C181 Chapter 12 The Presidency
What is a historical example of an Executive Order?
When President Eisenhower sent the troops to Arkansas to enforce the Brown v. Board of Education ruling.
Define and discuss 'Divided Government'.
When the legislative chambers and presidency are controlled by different political parties.
The presidents cabinet. Article II section 1
"The President . . . may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices . . . " The name "cabinet" comes from a 17th-century usage for a private room where advisors would meet
Discuss what Article II, Sections 2 and 3 says about the bureaucracy.
15 cabinet departments, leaders of these cabinet departments are secretaries,
Presidential Term
2 Terms (4 Years Each) 22nd Amendment (1947) Franklin Delano Roosevelt 4 Terms (1933-1945)
Unitary executive
A belief that the presidents inherit powers allow him to overrule congregational grants of independent authority.
Presidential Eligibility
Age (35) Youngest president ever? Teddy Roosevelt (42) John F. Kennedy (youngest ever elected at 43) Oldest president ever elected? Ronald Reagan (69)
Inherent powers
Authority claimed by the president that is not clearly specified in the Constitution. Typically, these powers are inferred from the constitution.
Presidential Powers
Commander in Chief (Article II, section 2) "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States." Congress checks the president by controlling the funding (power of the purse) Only Congress can declare war "Absolute monarchs will often make war when their nations are to get nothing by it" (John Jay, Federalist No. 4)
Describe how Congress (both chambers together) and the Senate acts as a check and a balance against the power of the President.
Congress can give the executive branch more responsibility to administer programs, flexibility and great freedom in how or when to implement policies but can also enact legislation to reassert congressional authority.
Electoral mandate
Endorsement by voters. Presidents sometimes argue they have been given a mandate to carry out policy proposals.
When did the President of the U.S. receive legal authority to prepare the federal budget plus start acting as 'Chief Legislator'?
Ever since the 1930's, during the Great Depression and Cooperative Federalism.
Presidential directive that draws on the president's unique legal authority to require or authorize some action within the executive branch Examples: Lincoln: Emancipation Proclamation (1863) Truman: Ending segregation in the U.S. Military (1948) Eisenhower: Using the National Guard in Little Rock to enforce desegregation (1957)
Executive order
Explain how 'Gridlock' is related to Divided Government
Gridlock is a situation in which government is incapable of acting on important policy issues. When they are divided, they reach a gridlock.
Cabinet
Group of presidential advisers; the heads of the executive departments and other key officials.
Explain the following roles the President has and how they may have evolved historically
It has changed how much the president is in charge of and how much the chambers help in law and campaign making. Also, the budget. •National Leader (Values and Policy) Is a living symbol of the nation. Award medals to college scholarship winners, congratulate astronauts, to greet visitors to the White House, making patriotic speeches. •World Leader (Diplomacy and Crisis Management) Diplomat and crisis manager. To try to further the country's best interest in its relations with allies, adversaries, and the developing countries of the world. •Legislative Role ("Chief Lobbyist") Has the power to influence Congress in its lawmaking. Sign bills or veto bills. •Political Party Leader Informal, no prescribed tasks. Helps members of his political party get elected or appointed to office. Choose leading party members to serve in Cabinet.
What does Article II, Sections 2 & 3 say about the bureaucracy?
Only brief, vague references to unnamed executive departments, heads of departments (called secretaries), & ambassadors, etc. President is also Commander in Chief.
Define and explain historical examples of Executive Orders and Executive Privilege
President Eisenhower issued an executive order to the Arkansas National Guard to enforce court orders to desegregate the schools. President Harry Truman issued an executive order to end racial segregation in the armed services. President Bush invoked his executive privilege to authorize the NSA to wiretap telephone calls between people of the US and people overseas without a warrant.
Explain the 'Power to Persuade'
President's power is the power to persuade. Persuasion and bargaining are the means that presidents use to influence policy
Veto
Presidents disapproval of a bill that has been passed by both houses of Congress. Congress can override a veto with a 2/3 vote in each house
Delegation of powers
Process by which Congress gives the executive branch the additional authority needed to address new problems.
Identify and describe the formal powers explicitly granted to the President in Article II of the U.S. Constitution
Serve as administrative head of the nation: supervise and offer leadership to various departments, agencies, and programs created by Congress. Act as commander in chief of the military: Highest-ranking officer in the armed forces. Veto legislation: Congress can override with a 2/3 vote in each house. Appoint various officials: authority to appoint federal court judges, ambassadors, cabinet members, other key policy makers, and many lesser officials (many subject to Senate confirmation). Make treaties: With the "Advice and Consent" of at least 2/3 of the senators voting at the time and is also to "receive Ambassadors".
Who are in the President's Cabinet and the Executive Office of the President?
The President's Cabinet consists of the heads of the major departments of the national government. The Executive Office of the President consists of the President's top aides (chief of staff, a national security advisor, the Council of Economic Advisers and the National Economic Council, senior domestic policy advisers) and various large staffs.
Presidential Powers over treaties
The President... shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur.... What is a treaty? An international agreement concluded between the United States and another country (or countries) What does the president do? (1) Negotiates and signs treaties, (2) presents the proposed treaty to the Senate for its approval or disapproval. Example: Alaska Purchase (1867) Agreement to purchase Alaska from Russia President Andrew Johnson & Secretary of State negotiated the treaty Senate ratified the Treaty 37 to 2
Presidential powers: appointments
The President...shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors . . . Judges of the supreme Court . . ." (Article II, Section 2, Clause 2)
What constitutional power allows the Vice-President to break a tie vote in the Senate?
The Vice-President is the President of the Senate.
Who is in the President's Cabinet?
The heads of the Cabinet Departments (called secretaries) and a few other key advisors.
Executive Office of the President
The president's executive aides and their staffs; the extended White House executive establishment.
Divided government
The situation in which one party controls the White House and other controls at least one house of congress.
Discuss the political implications of Divided Government and Gridlock
The working hypothesis about divided government and gridlock is that when opposing parties control the institutional levers of power in the American system of separated powers, gridlock will naturally follow as both parties see a chance to enact their preferences and hence they press their advantage.
Explain how it affects presidential job performance
This affects what presidents can and cannot do. They have to be respectful of people's opinions, but they still want to have the power to make a positive change in the country.
Identify and describe the powers of the Vice-President
To take over the presidency in the event of presidential death, disability, impeachment, or resignation. To carry out political chores (campaigning, fundraising, and "stroking" the party faithful
