Transcript Slide 1

The American
Presidency
The World’s Most Powerful Public
Official?
Presidential Quotes
Presidential Quotes
“Above all….try something.” Franklin Delano
Roosevelt
“No man ever lived a really worthy life unless he
possessed power.” T. Roosevelt
“The Presidency is the greatest sacrifice I ever made. I
felt like I was facing my executioner.” George
Washington
“The Presidency is hell; there is no other word to
describe it.” Warren G. Harding
“I can use the presidency for any damn thing I want
to.” Andrew Jackson
“No man who ever held the office would congratulate
another on attaining it.” John Quincy Adams
“This country is for white men and, by God, as long as I
am President, it will be a government for white men.”
Andrew Johnson
“I still think it is the greatest job in the world.” William
J. Clinton
Learning Objectives
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Explain the institutional role of the
presidency and how it has changed over
time
Explain what makes a president successful
Describe the Federal Bureaucracy and the
role it plays in the government
Key Terms
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Chief of State
Head of Government
Executive Office of the President
Cabinet
Iron triangle
Impeachment
Executive Privilege
http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/cabinet.html
How Bureaucracies Are Organized
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Organization of the Department of the Interior
I. The President’s Power
A. The American president is widely considered to be the most powerful
political leader on earth.
B. In truth, he/she probably is, but presidents often claim to have little
power.
C. The ambivalence of American presidents results from the complexity
of presidential power. The President has great constitutional authority in
Foreign policy, but limited power in domestic policy.
D. To be powerful in all the ways a president requires to be successful,
he has to rely less on formal powers than on political skills.
E. A good president is a sophisticated politician, learned in the art of
government, with excellent leadership and media skills.
F. A successful president must be able to convince the public that he
has a vision for the nation, a plan that will solve problems and keep
America among the strongest nations on the face of the earth.
G. If a president, or a presidential candidate, cannot prove he/she has
a real vision, their support will vanish.
H. Many presidents have been judged to be failures.
II. What the Framers Planned
A. In establishing the executive branch the framers were wary of the
abuses of King George III, but remembered the impotence of the
Articles of Confederation.
B. They had no model upon which to base the description of the
office.
C. They clearly did not want the executive to be the dominant figure
in the government, they expected Congress to be the dominant
branch of government.
D. And, for the 19th century it was. We had some important
presidents in the 19th century, but Congress was by far the dominant
branch. (Washington, Jackson, Lincoln).
E. Washington, in particular, helped people trust
the executive branch.
In the 20th century, power in the American
political system shifted to the president,
especially during and after the great depression
and WWII.
F. If the framers could see the American
government today, I think they would be quite
surprised at how the government turned out,
and the presidency would be the biggest
surprise.
Legislative
Power
Chief-of-State
Pardoning
Power
Treaty-making
Power
Chief Diplomat
Chief Executive
Commander
-in-Chief
Veto Power
Appointment
Power
III. The Formal Powers of the President
A. Commander-in-chief of the military –
However, only Congress can declare war.
(George Washington had 700 soldiers under
his command/Bush has about 1.5 million and some
20,000 nuclear missiles ) We have military bases
all over the world.
B. Negotiates treaties - approved by Senate
C. Appoints all Ambassadors and foreign
representatives - approved by Senate.
D. Can issue pardons and reprieves (grant amnesty).
E. Appointment power, including federal judges - usually
must be approved by Senate. Appoints top 1,500 or so
people.
F. Veto power-two-thirds vote of both houses to override
G. Required to annually give Congress information of the
state of the Union. This has turned into a major power.
H. See that the laws are faithfully executed
I. Inherent power / prerogative powers
Treaties and Executive Agreements Concluded
by the United States
1789-2004
Years
Number of Treaties
Number of Executive Agreements
1789-1839
60
27
1839-1889
215
238
1889-1929
382
763
1930-1932
49
41
1933-1944 (F. Roosevelt)
131
369
1945-1952 (Truman)
132
1,324
1953-1960 (Eisenhower)
89
1,834
1961-1963 (Kennedy)
36
813
1967-1968 (L. Johnson)
67
1,083
1969-1974 (Nixon)
93
1,317
1975-1976 (Ford)
26
666
1977-1980 (Carter)
79
1,476
1981-1988 (Reagan)
125
2,840
1989-1992 (G. Bush)
67
1,350
1993-2000 (Clinton)
209
2,048
2001-2004 (G.W. Bush)
72
274
Note: Number of treaties includes those concluded during the indicated span of years. Some of the treaties did not receive the consent of the U.S. Senate. Caring definitions of what comprises an
excutive agreement and their entry-into-force date make the above numbers approximate.
Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard G. Niemi, Vital Statistics on American Politics 2005-2006, (Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2006), Table 9-1, 339.
Trends in Presidential Use of the Veto
35
31.9
30
Vetos per Year
25
20
Pocket Vetoes
Regular Vetoes
Total Vetoes
18.7
15
13.3
9.1
10
5.7
4.3
5
0.1
0.2
2.7
0.3
0.5
0.8
8.5
5.5
4.8
3.1
2.9
1.4
0
1789-1828
1829-1860
1861-1896
1899-1932
1933-1968
1969-2004
Note: Vetoes for the two administrations of Grover Cleveland (1885-1889, 1893-1897) have been excluded from these averages
because of the unusual circumstances surrounding President Cleveland’s use of the veto. See Theda Skocpol, Protecting
Soldiers and Mothers (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1992).
Source: http://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs//data/2001/upl-meta-crs-1907/98-156gov_2001Jan29.pdf
IV. The Two Presidents Theory
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Some scholars believe that we have two presidents: one in
foreign policy, and one in domestic policy. The foreign policy
powers of the president are considerable; a president is much
weaker in domestic policy.
In addition to more formal powers in international relations, a
president has other advantages.
a. Us-against-them-The public rallies around the president and
expects Congress to do the same when there is international
conflict.
b. Organizational advantage-about 2.7 million employees.
c. Monopoly of information.
d. Prerogative powers.
V. The President Wears a lot of Hats
A. Chief of State-monarchy in many nations
B. Head of the Government
C. Chief Diplomat
D. Head of his party
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But, in the domestic area, the president has much more limited
power.
The president cannot pass legislation. Only Congress can pass
bills.
To be a success, a president must convince Congress to pass his
bills, but his formal powers are limited.
In the domestic arena, the president’s primary power is the
power to persuade.
VI. How can a president do this? Must organize, lobby, and
lead
A. Understanding Congress and skillfully working with itgood organization/trips to White House/Trips on
plane/Johnson entertained wives.
B. A lot of trading with Congress-legislationappointments-help with campaigns/pork barrel
projects
C. The threat of a veto
D. Setting the agenda (state of the union)
E. Skillful use of the media/going public television/radio/fireside chats-(Roosevelt-My
friends) - this is the primary reason power
shifted to the executive.
F. Leading public opinion grassroots lobbying
(pressing the flesh/town meetings).
Presidents vary greatly in their knowledge of the
political process and their ability to use these
techniques, powers and opportunities.
The Presidential Legislative Agenda:
It’s Largest in the First Year
Partisan Support for the
President in Congress
Presidential Press Conferences
President
Total Number of Solo
Press Conferences
Total Number of Press
Conferences
Average Number of Press
Conferences per Month
F. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
984
1,020
7.0
Truman (1945-1953)
311
324
3.4
Eisenhower (1953-1961)
192
193
2.0
Kennedy (1961-1963)
65
65
1.9
L. Johnson (1963-1969)
118
135
2.2
Nixon (1969-1974)
39
39
0.6
Ford (1974-1977
39
40
1.3
Carter (1977-1981)
59
59
1.2
Reagan (1981-1989)
46
46
0.5
G. Bush (1989-1993)
84
143
3.0
Clinton (1993-2001)
62
193
2.0
G.W. Bush (2001-2005)
22
105
2.0
Note: G.W. Bush count is through May 31, 2005. Counting news conferences—even distinguishing between solo and joint conferences---requires
judgment because of the variety of contacts presidents have with the press. In almost all cases, the solo counts exclude those news conferences in
which the president appears jointly with foreign leaders or other U.S. officials. For details, see Martha Joynt Kumar, “Does This Constitute a Press
Conference?” Defining and Tabulating Modern Presidential Press Conferences,” Presidential Studies Quarterly (March 2003).
Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard G. Niemi, Vital Statistics on American Politics 2005-2006, (Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2006), Table 4-3, 177.
