Presidential power point

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Magleby & LightGovernment by the People

Chapter 12The Presidency


Presidential Power and Limitations

Congress often hesitates to curtail presidential powers, especially in times of warExample:– In 2002, George W. Bush secretly authorized the NSA to eavesdrop on phone conversations

– When the policy became public, Congress placed legislative limits on the authority

– When concerns arose that these limits exposed the U.S. to a greater terrorism threat, Congress reversed the limits


Structure and Powers of the Presidency: Separate Powers

The United States is one of the few world powers that

is neither a parliamentary democracy nor a wholly executive-

dominated government


Structure and Powers of the Presidency: Defining the

Presidency

At the constitutional convention, the Framers debated

whether the president should be elected via a direct election or through an electoral

college


Running for Office Originally, the vice president was the runner-up in the electoral college vote

The Twelfth Amendment (1804) encouraged two candidates to run together as a presidential ticket


Presidential Powers:Commander-in-Chief

President is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but Congress is charged with declaring wars

“Presidential prerogative” versus War Powers Act


Presidential Powers: Diplomat-in-Chief

Appointing ambassadors

Receiving ambassadors

Treaties

Executive agreements & Congressional-executive agreements

Fast-track trade authority

Meeting with foreign leaders to forge ties and make formal alliances

Foreign policy tools:


Other Executive Powers

AppointmentVeto and pocket vetoPardon“Take care” power– Article II, Sec. 3: Presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed, even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws

– Sometimes used by presidents to claim inherent powers (powers that grow out of the very existence of government)

Inform and convene Congress– State of the Union address


Presidential Succession

Twenty-fifth Amendment Twenty-second AmendmentImpeachment – Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton: Charged by House, acquitted by Senate

– Richard Nixon: Resigned while House was drafting charges


The War Power

Presidents have defended their power to engage American military troops

In 1973, Congress enacted the War Powers Act in order to limit the ability of the president to commit the armed forces of the United States; however, presidents have generally ignored it

In Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Iraq (twice), Kosovo, and Afghanistan, the president did not ask Congress for a formal declaration of war


Executive Privilege

The courts have recognized that presidents have the power to keep secrets; however, some experts argue that executive privilege has no constitutional basis

Richard Nixon and George W. Bush created controversy by invoking executive privilege Boxes of newly released files

from Richard M. Nixon's presidential papers


Executive Orders

Formal directives that are just as strong as laws and can be challenged in the courts

Used frequently throughout American history


Budget and Spending Power

Congress appropriates, presidents spendImpoundmentLine-item veto


The First Presidency

Precedents set by Washington

Presidential title

Two-term limit

White House staff

Department secretaries

President as sole authority in supervising executive branch


The First Modern Presidency

New Deal program ideas came from his “Brain Trust”

Policy Achievements: FDIC, SEC, Wagner Act, Social Security, minimum wages, maximum working hours, mortgage protections FDR inspects some Civilian Conservation

Corps camps in the Shenandoah Valley

Franklin D. Roosevelt


The White House Staff

Three models for running the White House staff

Competitive

Hierarchical Collegial


The Executive Office of the President


The Cabinet

Advisory council for the president, consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the

president

Departments of Defense, Justice, State, and Treasury

The Inner Cabinet

The Cabinet


The Cabinet

President, vice president, heads of the 15 executive departments, and several others chosen by presidentHas always been loosely designatedTypically does not have as much influence over the president as does the White House staff


The Vice Presidency

Benjamin Franklin: Vice president should be addressed as, “your Superfluous Excellency”

Beginning in the 1950s, the role of vice president became more important


Presidents as Morale Builders

The President performs important ceremonial functions, in both good times and times of crisis

At its finest, presidential leadership radiates national self-confidence and helps unlock the possibility for good that exists in the nation


Presidents as Agenda Setters

National Security Policy

Economic Policy

Social Policy


Presidents as Persuaders

Instead of persuading lawmakers face-to-face, presidents can use their “bully

pulpit” to sway public opinion


Congress and the Presidency

Competing constituencies

Competing calendars

Competing campaigns


Presidential Mandates

A president’s claim of broad public support for the president or a policy issueDepends in part on public approval, which generally falls over timePresidents also benefit from rally points, spikes in public approval following a crisis


Judging Presidents

History tends to judge wars as the most significant test of a president’s leadershipPresidents also are judged by their ability to promote a distinctive vision of where the nation should goCorruption and inability to deal with economic problems are sure paths to failure


Presidential Approval Ratings

Presidential power point

News & Politics

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