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The Presidency

The Presidency. Article II. Original Intent. The framers created a presidency of limited powers that would stay clear of parties and factions. enforce laws passed by Congress handle foreign relations enforce peace and order

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The Presidency

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  1. The Presidency Article II

  2. Original Intent • The framers created a presidency of limited powers that would stay clear of parties and factions. • enforce laws passed by Congress • handle foreign relations • enforce peace and order • Strong enough to balance Congress but not strong enough to overpower Congress. • combined the ceremonial head of the nation with the chief executive of government • Four year term with no limits.

  3. Checks on Presidential Power • Checks and Balances to make sure president did not acquire too much power. • Independent from the legislature, but would still share power with Congress. • The two branches would have to cooperate and consult with one another. • appointments had to be ratified • could override a veto • had to ratify treaties • appropriations start with Congress

  4. Divided Powers • The Framers intentionally set up President and Congress for conflict • Elected by different constituencies • checks and balances require that they compromise. • Policy changes and leadership can come from both the legislature and the president. • To succeed, President must work with Congress. Thus, must share credit. • System set up to require compromise.

  5. Presidential Power • The power an individual president depends on a number of factors • character and energy • needs of the time • party balance in Congress • values and desires of the citizens • challenges of current events.

  6. Growth of Presidential Power • The power the president has in fact has steadily grown through history • Most of those who have been noted as great presidents have extended presidential power. • Once extended it is hard to get it back. • Washington • Lincoln • Jackson • both Roosevelts

  7. Reasons Presidential Power Has Expanded • Congress has delegated power to the president in times of emergency • Supreme Court has looked favorably on expansive powers for the President. • Growing threat of war • The Media favors presidential power • Growth of federal role in social and economic matters

  8. Formal Qualifications • The Supreme Court sets out very sparse qualifications for the president. • 35 • Natural born citizen • Lived in the United States for 14 years (need not be continuous) • Oldest and Youngest Presidents

  9. Informal Qualifications • Polls indicate that _________is the most important factor • Honesty and Integrity • Private character vs. public character • Other important qualifications: • Courage • Experience • Political Savvy • A Sense of History and Constitutionalism • Vision • Listening and teaching skills • Communication skills • Moral-Building skills.

  10. The Job Of The President • The Constitutional and subsequent laws give the president responsibility in a number of areas: • chief executive of the bureaucracy • nominate and appoint key officials • implement and enforce laws • sign or veto laws • negotiate treaties • recognize foreign nations • serve as commander in chief • serve as chief of state • pardon or grant clemency • propose an annual budge • develop policies

  11. Informal Job DutiesCrisis Manager • Commander in Chief • Civilian Control of Military • Congress often cedes authority to the President during a crisis • Changing Role of US Military • Undeclared Wars

  12. Informal Job DutiesPresident as Morale Builder • President is the symbolic head of state • President as national spokesman, motivator and inspirational leader. • Radiate national self confidence; • instill a sense of pride • lead national mourning • bring out the best in the nation

  13. Informal Job DutiesPresidents as Recruiters • President must bring in good people to serve in Government. • President typically makes over 4000 appointments. • Factors in selecting • Reward supporters • Send message regarding priorities and policies • Forge ties within the party. • Forge ties with Congress by appointing one of their own. John Ashcroft

  14. Informal Job DutiesPresidents as Recruiters • Recruiting good people getting more difficult • Ethics in Government Act of 1978 • Much lower pay than the private sector, and cost of living in Washington is high • Take a great deal of grief • Often must settle for a second or third choice • Appointees often don’t serve for a full four-year term. • Many vacancies below cabinet head level

  15. Informal Job DutiesPresidents as Priority Setters • President has an important role to play in setting the national agenda. • State of the Union Speech. • One of the ways in which the president has increased in power. • Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson • Presidents punished by the voters when they fail to lead in setting the agenda.

  16. National Security Policy • The Constitution gives the president a great deal of leeway in setting foreign policy. • President has command of the two major instruments of foreign policy—diplomatic corps and armed forces. • Also power to negotiate treaties. • Supreme Court has ruled that the President is the sole organ for handling foreign relations within the confines of the Constitution. (United States v. Curtiss-Wright)

  17. Economic Policy • No Constitutional authority over economic policy • Exercised power ever since New Deal. • Works to keep unemployment low, fight inflation, keep taxes down and promote economic growth. • Presidents held responsible for economy Presidents rely upon • Sec. of Treasury • Council of Eco advisors • Director of Office of Management and Budget.

  18. Domestic Policy • President must be a leader in recognizing domestic issues, finding solutions to them and leading the nation so that has support • Civil Rights, Medical Care, Social Security

  19. Presidents as Coalition Builders • The President must work well with Congress behind the scenes to build coalitions and support for his policies. • May be the most important skill a president can have. • President’s power to command is limited, so the president must be able to persuade and bargain. • No permanent enemies or friends. • President has potent bargaining chips • patronage • defense contracts • federal spending • support for a Congressman’s pet bill • Presidents are best at arm twisting indirectly

  20. Presidents and Public Opinion • Presidents pay close attention to public opinion. • Presidents can’t afford to take actions or propose policies that are too far from public opinion. • Public opinion and popularity of president is very fickle.

