AP GOVERNMENT CHAPTER 12

Ace your homework & exams now with Quizwiz!

Treaty

A formal agreement negotiated by the president of the United States and one or more nations requiring approval of the senate by a two thirds vote

Cabinet

A group of presidential advisers not mentioned in the constitution, although every president has had one. Today the cabinet is composed of 14 secretaries, the attorney general and others designated by the president

War Powers Resolution

A law passed in 1973, in reaction to american fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia that requires president's to consult with congress when ever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless congress declares war or grants an extension. However, presidents have viewed the resolution as unconstitutional

Crisis

A sudden, unpredictable and potentially dangerous event requiring the president to play the role of crisis manager

Council of Economic Advisers

A three member body appointed by the president to advise the president on economic policy

Pocket vet

A type of veto occurring when congress adjourns within ten days of submitting a bill to the president and the president simply lets the bill die neither by signing nor vetoing it

Legislative Veto

A vote in congress to override a presidential decision. Although the war powers resolution asserts this authority, there is reason to believe that, if challenged, the Supreme Court would find the legislative veto in violation of the doctrine if separation of powers.

The President's 12.1

Americans have high expectations of their presidents, who have come from a relatively wide range of backgrounds. Most presidents are elected by the public, but one in five succeeded to the presidency when the president died or resigned. No president has been removed for disability as provided by the Twenty fifth amendment, which also provides the mechanism for filling vacancies in the office of Vice President, or by conviction of impeachment, although two presidents were impeached

Office of Management and Budget

An office that prepares the president's budget and also advises president's on proposals from departments and agencies and helps review their proposed regulation

A president is most likely to gain public support for a public policy proposal by

Appealing to the public directly via the broadcast media

12.1 outline

Chapter 12.1: The Presidents Great Expectations Americans expect the president to ensure peace, prosperity, and security, look up to the president to provide it, and are of two minds about the presidency. On one hand, they want to believe in a powerful president, one who can do good, and look longingly on the great presidents of the first American century. On the other hand, Americans dislike a concentration of power and are basically individualistic and skeptical of authority, despite there not being a corresponding increase in presidential authority or administrative resources to meet these new expectations since the substantial increasement of presidential responsibilities since the Great Depression and World War II. Who They Are The Constitution simply states that the president must be a natural-born citizen at least 35 years old and must have resided in the United States for at least 14 years. Before Barack Obama was inaugurated as the forty-fourth president in 2009, all American presidents had been white males and, except for President John Kennedy, Protestant. Over the years, all manner of men have occupied the Oval Office, such as politicians, lawyers, war heros, actors, Senators, governors, owners of companies, and many more. How They got There Elections: The Typical Road to the White House The Constitution guarantees a four-year term once in office (unless the president is convicted in an impeachment trial), but the Twenty-second Amendment, ratified in 1951, limits the president to being elected to only two terms. Only 13 presidents have actually served 2 or (in Franklin Roosevelt's case) more full terms in the White House whereas a few decided against a second term. Seven others thought they earned a second term but found that the voters did not concur. Succession The Twenty-fifth Amendment, ratified in 1967, created a means for selecting a new vice president when that office becomes vacant. The president nominates a new vice president, who assumes office when both houses of Congress approve the nomination by majority vote. Because of there being several times where a president has become incapable of carrying out the job for weeks or even months at a time, the Twenty-fifth Amendment clarifies some of the Constitution's vagueness about disability, permitting the vice president to become acting president if the vice president and the president's cabinet determine that the president is disabled or if the president declares his own disability and outlining how a recuperated person can reclaim the Oval Office. A law specifies the order of presidential succession- from the vice president, to the Speaker of the House, to the president pro tempore of the Senate and down through the cabinet members. Impeachment The Constitution prescribes the process of impeachment, which is roughly the political equivalent of an indication in criminal law. The House of Representatives may, by majority vote, impeach the president for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." After the House votes for impeachment, the case goes to the Senate which tries the accused president, with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding. By a two-thirds vote, the Senate may convict and remove the president from office. The House has only impeached two presidents. It impeached Andrew Jackson, Lincoln's successor who narrowly escaped conviction, in 1868 on charges stemming from his disagreement over Civil War reconstruction policies. On July 31, 1974, the House Judiciary Committee voted to recommend that the full House impeach Richard Nixon as a result of the Watergate scandal, in which surrounds the events of a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972. The three articles of impeachment charged that Nixon had (1) obstructed justice, (2) abused his power, and (3) failed to comply with congressional subpoenas. After a tape recording of White House conversations provided evidence that even NIxon's defenders found convincing, Nixon resigned to escape impeachment and and a Senate trial. In 1998, the House voted two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton on party-line voters however, the public clearly opposed the idea and in 1999, the Senate voted to acquit the president on both counts. Article II, Section 4, of the Constitution says, "The President, Vice President, and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." There is an agreement on at least four points regarding impeachable offenses: Impeachable behavior does not have to be a crime The offense should be grave. A matter of policy disagreement is not grounds of impeachment. Impeachment is an inherently political process.

