THE PRESIDENCY11 Theory of Knowledge/Government

Ms. Halle Bauer

The executive branch should be the most powerful branch of government in the United States.

Take a Stand…

What makes the American Presidency Unique?

President elected for fixed 4-year term Popular vote + Electoral college

President selects Cabinet from outside of Congress

President is Commander-In-Chief, Chief Diplomat, Chief Executive

President can be removed only through conviction, impeachment, or death

President does not necessarily have Congressional backing or support

Prime Minister and Cabinet share executive power

PM remains in office as long as the majority party holds majority in Parliament

Majority party in Parliament selects the PM

PM selects Cabinet from within Parliament

PM can be removed with a vote of the majority party in Parliament or by a vote of “No Confidence”

American PresidencyParliamentary System (UK)

Who has more authority? Who is more “legitimate”? Which system do you think is more democratic?

Presidents v. Prime Ministers…

POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRESIDENTWhat is the President’s job description?

Powers of the President

Explicit Powers

“Faithfully execute” the law

Article II Section 2 Commander-in-Chief Grant Pardons Make Treaties (2/3

Senate) Appointments

(Ambassadors, Supreme Court, Officers; Confirmed 2/3 Senate)

Article I Section 7 Veto

Implicit Powers

Executive Privilege Executive Orders

Directive to an agency instructing it to take a specific action

Dismissal Leadership

Persuasion Legislative agenda Foreign policy and

executive agreements with other nations

Executive Orders

Presidential Support Staff

White House Office (WHO)

The West Wing Appointed by the

President NOT confirmed by

Senate Friends of President

Oversee policies and programs of the President

Cabinet

Consists of the heads of each department and 5 “cabinet-level” executives

Appointed by the President Confirmed by the

Senate Cannot be

Congressmen

TOK and the Presidency

What ways of knowing should a President rely most heavily on?

HOW HAS THE PRESIDENCY CHANGED OVER TIME?The evolution of the American Presidency

The American Presidency is currently strong.

The American Presidency SHOULD be strong.

Take a Stand…

Presidential Powers Over Time

1933-Present: Imperial

Presidency

1837-1932:Congress as

Supreme (Except in

Times of War or Crisis)

Jacksonians: Expanded

Power

First Presidents:

Modest

Is Obama an imperial President? How has he changed the Presidency, if at all?

The Imperial Presidency

PRESIDENTIAL CHARACTERWhat defines a President’s term of office?

What traits do you think are most important for a President to embody?

Presidential Character

Active

Passive

Positive Negative

ConsistentProductive

FlexibleResults-oriented

Rational

AmbitiousAggressive in

policiesPowerful

Perfectionist

CooperativeComplacent

HopefulNot assertiveDependent

Focused on rightsDutiful

InflexibleTend to withdraw

Presidential Character…

What’s the ideal quadrant for a President to fall? Where does Obama belong?

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

The pathway to the Presidency

“It was desirable that the sense of the people should operate in the choice of (the President). This end will be answered by committing the right of making (the choice) not to any pre-established body, but to men chosen by the people for the special purpose and at the particular conjuncture.It was equally desirable that the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of al the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice. A small number of persons, selected by their fellow citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to so complicated an investigation.”Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist, No. 68

Why the Electoral College?

The Electoral College System

There are 538 electoral votes available Each state receives one

electoral vote per representative in Congress (DC has 3 votes)

270=WINNING Winner-take-all system in 48

states and DC If no candidate receives 270

votes, the House of Representatives votes with each state casting one vote Jefferson in 1800, John Quincy

Adams in 1824

Presidents who do not win a majority of the popular vote may be elected Nixon v. JFK in 1960 Gore v. Bush in 2000

Only about 12 “battleground” states are relevant in Presidential elections LIKE OHIO!!!!!! In 2004, 50% of all

campaigning money was spent in OHIO.

Voter turnout is irrelevant except in the smallest battleground states

How it works… What it means…

Who are the electors?

Constitution states that no national representative or officer may serve as an elector

States determine electors Usually determined at state party conventions

Electors are “pledged” to support candidates based on the popular vote This is an unwritten rule, and some have cast votes

according to personal ideology 1976 election would have gone to the House if an

elector hadn’t voted against his party line for Reagan

Is it democratic?

The Electoral College