples.
Assess how public support and party support
affects the president’s relationship with
Congress.
Describe what is meant by the term ―chief
legislator.‖
To what extent does the office of the
presidency enlarge the scope of
government? Why or why not? Provide
examples.
Assess how public support and party support
affects the president’s relationship with
Congress.
This is the unit that links the president’s key
foreign and military policy advisors.
What is the role and importance of the OMB?
This limits the president to two terms.
Describe and explain the significance of the
Watergate scandal.
What is the role and importance of the OMB?
This limits the president to two terms.
Describe and explain the significance of the
Watergate scandal.
This determines who steps into the
presidency if the office is vacated.