The twenty fifth amendment is significant because it

Clarifies the terms under which the Vice President may become president if the president becomes disabled

Powers of the President

Conducting diplomatic relations Negotiating treaties Appointing cabinet officers

The president and congress tend to agree

During the first year of the president's first term

Difference between

Executive Order and Executive agreement

12.6 outline

Government Outline 12.6 "The Public Presidency" The greatest challenge to any president is obtaining and maintaining the public's support. Presidents rely on persuasion to gain public support, which is the greatest source of influence the president has. Going Public ● Presidents are not passive followers of public opinion, often times they find themselves trying to shape it. ● Ever since President Kennedy, presidents have been active in making public presentations. Often, the president's appearances are staged by the White House to get the public's attention. The White House's Office of Communications are in charge of choreographing events such as George W. Bush's announcement to end major combat in Iraq. ● The need for public support drives the White House to employ public relations techniques similar to those used to publicize commercial products. In America, the roles of the head of state and the head of government are fused together. As head of state, the president is America's ceremonial leader and symbol of government. Ceremonial activities include tossing out the first baseball of the season, or lighting the White House Christmas tree. ● Meeting foreign heads of state, receiving ambassador's credentials, and making global goodwill tours represent the international aspects of the president's job. ● Presidents rarely overlook these duties, even when they are not inherently important. Ceremonial duties give the president an important symbolic aura and a great deal of favorite press coverage. Presidential Approval ● The White House aims much of the energy it devotes to public relations at increasing the president's public approval. It believes that the higher the president stands in the polls, the easier it is to persuade others to support presidential initiatives. ● Because of the connection between public support and presidential influence, the press, members of Congress, and others in the political community closely monitor the president's standing in the polls. ● Presidents frequently do not have widespread public support, often failing to win even majority approval. The average approval level for Nixon, Ford, Carter, George W. Bush, and Obama was under 50 percent. For Ronald Reagan it was only 52 percent. George W.'s levels in his fourth year dropped below 40 percent, and Clinton struggled to rise above 50 percent. ● Presidential approval is the product of many factors. Political party identification provides the basic underpinning of approval or disapproval and mediates the impact of other factors. Partisans are not inclined to approve presidents of the other party. Historically, those who identify with the president's party give the president approval more than 40 percentage points higher than those who identify with the opposition party. ● Presidents usually benefit from the "honeymoon" with the American people after taking office. Some observers believe that "honeymoons" are a fleeting phenomenon, with the public affording new occupants of the White House only a short period of time until they start to descend in the polls. ● Changes ​ i n approval levels appear to reflect the public's evaluation of how the president is handling policy areas such as the economy, war, and foreign affairs. ● Different policies are important to the public at different times, for example is international acts of terrorism on American interests are increasing, then foreign policy is likely to dominate the news and the minds of Americans. ● Contrary to conventional wisdom, citizens seem to focus on the president's efforts and stands on issues, rather than his personality. ● Sometimes public approval takes sudden jumps, one popular explanation for these surges is "rally events" which are defined as events that are related to international relations, directly involve the U.S. and the president, and are specific, dramatic, and sharply focused. An example is the 18 percentage point rise after George H.W. Bush"s approval after the Gulf War began. ● The criteria on which the public evaluates presidents are open to many interpretations. Different people see things differently. III.) ​ P olicy Support ● Commentators on the presidency often accuse it of bullying the public into supporting the president's policies. ● Certainly presidents do try to gain public support for their policies through television, radio, speeches, and appearances. ● Despite the aid and despite the politicians' speaking experience, presidential speeches designed to lead public opinion have typically been unimpressive. In the modern era, experts consider FDR, Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama to be the most effective speakers. ● The public is not always receptive to the president's message. For the most part, Americans are not especially interested in politics and government. Citizens also have predispositions about public policy that filter presidential messages. ● The public may miss the point of even the most colorful rhetoric or get its basic facts wrong, and thus may have difficulty evaluating policies sensibly. ● In the absence of national crises, most people are unreceptive to political appeals. IV.) ​ M obilizing the Public ● Sometimes merely changing public opinion is not sufficient, the president wants the public to communicate its views directly to Congress. ● Mobilization of the public may be the ultimate weapon for the president when it comes to influencing congress

12.5 outline

I. Chief Diplomat A. Constitutionally, the president has the leading role in American defense and foreign policy which is also known as National Security Policy. His responsibilities include negotiating with other nations, commanding the armed forces, waging war, managing crises, and lastly obtaining the necessary support of congress. 1. The president extends diplomatic recognition to foreign governments. 2. The president also can terminate relationships with other nations. a. President Jimmy Carter terminated America's relationship with Iran after Americans were taken hostage in Tehran. 3. Presidents also have the sole power to negotiate treaties with other nations;however the Constitution states that the Senate must approve them by a two-thirds vote. II. Commander in Chief B.The Constitution's framers wanted civilian control of the military, they made the president the commander in chief of the armed forces. 1 . When the United States began it did not have a permanent army and people did not expect it to have one. a. Today the president is commander in chief of about 1.4 million uniformed men and women. 2. The Constitution states only Congress has the power to declare war, but it is unreasonable to believe that Congress convene,debates and vote on a declaration of war in the case of a nuclear attack. III. War Powers C. As stated previously, Congress had the power to declare war and vote on the military budget, but the President makes short term military commitments of troops, aircrafts,or naval vessels. 1. The War Powers Resolution was passed in 1973, which was a reaction to the disillusionment about American fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia. a. It required president's to consult with Congress whenever possible,before using military forces and it mandates the withdrawal of forces after 60 days unless congress declared war or granted an extension. 2. The Supreme Court considered the use of legislative veto which was the ability of Congress to pass a resolution to ovveride the presidential decision in the use of the War Powers Resolution. IV. Crisis Manager D. The president is also responsible for crisis management. 1. A crisis is a sudden, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous event. a. Most crises occur in the realm of foreign policy. 2. In early American history, there were few immediate crises and by the time officials were aware of the problem it often had resolved itself. 3. With today's modern communication, the president can instantly monitor events almost anywhere. b. Congress usually moves slowly and as a result the president, who can come to quick and consistent decisions, confine information to a small group, carefully oversee developments, and call on experts in the executive branch-has become more prominent in handling crises. V. Working with Congress E. Congress has challenged president's on all fronts, including intelligence operations,the treatment of prisoners of war, foreign aid,arms sales, the development, procurement, deployment of weapons systems,the negotiation and interpretation, the selection of diplomats, and the continuation of nuclear testing. 1. Congress has a centra constitutional role in making national policy. a. The allocation of responsibilities for such matters is based on the Founders' apprehensions about the concentration of power and the potential for its abuse. 2. Despite the constitutional role of Congressm the president is the driving force behind the national security policy, providing energy and direction. 3. Congress frequently originates proposals for domestic policy, but it is less involved in national security policy. 4. The president has a more prominent role im foreign affairs as the country's sole representative in dealing with other nations and as commander in chief of the armed forces. 5. Congress can constrain the president even on the initiation,scope, and duration of militant around 6. Commenters on the presidency often refer to the "two presidencies"- one for domestic policy and the other for national security policy. b. The president has more succes in leading congress on matters of national security than on matters of domestic policy. 7. President's need resources to influence others to support their policies. c. One important presidential asset can be the support of the American people.

