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Chapter 12
THE PRESIDENCY
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The Constitutional Basis of
Presidential Power
Delegates to Constitutional Convention
wary of unchecked power
However, delegates knew the U.S. would
need an effective executive office
Balance needed between tyranny and
national leadership
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Initial Conceptions of
the Presidency
Debates about the nature of the office
wide-ranging
Initial proposal:
Single executive chosen by Congress
Seven-year term; ineligible for re-election
Final proposal incorporated concept of
checks and balances with other branches
of government
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The Powers of the President
Article II sets forth requirements:
U.S.-born citizen
At least 35 years of age
Resident of U.S. for minimum of 14 years
Article II also sets forth duties of the
presidency
Actual requirements rather brief and vague
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The Powers of the President
Serve as administrative head of the nation
Act as commander in chief of the military
Convene Congress
Veto legislation
Appoint various officials
Make treaties
Grant pardons
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The Expansion of
Presidential Power
Founders envisioned a limited role for the
president
Over time, presidents have used formal
powers to expand influence
Presidential definitions of “inherent” powers
have expanded reach of office
Congress also has granted powers to the
president
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Formal Powers
Veto power
Use or threat of use has increased
Reports to Congress on the state of the
union
Used to set forth policy agenda
Commander in chief
Sending troops into conflict without
declaration of war by Congress
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Inherent Powers
Based on inferences from Constitution
Congress and the courts may not agree
Once established, used by subsequent
presidents
Use of executive orders now routine
Boundaries debated since 9/11
Bush expanded powers under theory of
unitary executive
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Congressional Delegation of Power
In some cases, Congress makes decision
to delegate powers to president
This delegation of powers gives the
president more flexibility to address
national problems
In other cases, Congress votes to
reassert authority
War Powers Resolution (1973)
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The Executive Branch
Establishment
Presidency requires large staff to carry
out duties
White House staff
Vice President and staff
Cabinet Secretaries
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The Executive Office
of the President
Key aides provide advice and control
access to president
Chief of Staff
National Security Advisor
Other specialized staff, such as the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
No “right way” to organize
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The Vice President
Most important duty: to take over
presidency if needed
25th amendment allows choice of new VP
Traditionally not advisory
Used for political chores
Carter began trend of using as advisor
Also President of Senate
Chosen to balance ticket in some way
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Next in Line
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The Cabinet
Heads of departments in executive branch
and other key officials
First cabinet had four departments; today
are 15
Theoretically advisory body but does not
function as such
Too large
Secretaries have limited areas of expertise
Not chosen for ability to work with president
White House staffs and advisory groups
provide most advice
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Presidential Leadership
Presidential influence comes from
Assigned responsibilities
Leadership skills
Effective use of resources
Political environment
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Presidential Character
Difficult to tell how the public assesses
presidential candidates’ character
Character matters to voters, especially
leadership, integrity, and competence
Johnson and Viet Nam
Nixon and Watergate
Clinton and Monica Lewinsky
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Figure 12.1
A Presidential Wish List
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The President’s Power to Persuade
Presidents must have interpersonal and practical
political skills
Must depend on others to get things done
Use force of personality and prestige of office to
affect outcomes in Congress
Neustadt believes successful presidents are good at
bargaining, dealing with adversaries, and choosing
priorities
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The President and the Public
Popular presidents more persuasive than
unpopular ones
Presidents frequently try to mobilize
public support for proposals
“Going public”
Must monitor public opinion polls
“Honeymoon period”
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Figure 12.2
Tough First Year
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The President and the Public
President Obama has struggled with
falling approval ratings
Had to put health care reform aside to deal
with banking crisis and recession
Later tried to rally public behind health care
proposals
Passage of health care bill, unemployment,
and continuing recession contributed to low
approval ratings
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The President and the Public
Presidential concern with public opinion is
way to further majoritarian democracy
Presidents should respond to public opinion as
well as try to lead it
Strategy of courting public opinion has risks
Many variables affect a president’s influence
Must realize all issues are not created equal
in mind of public
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Compared with What?
Hatoyama Goes Down
Election due to public dissatisfaction with
Liberal Democratic Party’s handling of
economy
Started with approval rating of 79%
Dropped 30 points in four months
After six months, approval rating around 33%
Decline related to campaign finance scandal,
indecision about relocation of U.S. air base on
Okinawa, and the economy
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Partisans in Congress
Greatest success in Congress immediately
after inauguration
Success measured by how often president wins
on roll call votes where he has taken clear
position
Good predictor is number of fellow partisans
in Congress
Divided government may or may not cause
gridlock
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Figure 12.3
Congress: Friend or Foe?
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Elections
President must please many constituencies
while trying to do what is best for the
country as a whole
Dilemma of majoritarianism versus pluralism
To get elected, presidents must please some
constituencies more than others
After election, may want to claim electoral
mandate regarding campaign platform
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Political Party System
Presidential leadership shaped by
president’s relationship to dominant
political party
Presidents elected in critical elections
have more favorable conditions for
exerting strong leadership
Weakest presidents constrained by
affiliation with political party perceived
as standing for worn-out ideas
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The President as National Leader:
Political Values
Presidents differ greatly in views of the
role of government
Johnson’s strong liberal ideology basis
for Great Society legislation designed to
advance a “just” America
Reagan reasserted conservative
philosophy, promoting reductions in
government services
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Different Visions
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The President as National Leader:
Policy Agenda
Roots of policy proposals found in
general political ideology of president
Newly-elected presidents must choose
what policies to push for in Congress
President’s role in legislative leadership
began in 20th century
Budget and Accounting Act of 1921
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency
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Chief Lobbyist
While president may propose a bill, Congress
must decide what to do with it
President’s legislative liaison staff work with
White House liaison staff to monitor
progress of a bill
President may modify proposal or use armtwisting to ensure passage
Must also work with interest groups to build
support and activate public opinion
May use threat of veto to increase bargaining
leverage with Congress
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Party Leader
An informal duty of the presidency
President and congressional leaders may
have differing viewpoints
Increasingly partisan Congress means
presidents focus more on party
leadership than in bridging differences
between parties
President also chief party fundraiser
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The President as World Leader
President must be ready to act as
diplomat and crisis manager
From WWII to 1980s, presidents tried to
contain Communist expansion
Today’s presidents have three objectives:
National security
Fostering peaceful international
environment
Protection of U.S. economic interests
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Crisis Management
Critical part of the presidency
Voters want president who projects
image of careful judgment during an
international crisis
Kennedy’s handling of Cuban missile
crisis a model
Presidents inherit legacy of
predecessor’s actions in the world
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Crisis in Camelot
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International Support for
the War on Terror
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Guidelines for Presidential
Crisis Management
Draw on advice from a range of advisors and
opinions
Do not act in unnecessary haste
Have a well-designed, formal review process
with thorough analysis and open debate
Rigorously examine reasoning underlying all
options to ensure assumptions valid
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