Chapters 12, 14, 15

MEDIA AND PRESIDENCY

Overriding Questions

How does the American news media shape political culture and could the media be seen as another branch of government?

What regulations are the media subject to following? Overtime, how has Presidential Power increased or

decreased in America? How is the President’s power checked by other branches of

government? What are the pathologies associated with a bureaucratic style

of government? What efforts have been made in history to improve the

Federal Bureaucracy? How has the Bureaucracy changed over time?

People are spending more time with news than ever before, according to Pew Research Center survey data, but when it comes to the platform of choice, the web is gaining ground rapidly while other sectors are losing. In 2010, digital was the only media sector seeing audience growth.

The overwhelming majority of Americans (92%) use multiple platforms to get news on a typical day, including national TV, local TV, the internet, local newspapers, radio, and national newspapers. Some 46% of Americans say they get news from four to six media platforms on a typical day. Just 7% get their news from a single media platform on a typical day. 

http://www.stateofthemedia.org/files/2011/02/audience-final.png

http://www.journalism.org/analysis_report/understanding_participatory_news_consumer

Government and the News Each agency/official attempts to use the media to

shape public opinion President:

Press Secretary & White House Press Corps Easy access and a close proximity to the President

Congress: Less coverage

Some resentment to Presidential Coverage House:

Previously restrictive of coverage C-SPAN: 1979

Senate: More open to committee coverage

C-SPAN: 1986

Government Constraints on Journalists

Balancing Act: Expressing own views without losing a source

& Keeping a source without becoming its mouthpiece

Increase in Congressional staffers has eased this balance Press Officers:

Employed by White House and Congress Press Release (‘canned news’) Leaks and background stories Bypass national press

Presidents reward and punish reporters and editors based on their stories Long Run: Press wins a battle with the President

Broadcast Regulation

FCC License Renewal: Radio: 7 years Television: 5 years Serve ‘community needs’

Deregulation Movement: Citizens choose what they see and hear Ownership of multiple stations in same market

Content Regulation: Equal Time Rule: allow both sides to buy air time Right-of-Reply Rule: reply to journalist on commentary (non

news segment) Political Editorializing Rule: endorsed candidate’s opponents

can reply Fairness Doctrine

Abolished in 1987-allowed both sides of an issue

Role of National Press Gatekeeper:

Influence what subjects become national issues and for how long. (healthcare, national security)

Scorekeeper: Track political reputations and candidacies.

‘Presidential Horse Race’

Watchdog: Investigates personalities and exposes

scandals. Ex: Woodward and Bernstein

Degree of Competition Newspapers:

Decline in number of daily newspapers Decline in cities with multiple papers

Most people get their news from the television Radio and Television:

Competitive (TV pulling away) U.S. press vs. Foreign Press

Locally oriented vs Nationally oriented Federal Communications Commission

(FCC) Decentralized the broadcast industry

Electronic Journalism

Technology allowed public officials to speak directly to the people Radio: 1920’s Television: 1940’s

Disadvantages: Easy for public to ignore Less public officials covered

Evening newscasts shortened sound bites

Politicians sought other outlets Cable Early-Morning News Prime-Time ‘Magazines’ Entertainment Programs

Possible results: Media Campaigns Narrowcasting

The Presidency

What Qualities do you expect Presidents to have?

What are the 5 most desirable traits or qualities that you expect the President of the United States to possess? Then place them in rank order and provide a rationale for your selections. Finally list any additional expectations that you have and 5 undesirable traits.

In your own words, what are the challenges of the Presidency?

What are the most important and least important roles of the President?

How did past or present Presidential Administrations apply to the roles/challenges?

Rank the eight challenges and provide a rationale for your ranking.

Ways to Organize Staff Pyramid Structure-most assistants report through a

hierarchy to a chief of staff who then deals with the President (Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan, Bush, Clinton)

Circular Structure-Cabinet secretaries and assistant report directly to the president (Carter)

Ad Hoc Structure-Task forces committees and informal groups of friends and advisors deal directly with the President (Clinton at first)

The Constitution and Succession

Presidential succession is the plan by which a presidential vacancy is filled.

The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, made it clear that the Vice President will become President if the President is removed from office.