12.4 outline

IV. Presidential Leadership of Congress: The Politics of Shared Powers A. Presidential Responsibility: Working with Congress 1. President must devote much of his time in office to leading the legislature in order to gain support for his initiatives B. Chief Legislator 1. The Constitution only requires the President to give a State of the Union report to Congress and bring other matters to Congress's attention "from time to time" a. The Constitution does not say anything about the phrase chief legislator 2. The Constitution allows him to veto congressional legislation a. Once a bill is passed by Congress, the president can either (1) sign it and make it a law, (2) veto it, sending it back to Congress where they can override his veto, (3) let it become a law after ten days by not doing anything, or (4) use a pocket veto which occurs when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting the bill b. Presidents must accept or reject bills on their entirety; they cannot veto only the parts they do not like which is line-item veto 3. The presidential veto is usually effective, but it is most useful for preventing legislation C. Party Leadership 1. The President remains highly dependent on his party to move legislative programs, while he is the leader of his party 2. If the President's party was the majority in Congress, he would always win, but if his party was in the minority, less legislation would get done and he would have to focus on converting members from the other party 3. When constituency opinion and the President's proposals conflict, members of Congress are more likely to vote with their constituents, whom they rely on for reelection a. if the Pres. is not popular with their constituents, congressional party members avoid identifying too closely with the Pres. 4. In the 16 presidential elections between 1952 and 2012, the party of the winning presidential candidate averaged a net gain of 8 seats per election in the House and 1 seat per election in the Senate a. the President's party is most likely to lose seats in the House when the President's approval rating is low and when the party gained a lot of seats in the previous election 5. The President's party often lacks a majority in one or both houses, so the Pres. usually has to seek help from the opposition party 6. The President's party typically gains few seats when the president wins election and his party typically looses seats in midterm elections D. Public Support 1. Reps. and Senators may use the president's standing in the polls as an indicator of presidential ability to mobilize public opinion against presidential opponents and voters may use presidential coattails to vote, which is when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the president's party because they support the president 2. If the Pres. is high in the public's esteem, the president's party is more likely to be responsive, the public is more easily moved, and legislative skills become more effective a. allows congressmen to defend their votes as support for the Pres. rather than support for a certain policy alone 3. No matter how low presidential standing dips, the Pres. still receives support form a substantial number of Senators and Reps. and also, no matter how high approval levels climb, a significant portion of Congress will oppose certain presidential policies 4. Merely winning an election does not provide presidents with an electoral mandate, which is the preception that the voters strongly support the president and his policies a. even large electoral victories carry no guarantee that Congress will interpret the results as mandates from the people to support the president's programs E. Legislative Skills 1. Presidential legislative skills include bargaining, making personal appeals, consulting with Congress, setting priorities, exploiting "honeymoon" periods, and structuring congressional votes 2. Bargaining occurs less often and plays a less critical role in the creation of presidential coalitions because the Pres. only needs to bargain if his coalition does not provide a majority 3. It is smart for the Pres. to be ready to send legislation to Congress early during his first year in office in order to exploit the "honeymoon" atmosphere 4. If presidents are unable to focus the attention of Congress on their priority programs, these programs may become lost in the complex and overloaded legislative process 5. Congress must make decisions about a wide range of matters and is very capable of setting its own agenda, providing competition for the president's proposals a. by the time a Pres. tries to exercise influence on a vote, most members of Congress have made up their minds 6. Even skilled presidents cannot reshape the contours of the political landscape and create opportunities for change, but they can recognize favorable configurations of political forces and effectively exploit them to embark on major shifts in public policy

Twenty Second Amendment

Is the amendment to the constitution established term limits for the president

The national economic council

Is the body within the White House staff of the president that advises the president in economic issues

Management and budget

Is the director that is considered MOST central to the president's agencies

According to the constitution, the Vice President

Is the president of the senate

Formal constitutional qualifications for becoming president

Must be a resident of the U.S. For at least 14 years Must be at least 35 years old Must be a natural born citizen

Running the government 12.3

One of the presidents principles responsibilities is to manage the executive branch. The Vice President has played a central role in recent administrations. Cabinet members focus on running executive departments but play only a modest role as a unit. The executive office includes the council of economic advisers, the national security council, which helps organize the president's national security decision making process, and the office of management and budget, which prepares the budget and evaluates regulations and legislative proposals. Presidents rely heavily on the White House staff for information, policy options, analysis. The First Lady has no official position but may play an important role in advocating on particular issues.

