PS 140B Final Question 11

Unitary Executive Theory

Actions of the federal executive branch are subject first and foremost to presidential direction. He may delegate authority, but agents have no independent authority to act A President Needs to leverage control as chief executive and use a broad interpretation of the vesting clause and take care clause, as making the entire executive subordinate to him.

Significance

Administrative policy implementation is always inferior to congressional channels because future presidents can override bureaucratic policy initiatives. Can be the only channel for presidential influence under divided government. Presidents shape policy by politicizing the rulemaking process, but need proper enforcement to fully take advantage

Office of Management and Budget:

Assists in formulating fiscal policy, preparing president's policy agenda, and supervising implementation and spending within the executive branch.

Responsive Competence

At the center of the administrative presidency Political appointees should be loyal, giving president control over bureaucracy. Presidents make 5,500 political appointments, that's a lot of control! White House Office of Personnel makes recommendations.

Rise of Administrative Presidency

Increasing responsive competence

White House Office of Personnel

President controls bureaucracy by screening appointment applicants for loyalty and ideological similarity to president.

Neutral competence

Separation of politics and administration. (Woodrow Wilson) Politics should only happen within Congress. The executive branch is a technical task, implementing the will of Congress. "Take care that the laws are faithfully executed." Faithfull to Congress. Civil servants should be neutrally competent: subject matter expertise, scientific objectivity, legal training, managerial skill, etc.

Question 11

What is the "administrative presidency" and what accounts for its development over time? Elaborate you answer through a discussion of "neutral competence" and "responsive competence." Your answer should indicate a familiarity with the bureaucratic rulemaking and enforcement processes.

administrative presidency

a model of unilateral presidential policy leadership through direct bureaucratic intervention and politicization of the executive branch. Aimed at achieving policy change through political control of the bureaucracy. Utilizes formal authority and resources available to the president

Development over time

Develops over time through development of EOP -WHOP (White House Office of Personnel) makes recommendations on the President's +5,500 political appointments - OMB under (Office of management and budget) facilitate unilateral bureaucratic control by presidents and politicalization of the executive branch Presidents Need to close expectations/performance gap - held accountable for the performance of government but are limited in what they can accomplish by the separation of powers -Article II, eroding political capital, & divided government Exploit their authority, discretion and capacity for independent action to try to effect policy change unilaterally