Average Presidential News
Conferences Per Month
F. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
7
Truman (1945-1953)
3.4
Eisenhower (1953-1961)
2
Kennedy (1961-1963)
1.9
L. Johnson (1963-1969)
2.2
Nixon (1969-1974)
0.6
Ford (1974-1977)
1.3
Carter (1977-1981)
1.2
Reagan (1981-1989)
0.5
G. Bush (1989-1993)
3
Clinton (1993-2001)
2
G.W. Bush (2001-2005)
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard G. Niemi, Vital Statistics on American Politics 2005-2006, (Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2006), Table 4-3, 177.
Growth in Presidential Speech Making
VII. Why Are Some Successful?
A. The president must work for power and work hard. Additionally
they need luck-the right timing
Presidents vary greatly in the energy they bring to the job, their skill,
leadership ability, vision and ability to work with Congress.
B. Presidential Character-Some use power more successfully
C. Presidents may be Active or Passive. Positive or Negative
D. Actives are more successful (Great presidents have used all their
powers/have usually served during times of crisis)
Examples:
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 Some
 Some
 Some
Active Positives: Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy.
Active Negatives: Nixon, Johnson, Hoover, Wilson.
Passive Positives: Taft, Harding, Reagan.
Passive Negatives: Washington, Coolidge
Presidential Character
Decline in Presidential Popularity
Over the First Term
VIII. The Federal Bureaucracy
Most of the federal government is located within the Executive
branch
A. Executive Office of the President
B. The White House Staff
C. The bureaucracy—President has difficult time organizing and
controlling the executive branch. Appoints about 1,500 top officials—
one method of control
D. Iron Triangle—Interest groups/members of Congress/federal
employees
Presidents have to pick some policies—major themes—they cannot
do everything
The Executive Office of the President
The President of the United
States of America
Council on
Environmental Quality
Council of Economic
Advisers
Domestic Policy
Council
National Economic
Council
Office of Faith-Based
and Community
Initiatives
National Security
Council
Office of
Administration
Office of Management
and Budget
Office of Science &
Technology Policy
Office of National
AIDS Policy
Office of National
Drug Control Policy
Office of the United
States Trade
Representative
USA Freedom Corps
President's Critical
Infrastructure
Protection Board
President's Foreign
Intelligence Advisory
Board
White House Military
Office
Source – http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/eop.html
Size of the White House Office
IX. Regulating the President
A. President can be impeached/convicted and removed from office.
Treason, High Crimes and Misdemeanors, crimes against the
government.
B. Can be prosecuted for crimes after leaving office. Sued for civil
matters while in office
C. Cannot withhold evidence in a criminal case
D. Campaign finance reform-public financing of campaigns ($250,000 in
20 states/matching dollars/funding of campaigns and conventions.
War Powers Act --Designed to regulate the
commitment of troops
The President can commit troops if:
1. Congress officially declares war
2. By specific authority of Congress
3. In a national emergency, created by an attack on
the United States or Its armed services
(If condition 3 exists, president must submit a
written report within 48 hours)
If within 60 days Congress does not declare war or
authorize-troops must be withdrawn
If president certifies athreat, 30 day extension
Summary of the Presidency
A. Changed a great deal over time.
B. Responsibility has shifted to the executive, but formal
powers are the same.
C. President is powerful in international relations, but
must have a great deal of skill and/or right conditions to
be effective in domestic policy.
D. President is in charge of a huge bureaucracy, must be
skilled to manage it.
Discussion Questions
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Why do you think the founders saw fit to give
the president so much more power in
international policy than domestic?
What has caused the increase in power (albeit
informally) of the President over time?
What makes a successful president? What skills
or talents are necessary to perform this very
complicated and difficult job well?
How has the growth in bureaucracy changed the
role of the executive branch in governing?
Appendix
Executive Order
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A presidential directive that has the force
of law, though it is not enacted by
Congress.
Executive Privilege
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The right of members of the executive
branch to have private communications
among themselves that need not be
shared with Congress.
Impeachment
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Recommendation by a majority of the
House of Representatives that a president,
other official in the executive branch, or
judge of the federal courts be removed
from office; removal depends on a twothirds vote of the Senate.
Average Time It Takes Presidential
Appointees to Be Confirmed
U.S. Lucky in Wartime?
How Bureaucracies Are Organized
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Organization of the Executive Branch
Executive Agreements are
Replacing Treaties
Significant Executive Orders, 1900-1996