ESSAYS

President's Jobs (chief diplomat, legislators commander in chief, etc) difference between being these things Public opinion the approval rating of a president and how it increases and decreases His relationship with the press how it has changed and gotten better The cabinet and what is the cabinet role, how they get there, if they have to be approved The difference between his 5 jobs commander in chief, chief legislator, head of state, chief diplomat, and chief executive

Power from the People: the public presidency 12.6

Presidents invest heavily in efforts to win the publics support but they often have low approval levels. Approval levels are affected by party identification;by evaluations of the president's performance on the economy foreign affairs, and other policy areas; and by evaluations if the president's character and job related skills, presidents typically fail to obtain the publics support for their policy initiatives and rarely are able to mobilize the public to act on behalf of these initiatives.

READ THE CHAPTER

READ THE CHAPTER

Twenty Second Amendment

Ratified in 1951, this amendment limits presidents to two terms of office

Twenty Fifth Amendment

Ratified in 1967, this amendment permits the Vice President to become acting president if the Vice President and the president's cabinet determine that the president is disabled, and it outlines how a recuperated president can reclaim the job

Executive orders

Regulations originating with the executive branch. Executive orders are one method presidents can use to control the bureaucracy

Which of the following presidential appointments requires senate confirmation?

Secretary of State

PRESIDENTS

Washington:military general,unanimous Adams: hand selected by washington Jefferson: writer of the Declaration of Independence Madison: biggest writer of the constitution Monroe: know the Monroe doctrine (saying everyone to stay away from north and South America. Quincy Adams Jackson Van Buren Harrison Tyler Polk Taylor Fillmore Pierce Buchanan Lincoln: assassinated, civil war leading to end of slavery Johnson; impeached, wins by one vote Grant: famous general Hayes Garfield:assassinated Arthur Cleveland Harrison Cleveland McKinley:assassinated Theodore Roosevelt Taft Wilson: signed the armistice day treaty of Versailles, has a stroke, wife takes over, wrote up the 14 points for end of WWI Harding Coolidge Hoover FDR (served for more than two terms) Truman:bombed Japan killed millions,deciding person to end WW2, desegregated the military Eisenhower: he was the general in charge of Europe during WW2 Kennedy:assassinated, catholic,civil rights,communism and the fight against russia LBJ:affirmative action, signs the civil rights act and voting rights act Nixon(impeached, resigns) Ford: never won an election Carter Reagan:actor,economic growth and less government, the end of communism George Bush Clinton(Impeached, wins easily) George W. Bush: closest election, lost the popular vote Obama: first African American president, ??????????

Veto

The conditional power of the president to send a bill back to Congress,with reasons for rejecting it. A two thirds vote in each house can override a veto

Presidential Power 12.2

The constitution gives the president a few national security, legislative, administrative, and judicial powers, some of which are quite general. Presidential power has increased over time, through the actions of presidents and because of factors including technology and increased prominence of the United States and the assertion of presidential power has at times created controversy regarding the constitutional balance of powers.

Executive office of the president

The council of economic advisors The national security council The office of the Vice President The office of management and budget

