PS 408 – The American Presidency

The Historical Approach

September 11-13

Historical approach: periods or eras

The traditional system: 1789-1932.The patronage state. Nature of politics within this

political system: Congress-centered to the extent that the national government was involved. Relation between nature of the regime and politics.

Evidence that founders intended Congress to dominate? Electoral control of the presidency. King Caucus, deadlock of 1800, and the 12th Amendment. Power of the purse.

Periods or eras, cont.

Modern Presidency: 1933 – present.Need for a strong president came with the Great

Depression. Ushered in the regulatory and redistributive state. Contrast to Congress, which has been largely unchanged as an institution since the 1800s.

Components of the New Deal revolution:Constitutional change: more expansive

interpretation of the commerce clause. “switch in time that save nine.” NLRB v. Laughlin Steel (1937), Wickard v. Filburn (1942). Unchallenged until the Lopez case in 1995.

Modern presidency, cont.

Governmental change: new government responsibilities for income security, the economy, fairness in labor practices, etc.

Institutional change: end of congressional government. Delegate power to the bureacracy.

Political change: pushed parties to the periphery and created more direct link between the president and the people.

Modern Presidency, cont.

Consequences of the modern presidencyTed Lowi – the plebiscitary presidency: pressure for the president to expand power. Examine Watergate and the recent practices of domestic spying, torture, extraordinary rendition, etc.

The presidency in the media age: the shift from “institutionalized pluralism” to “individualized pluralism” (Sam Kernell).

Historical approach: cycles

Stephen Skowronek – political time. Constitutional and “national development” approaches are well established, but they overlook the recurrent patterns of history. Common historical context faced by presidents in similar junctures of political time. Three repeating regime types:

a. Regime construction: Jackson and FDR. Challenges and opportunities faced by presidents who are at the beginning of a new party system.

Cycles approach, cont.

b. Regime management: Polk and Kennedy. Reaffirmation and articulation. Continue the policies of their predecessors.

c. Regime enervation: Pierce and Carter. Disjunction. Difficulty of holding the regime together.

Problems with the approach: Role for Congress? Divided government and role of minority party. Unique challenges faced by modern presidents? Higher expectations.

Applying the historical approach

Evolution of the nomination processKing Caucus,1800-1824. Congress controlled nomination.Party conventions, 1832-1908, party leadersEmergent primaries, 1912-1968, voters started to play a role, but still party leaders.Dominant primaries, 1972, McGovern-Fraser reforms in 1972 made the primaries the only path to nomination.

Evolution of the general election: partisan electors in the Electoral College.

Which approach does this fit better – periods or cycles?Where would Clinton and George W. Bush fit in

Skowronek’s approach?