  21. Bush and Public Opinion

  22. Media Relations • Presidents use media to shape public opinion. • President’s goals and media’s goals conflict. • Presidents work to cultivate the media. • Presidents have staff devoted to media relations • Presidents have looked for avenues to bypass traditional media. • Media is much more aggressive with politicians than they used to be.

  23. Presidents as Party Leaders • The President is leader of the party. • Strength of that leadership is dependent on the strength of the president. • Weak presidents have a harder time controlling their party and this increases their ineffectiveness.

  24. Presidents as Administrators • President is charged by the Constitution with ensuring that the laws are faithfully executed. • Must rely on subordinates. • Administrative agencies created by Congress to handle governmental business • President is boss in chief over everyone in the executive branch.

  25. The White House Staff • The President increasingly has come to rely upon staff. More loyal and reliable than cabinet. Why? • Must be careful not to rely too much on staff • Staff today numbers about 400. • Staff have 6 primary functions • domestic policy • economic policy • national security or foreign policy • administration and personnel matters • congressional relations • public relations. Josh Bolton, White House Chief of Staff

  26. Institutionalized Executive Office • The Executive Office of the President was created in 1939 at the recommendation of FDR. • Purpose: help the president carry out the growing responsibilities of the office, especially those caused by the great depression. • Made up of: • Office of Management and Budget • Council of Economic Advisors • Other support groups

  27. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) • OMB is the central presidential staff agency. • Director advises the president in detail about the numerous other governmental agencies. • how much funding each should have. • how well each is performing • clears all agency policy recommendations before passed on to President • Prepares budget President submits to Congress • Is a central watch-dog over all agencies to make sure that they stay on the same game-plan with the President.

  28. The Cabinet • Cabinet: Presidents central advisors. • Typically defined as the head of the 15 executive departments, Vice-President and others. • Some presidents will treat others as “cabinet level” • Cabinet is not mentioned in the Constitution, but was established by Washington. • Selection of Cabinet sets the tone for the President’s new administration.

  29. Cabinet • Use of the cabinet has varied from President to President. • President is not required to meet with them. • Often tension between the president’s staff and cabinet members. • Why? • Staff and sometimes presidents begin to discount advice of department heads • Kitchen Cabinet

  30. Presidential Succession • Article II, Section 1 makes the Vice President first in the line of succession • Presidential Succession Act of 1947 • Sec. of State • Pres. Pro Tempore • Cabinet in order offices created • Never gotten below the VP • Surprising • Unlikely now with 25th Amendment.

  31. The Constitution and Succession • VP automatically takes over as president if Pres. dies, resigns or is removed from office. • John Tyler and the 25th Amendment

  32. Vice Presidency • One-in-five Vice Presidents have become President because of death or resignation. • Five of our last 11 presidents have been vice presidents at some point. • Humphrey, Mondale and Gore were nominated by their parties. • Vice Presidency is a much more important stepping-stone to the presidency than it once was.

  33. The Vice Presidency • The VP has only three formal duties: • Preside over the senate • break ties, • help decide questions of presidential disability. • VP has filled unexpired terms nine times. 4 assassinations, 4 deaths, 1 resignation. • Some have been disasters—Tyler, Andrew Johnson • Some have been surprise successes—T. Roosevelt, Truman, Chester Arthur.

  34. THE VICE-PRESIDENT • President define VPs other duties. • Historically, the VP played a very limited role. • Reasons: • Often selected to balance the ticket had views different from the president. • VP was often a former rival; not trusted. • Presidents have been hesitant to share power. • VP can’t be fired, thus hard for the president to control.

  35. History of the VP • A dead-end job • a way to get rid of troublesome politicians. • Some dreadful VPs. • VP was often selected for political reasons • VP’s were often jettisoned between elections • Historically, VPs have had little direct involvement in government. • Why?

  36. Changing VP • Last two VPs have had a larger role in government. • Prior to 1944 Van Buren was the last VP to become President without benefit of president dying. 1836. • Since 1944, Truman, Nixon, Johnson, Bush all former VPs who won on their own. • Gore, Humphrey, Mondale all former VPs who got party nomination. • In modern politics VP has become a stepping-stone to presidency. • Reasons?

  37. Twenty-Fifth Amendment • VP is president in fact upon death of President. • Filling VP vacancy • Ford, Nelson Rockefeller. • Majority of both houses

  38. 25th AmendmentPresidential Disability • Voluntary Disability • Involuntary Disability • VP and Majority of Cabinet • 2/3 of both Houses

  39. Keeping Presidents Accountable • Reelection and Legacy • Congress • Supreme Court • Media • Public Opinion • Presidents and Public Approval Rating

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