Notes

Washington:military general,unanimous Adams: hand selected by washington Jefferson: writer of the Declaration of Independence Madison: biggest writer of the constitution Monroe: know the Monroe doctrine (saying everyone to stay away from north and South America. Quincy Adams Jackson Van Buren Harrison Tyler Polk Taylor Fillmore Pierce Buchanan Lincoln: assassinated, civil war leading to end of slavery Johnson; impeached, wins by one vote Grant: famous general Hayes Garfield:assassinated Arthur Cleveland Harrison Cleveland McKinley:assassinated Theodore Roosevelt Taft Wilson: signed the armistice day treaty of Versailles, has a stroke, wife takes over, wrote up the 14 points for end of WWI Harding Coolidge Hoover FDR (served for more than two terms) Truman:bombed Japan killed millions,deciding person to end WW2, desegregated the military Eisenhower: he was the general in charge of Europe during WW2 Kennedy:assassinated, catholic,civil rights,communism and the fight against russia LBJ:affirmative action, signs the civil rights act and voting rights act Nixon(impeached, resigns) Ford: never won an election Carter Reagan:actor,economic growth and less government, the end of communism George Bush Clinton(Impeached, wins easily) George W. Bush: closest election, lost the popular vote Obama: first African American president, ?????????? KNOW EXECUTIVE Privilege, he's allowed to meet with individual members in secret Chapter 12 35 years old, 14 years in the United States, natural born citizen of the United States,person is born in US or has parents who are United States citizens, most of the 44 have been white, men, Protestant, rich, well educated, famous, either in politics or well known, jobs have been very varied (works for many different things) a lot of the have been senators and governors 9 haven't been elected in Election: election by electoral college every four years Amendment XXII: 1951,two term limit, Amendment XXV:(1967) formal succession to the presidency (who's next in line) 18 title long not including president. Formally writes out ways to replace a president either because of death, resignation, disability, or impeachment. There is now a formal process to pick the next president (VP, Speaker,president pro temp of the senate, through each cabinet member-18 total) and a formal way to declare a president incompetent president to get his job back. Four ways someone can leave office: impeachment, death, resignation, Incompetency (mental disability) There is no mention of primaries, caucuses, debates or parties in the constitution FDR was the only president to serve more than two. before 1951, it was an unwritten law/courtesy which went back to Washington because he did it. Requirements of being impeached There have been two impeached and a three Andrew Johnson: (vp of Lincoln ) is formally charged over disagreement about reconstruction policies and procedures. He wins by one vote. Billy Clinton is for all charged for lying and obstructing justice over his sexual encounter as president Richard Nixon: resigned over Watergate scandal about breaking into democratic headquarters to gain information. Supposedly, Nixon knew about and then lied about it, obstructing justice and failed to comply with subpoenas. They also erased taped recordings of conversations about it. Requirements: "conviction of treason, bribery, other high crimes and misdemeanors." The house votes by a simple majority to formally accuse. The senate votes by a 2/3rds majority to convict. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the trial on the senate floor. The reasons for impeachment are too varied to explain but there are four characteristics to which most people agree regarding impeachment. They are Impeachable behavior does not need to be an actual crime The offense should be severe A matter of policy disagreement is not grounds for impeachment Impeachment is inherently a political process page 406 table on what the president does 12.2 Presidential Powers He mostly oversees and manages offices and departments of the federal government. Most experts have narrowed his job down to these 15 specific roles as shown in table 12.3 (page 406). The list: Commander and chief of the armed forces (needs approval of congress for war) but we can aid and not technically get involved like Vietnam. QUAZI Make treaties with other countries regarding disputes (⅔ vote of the senate) Nominate ambassadors to other countries (ceremonial) Recognize other countries and diplomats in formal and informal meetings(not recognized as countries) Present the state of the Union public speech to congress and the people (on TV now)(must be given by the fourth Monday in January) Recommend legislation to congress (need a member to formally introduce) Convene both houses when there is an extraordinary event Adjourn congress if they disagree Veto legislation if he or she doesn't agree to it (congress can override with ⅔) "Execute the laws faithfully and to the best of your ability" (formally in the constitution) (part of his swearing in) (vague) Nominate officials ( cabinet members) as required (must be approved by the senate) Request written opinions from government officials Fill vacancies in administrative offices Grant pardons for convicted criminals of federal offenses, if warranted (except impeachment) Nominates federal judges (must be approved by the senate) The Chief Executive President: in trying to complete #10 on the last slice.he has to appoint about 500 high level positions to run this $4trillion/ year business with over four million employees, including the military. His office is vast and complex. Presidents can also use what's known as the executive order privilege to run the government. Executive order: carries the weight of a law and are used to implement laws and treaties. For example, Truman desegregated the military, Kennedy created the Peace Corps, LBJ started affirmative action, Nixon created the EPA, and Bush started the military tribunals for accused terrorists. To carry out his office, the president needs help from his official and unofficial people. Vice President: many times the role of VP for the president is an afterthought, as some are very good and complement the president very well and some are pretty much useless. Most times the VP is the opposite type of person as the president - to gain votes in the election and to keep the whole party happy. Each VP is supposed to work with the president as an advisor, help in foreign affairs, be a diplomat to outsiders, deal with legislative items.and stand in when needed. Running the federal government: the chief executive Cabinet: it is not mandatory to have one but every president since Washington has had one. They are his chief advisors, known as secretaries or attorney general, for 15 separate agencies of the government. They advise the president and help carry out the laws of the land in their area. See table 12.4 on page 410 for the 15 agencies (state,treasury,defense, Justice,interior, agriculture, commerce, labor, health and human services,housing and urban department, transportation, energy, education, veterans affairs, and homeland security.) each president picks a new cabinet. Executive office: has three separate agencies which help the president run the government. They are the national security council (NSC), council of economic advisers (CEA), and the office of management and budget (OMB) White House Staff: is mostly his personal helpers and people most closely associated with him, such as his chief of staff, press secretary, secret service, social secretary, Oval Office operations, White House operations, etc and so on. First Lady/Man: First Ladies/ men take a back seat to their spouse's work and usually just worry about public perception, greet visitors and diplomats, support the president's work, and try to rally up to support for various causes, which are important to them. however, the most influential first ladies, probably have been :Edith Galt Wilson, who virtually acted as president when Wilson had a stroke, Eleanor Roosevelt who help him in public as he was crippled and in a wheelchair for his presidency but also made many public appearances and started many programs of her own, and Hillary Rodham Clinton as she advised her husband in political appointments, foreign affairs and legislation. 12.4 Presidential Leadership Shared power with congress The president's most important job is probably influencing the congress to get his policies and agenda passed: As chief legislator he: Approves or disproves laws passed by congress signing it,which means he agrees with it, veto it with the reasons for his veto, ignore it where it will become law in 10 days and says he really doesn't agree with it but doesn't want to veto it or use a pocket veto, which means he can ignore it,if congress is going to adjourn within the next 10 days and therefore it dies without a veto and without becoming a law. Over the history d the U.S.,veto laws have been overridden by Congress less than 5% of the time so a veto is a powerful tool In the federal government pm unlike most state governments, the President does not have the power of a line item veto where he can veto a certain part of a section of a law. The federal government only had vetoes for bills in their entirety Influencing congress is his most important job through his influence on his party,the public,and his own legislative bills Party Leadership: most presidents will always have strong party support,however, support slips when the president starts trying to pass laws which are controversial or not supported by the congress constituents. The president is considered the party leader during his term in office.b most times, the president is such a strong influence in voting,that congressional seats usually increase in favor of the winning president's party during Pres election years,which is known as following the Presidential Coattails(see table 12.6 on page 418) The average is 8 house and 1 senate seat GAINED. However, a more dramatic number is the number of seats LOST by congress in MidTerm election years by the president's party. The average is 24 House and 3 senate seats Lost (see table 12.7 on page 419) as the two tables suggest, when congress and the president parties match,more gets done. When they are opposites little gets done. Finally,most times, congress and the president agree on more terms EARLY in his presidency. It changes by 32 spots President's shared power with congress Public Perception: The more the public supports the president, the more influence he has on congress and vice versa. Therefore, support by the public is a KEY component the President wants. President's need to be open to the media, dynamic in speeches, outgoing,intelligent, and open in public discussions, and in other words popular. They also have electoral mandates from the voters. An overwhelming win by a president means the people want his ideas a close win not as much. Legislative Skills- The president's ability to get congress to like him and support him I'd just as important as the public liking him and the party supporting him. He needs to consult, bargain, and set priorities in dealing with congress, who are the only ones who can pass his policies and his agenda . The president and his people identify key members of both houses who can influence others and MAAAYBE get his bills passed. Commander in Chief Presidential Leadership: Foreign Affairs and Defense The president is the leading figure with dealing with other countries,either through trade policies, immigration laws and policies, waging war, signing treaties, meeting foreign officials, commanding the armed forces, recognizing countries, managing crises,capturing terrorists and trying to win support of all these activities from Congress. He is the leader of our national defense and foreign policy (aka National Security Policy) His roles are split these ways: Chief Diplomat:speaking and talking with other countries Commander in chief: leader of the armed forces War Powers: he is the decision maker when we are at war Crisis Manager: could be threats from others or even natural disasters Foreign affairs in Congress: he needs to persuade congress to support him in all types of foreign affairs, everything he does outside of the country President as Chief Diplomat As chief diplomat of our country, the President MUST do the following with other countries: Diplomatic Recognition Negotiate Treaties and weapons bans Negotiate executive agreements:executive agreements are agreements with other countries does not require senate ratification, most are routine, deal with non controversial subjects where the United States is usually helping them like aid for natural disaster, food delivery, or even border control Mediate disagreements among other countries Be an economic resource for other countries Some of these items need approval by ⅔ senate vote. Treaties and some just need majority vote- laws and money but other like an executive agreement need nothing. The president is the final authority on the overall involvement of our troops in any conflict of the world. He is the ONE and ONLY FINAL authority on all matters related to war. Originally, President GW actually led Troops in battle WHILE he was president. Today the president is NOT involved in battle but does have all say (AFTER congress declares war) He has "the football" in his vicinity at all times. President as leader of the war powers Constant conflicts between congress and the president over the use of force vs war Examples: War powers resolution act of 1973: was passed by congress by overriding Nixon's veto, which states these things After Pearl Harbor military force is used the next day Looking for one terrorist in another country Vietnam Conflict President's must consult when possible with congress anytime military force is used Military force must be stopped after 60 days unless congress declares war or an extension Congress can pass a law, which can not be vetoed by the president to withdraw troops immediately However even with this law, presidents have ignored it and feel it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL but has yet to be challenged by Congress or the 3rd part by the president, read some examples on 425 In the summary, the 225 year Constitution did not anticipate the immediate nature of responding to nuclear weapons, terrorists and other forms of military fighting. It is important to be ready and respond rapidly and in secrecy but it's also important for the president to not abuse his power and act in the best interests of the American people and our troops not his troops. President as Crisis Manager As president he must handle crisis situations, quickly and efficiently as it can increase or decrease his power and public opinion of him greatly. A crisis is a sudden, unpredictable and potentially dangerous event,which is not a war event. Examples: 9/11/01 Hurricane Katrina : bush lost support Cuban missile crisis :Kennedy gained support Iran Hostage Crisis: Carter lost support Air Traffic Controllers Strike: Reagan gained support On test example of one that's beneficial and one that is not President a working with Congress on Foreign Policy Congress does not make policy when dealing with foreign affairs but they do have oversight responsibilities and can encourage, criticize or support the president in many ways,through funding, proposals,and denying or granting authorization Remember the president needs congress to declare war and military budget is controlled by congress but all other actions are controlled by the President, however, his actions will be perceived better by the public with support of the congress. Obama :60 President for the Public As president, public opinion and public appearances are very important. As head of state,the president presides over important announcements and ceremonies of our own country. He is the ceremonial leader and the symbol of our country. Presidential approval (first two years of his first term) : the higher the approval of the president by the public the easier it is to get congress and his party to back his agenda, Presidential approval is always the highest in the first years of his election. Most presidents max out at about 50% approval rating and decrease as their years in office get older. (See figure 12.3) If the people like him the party and congress will back him. 12.6 Public Approval The following are the most important reasons for changes in the approval ratings of a president: Party support and the identification with the goals and Policies of the party Honeymoon period of being elected Evaluation of handling of policies related to foreign policy, the economy, congress and getting laws passed. Sometimes a president's approval rating takes jumps, after such things as "rally events" which is when a specific, dramatic and sharply focused event occurs when the president related to international relations such as the beginning of war,9/11,ect. 12.6 President and Dealing with the Public By law, all meetings with congress, such as the state of the Union address and other events are to be open to the press, public, etc. However, many other items get classified as executive privilege and can be held in secret, such as meetings with his cabinet, the NSC, OMB, and CEA Once again, though, in order to have a positive public approval rating, the president must be an effective, articulated public speaker. A bad public speaker such as Bush makes people believe he is a and president 12.7 President and the Press The most important influence on the public is done by the press. Therefore mall 44 presidents have gone to great lengths to inform, influence, and try to control the media.although it has changed a great deal from 1989 to 2016, the press and the media are very important. Changes? Technology Immediate news Have to look good A large number of people work in the White House staff under the president and his press secretary who makes announcements answers questions and sets up omedia events to cover the president in the best way possible. They have formal presidential press conference, where the President makes a statement and fields questions to a sit down one on one interview with a reporter or to reporters just following behind him asking questions. Nature of Coverage: most press coverage is of the actions of the activities of the president and of how they present themselves instead of the actual substance of the policy or of the event. The press needs to inform and entertain at the same time therefore they use sound bites and short videos which really are superficial and distort the truth. It tends to emphasis the negative. In the last, the press wanted to stay on the good side of the president and only covered things on the record. Today's there is no off the record, for the most part. However, the White House staff and press secretary can control and manipulate the events the announcements or ceremony or press event. 12.8 Understanding the President of the United States Overall, the president is an extremely powerful person but does not have too much authority or control despite some flaws in the system. The system of checks and balances usually works- the President is not a threat to democracy In fact, in a divided government(president is one party and house or senate is different) when the president is one party and one or both of the houses of congress are the other party, the president has very little power, especially domestic polices. Recently, since LBJ, most presidents have tried to limit government growth and power.

Watergate

The events and the scandal surrounded a break in at the democratic national committee headquarters in 1972 and the subsequent cover up of White House involvement leading to the eventual resignation of of President Nixon under the threat of impeachment

12.2 Outline

The executive office today does not resemble the one mentioned in the Constitution. The Framers included a presidency with more limited authority, fewer responsibilities, and much less organizational structure than today's presidency. I. Constitutional Powers The Constitution says remarkably little about presidential power - "The Executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States of America." Constitutional powers of the president include: Serve as commander in chief of the armed forces. Make treaties with other nations. Nominate ambassadors. Recieve ambassadors of other nations. Present information on the state of the Union to congress. Recommend legislation to congress. Convene both houses of congress on extraordinary occasions. Adjourn Congress if the house and senate cannot agree on adjournment. Veto legislation. Take care that laws be faithfully executed. Nominate officials as provided for by Congress. Request written opinions of administrative officials. Fill administrative vacancies during congressional recess. Grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses. Nominate federal judges. II. The Expansion of Power The role of the president has changed as America has increased in prominence on the world stage; technology has also reshape the presidency. Many presidents have enlarged the power of the presidency by expanding the presidents responsibilities and political resources. Jefferson was the first leader of a mass political party. Lincoln mobilized the country for war. III. Perspectives on Presidential Power During the 1950s and 1960s, many people favored a powerful presidency. However, this opinion was changed when LBJ and the unpopular Vietman War made people reasses the power of the presidency in the 1970s. Nixon's watergate scandal heightened the publics distrust and many of his goals asserted that the president was above the law, permitting them to order acts that would otherwise be illegal. Many Presidents cause critics to charge that presidential power threatened the constitutional balance of powers.

Understanding the American Presidency

The fear of a presidential power harmful to democracy is always present, but there are many checks on presidential power. Support of increasing the scope of government is not inherent in the presidency and presidents have frequently been advocates of limiting government growth.

Impeachment

The political equivalent of an indictment in criminal law,prescribed by the constitution. The House of Representatives may impeach the president by a majority vote for Treason, Bribery or other crimes and misdemeanors

Congress can override a presidential veto of legislation

With a two thirds vote in both houses of congress.

Powers of the president

The power to convene congress The power to nominate federal judges The power to veto legislation The power to recognize diplomats

True about the commander in chief

The president decides if and when to use weapons of mass destruction in times of war.

The President and National Security Policy 12.5

The president is the chief diplomat, commander in chief, and crisis manager. Presidents have substantial formal and informal powers regarding going to war, and these powers remain a matter of controversy. Congress has a central constitutional role in making national security policy, but leadership in this area is centered in the White House, and the president's usually receive the support they seek from congress

One of the primary tools presidents use to control bureaucracy is

The presidential power to appoint and remove top level administrators

The president and the press

The press is the principle intermediary between the president and the public. Presidents and the press are frequently in conflict over the amount,nature, and tone of the coverage of the presidency. Much of the coverage is superficial and without partisan or ideological bias, but there has been an increase in the negativity if coverage and there are an increasing number of ideologically biased sources of news.

State of the Union address

The state of the Union address is the annual statement the president presents to congress and the nation

Presidential leadership of congress :The politics of Shared Powers12.4

The veto is a powerful tool for stopping legislation the president opposes, the president's role as party leader is at the core of president's efforts to assemble a winning legislative coalition behind their proposals, but party members in the legislature in presidential or midterm election years. Moreover, the president frequently faces an opposition majority inCongress. Presidents rarely enjoy electoral mandates for their policies, but they can benefit from high levels of public approval. A variety of presidential legislative skills, ranging from bargaining to setting priorities, contribute only marginally to the president's success with Congress.

Presidential coattails

These occur when votes cats their ballots for congressional candidates of the president's party because they support the president. Recent studies show that few races are won this way.

The Vice President possesses only one real constitutional duty which is

To break tie voted in the senate

12.3 Outline

12.3 Running the Government: The Chief Executive A. We often refer to the president as the "chief executive" , it is easy to forget that one of the president's most important roles is presiding over the administration of government B. The Constitution exhorts the president to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed" C. One of the president's resources for controlling this bureaucracy is the power to appoint top-level administrators D. Since passage of the Budgeting and Accounting Act of 1921, presidents have had one other important executive tool: the power to recommend agency budgets to Congress E. The vastness of the executive branch, the complexity of public policy, and the desire to accomplish their policy goals have led presidents in recent years to pay even closer attention to appointing officials who will be responsive to the president's policies F. Executive Orders- regulations originating with the executive branch. Executive are one method presidents can use to control the bureaucracy 1. The Vice President A. Once the thought of a party's "second team" was an afterthought; it has often been an effort to placate some important symbolic constituency B. Vice Presidents have rarely enjoyed their job C. Before the mid-1970s, Vice Presidents usually found that their main job was waiting D. The relationship between Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale marked a watershed in the vice presidency, as Mondale, experience senator, became a close adviser to the president, a Washington outsider E. George W. Bush choose Richard Cheney, who had extensive experience in high- level positions in the national government, as his vice president and assigned him a central role in his administration 2. The Cabinet A. Although the Constitution does not mention the group of presidential advisers known as a cabinet, every president has had one B. Cabinet- a group of presidential advisers not mentioned in the Constitution, although every president has had one. Today the cabinet is composed of 14 secretaries, the attorney general, and others designated by the president C. George Washington's cabinet was small, consisting of just three secretaries (state, treasury, and war) and the attorney general D. In making his highest-level appointments, the president is subject to the constitutional system of checks and balances 3. The Executive Office A. Next to the White House sits an ornate building called the EEOB, or Eisenhower Executive Office Building. It houses a collection of offices and organizations loosely grouped into the Executive Office of the President B. National Security council- the committee that links the president's foreign and military policy advisers. It's formal members are the president, Vice President, Secretary of State, and secretary of defense, and it is managed by the president's national security assistant C. Council of Economic Advisers- a three-member body appointed by the president to advise the president on economic policy D. Office of Management and Budget- an office that prepares the president's budget and also advises presidents on proposals from departments and agencies and helps review their proposed regulations E. Although presidents find that the Executive Office is smaller and more manageable than the cabinet departments, it is still filled with people who often performing jobs required by law 4. The White House Staff A. Before F.D.R., the president's personal staff resources were minimal B. Today, the White House staff includes about 600 people -- many of whom the president rarely sees-- who provide the chief executive with a wide variety of services ranging from making advance travel preparations to answering the avalanche of letters received it year C. The top aides in the White House hierarchy are people who are completely loyal to the president, and the president turns to them for advice on the most serious or mundane matters of government D. Presidents rely heavily on their staffs for information, policy options, and analysis E. Most presidents end up choosing some form of hierarchical organization with the Chief of Staff at the top, whose job is to see that everyone is doing his or her job and of the president's time interests are protected F. A few presidents, such as John F. Kennedy, have employed a wheel and spokes system of White House management in which many aides equal status and are balanced against one another in the process of decision making G. Recent presidents illustrate significant contrast in decision making styles H. Despite presidents reliance on the steps, it is the president who sets the tone for the White House 5. The First Lady A. The first lady has no official government position, yet she is often the center of national attention B. Abigail Adams (an early feminist) and Dolley Madison counselor lobbied their husbands C. Edith Galt Wilson was the most powerful First Lady, virtually running the government when her husband, Woodrow, suffered a paralyzing stroke a 1919 D. In what was perhaps a natural evolution in society where woman have moved into position firmly held by only males, Hillary Clinton attained the most responsible and visible leadership position ever held by First Lady E. Michelle Obama has focused on a range of issues, which have included fighting childhood obesity, supporting military families, helping working woman balance career and family and encouraging national service

12.7 outline

12.7 The President and the Press No matter how much a president may try the Press is always the middle man between himself and the public shaping the public's opinion Despite who is in office the President and press are almost always in conflict This is because when the President is trying to advocate policy he wants to control the timing and amount of information present to congress but the press however wants all information immediately About 1/3 of high-level White House staff are directly involved in media relations The president has a press secretary who most often interacts with the press Comunicates information from the White house to the press Conduct daily press breifings Organize individual meeting between White House officials and reporter Presidential press conferences are sometimes held but have decreased in frequency since George H.W. Bush Nature of News Coverage Most news coverage of the White House is "body-watch" or just scrape the visible layer of the president Reports focus on what the president is going to do, wants to do, or feels about something Little interest in actual policy Bias Being unbiased is important in the representation of the president The press is not systematically biased but tend to show more negative than positive remarks about the president The news tends to display a distorted veiw of actual event Often alters stories to flow with previous themes and get readers who want updates The news has turned from reporting verified facts to analysis, opinion and unvarified sources Despite the bias the president's message still typically reaches the public's ears

12.8 outline

12.8 Understanding the American Presidency The fear of a presidential power harmful to democracy is always prevalent, but there are various checks on presidential power. Support of increasing the scope of government is not inherent in the presidency, and presidents have frequently been advocates of limiting government growth. - Since the president is the most important office in American politics, there has always been concern about whether the president is actually a threat to democracy The President and Democracy I. From the writing of the Constitution until today, there has been a fear that the presidency would deteriorate into a monarchy or dictatorship A. Over the past century and a half, political commentators have alternated between extolling and fearing a strong presidency. II. Those who oppose the president's policies are more likely to fear about he/she having too much power. III. There is little prospect that the president will be a threat to democracy, thanks to the Madisonian system of checks and balances. A. This system is especially relevant in an era where conflicting parties can dominate (the president could be a Democrat, while a majority in each house of congress could be republican. IV. Some are concerned that there is too much checking and balancing, and not enough capacity to act on pressing national challenge; although, major policy change is completely possible under a divided government. A. In fact, major change has found to be just as likely to occur when when the parties share control as when one party holds both the presidency and a majority in each house of Congress. The Presidency and the Scope of Government V. Some of the most noteworthy presidents in the 20th century advocated increases in the role of national government. A. This is not essential in the presidency, but leadership can move in many directions. VI. The presidents succeeding LBJ have supported constraints on government and limits on spending, especially in domestic policy. VII.Oftentimes, American people are said to be ideologically conservative and operationally liberal. A. For most of the past generation, it has been their will to choose presidents who reflected their ideology and a Congress that represented their appetite for public service. VIII.More often, it has been the president—not Congress—who has said "no" to government growth.

Impeachment Process

The Chief Justice of the United States presides over the trial The trial must be held in public The senate serves as the jury The House of Representatives brings the formal charges against the president

National Security Council

The Committee that links the president's foreign and military Po,icy advisers. It's formal members are the president, Vice President, Secretary of State, and secretary of defense, and it is managed by the president's national security assistant


Related study sets

Prep U Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Chapter 11: Anger, Hostility, and Aggression

View Set

CPTD: Emotional Intelligence & Decision Making Questions

View Set

Chapter 53: Assessment of Kidney and Urinary Function

View Set