The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 set the order of succession following the Vice President.

Over the last 50 years has presidential power increased or decreased? Give two reasons for your answer.

Why Presidential Power Has Grown

Over the course of American history, the champions of a stronger presidency have almost always prevailed.

The nation’s increasingly complex social and economic life has also influenced the growth of presidential power.

By passing laws and expanding the role of the Federal Government, Congress has increased presidential power as well.

The ability to use the mass media, as every President since Franklin D. Roosevelt has, aids in gathering and holding public attention.

The Power to Persuade

Presidents try to transform popularity into congressional support for their programs

Presidential coattails have had a declining effect for years

Popularity is affected by factors beyond anyone’s control – consider Bush’s approval ratings following the September 11th attacks

How is the President Held Accountable?

Reelection Legacy (viewed positively by the

media and by the public) Congress Supreme Court Watchdog Media Public Opinion

Rule of propinquity: power is wielded by people who are in the room when a decision is made

Just how regulated are we?

Senator Schmidt lives in Schaumburg with her husband and two twin daughters. Both at home and at work she is affected by the federal bureaucracy. She is awakened at 5:00 am her clock radio set to 93.1, WXRT, which is licensed to operate by the Federal Communications Commission. For breakfast she has her cereal, which had to pass inspection by the Food and Drug Administration. Quickly she packs a lunch including a processed turkey sandwich that has been approved by the US Department of Agriculture.

Then Senator Schmidt heads to work on the highway that is maintained by the US Department of Transportation in her car that has recently passed an emission test through the EPA. Additionally, fastens her seatbelt complying with the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration federal mandate for seatbelt use. On her way to work Senator Schmidt sips on her coffee that the FDA has warned could cause birth defects in laboratory animals. After a full day of work in a building that is subject to OSHA regulations, Senator Schmidt heads to the bank and the toy store.

At the bank, which is monitored by Depository Institutions Deregulation Committee and her account is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission (FDIC) she deposits her tax return money. Then Senator Schmidt heads to Toys R Us to pick out toys for her teething daughters, and she feels confident that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has made sure that her children will not get lead poisoning from the new toy.

At last Senator Schmidt arrives home and turns on the lights whose electricity rates are regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and then decides tonight will be a frozen pizza and salad night, which of course is full of freshness ensured by The FDA and USDA and the Food and Safety and Inspection Services (which also has been regulated by the trucking industry). Both staples in the house that Mr. Schmidt usually likes.

After dinner, the Schmidts sit down to enjoy “The Voice,” which is shown through regulated airways with a delay for any live footage put in place through the FCC. The day comes to a screeching halt when Senator Schmidt falls asleep on the couch for the 3rd time this week. Sadly, her exhaustion doesn’t allow for much television viewing. So sad.

THE END.

Bureaucracy Large, complex organization

composed of appointed officials. Political authority is shared by the

president and Congress.

Complaints: Size Complexity Political Context

Classic Conception (Max Weber) Hierarchical authority structure Uses task specialization Operate on the merit principle Behave with impersonality Well-organized machine

Lots of working parts

American Bureaucracy

Unique Aspects: Dispersed political

authority Shared functions Adversarial culture

Scope of Bureaucracy: Regulation vs

Ownership

Bureaucratic Growth 1st Congress – 1789

Appointed government officials were removable only by the president. Congress appropriates money, investigates administration and

shapes legislation. Appointment:

Factors: Interpretation of Laws Administrative Tone Effectiveness Political Party

Congressional factors controlled early appointments Patronage (‘Spoils System’)

Expanding bureaucracy, industrialization and rising interstate commerce demonstrated administrative weaknesses and need for civil service reform. ‘Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act’ (1883)

Bureaucratic Roles Service Role:

New and expanded agencies focusing on specific sectors of society and the economy. Pension Office, Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor

Factors: Constitutional Values Laissez-faire

Exceptions: Wartime

Active Role: Factors:

16th Amendment Public Sentiment

Modern Federal Bureaucracy Increase in indirect employees

Private Contractors State & Local Governments

Discretionary Authority: Increased bureaucratic power

Delegated authority: Subsidies to groups and organizations Grant-in-Aid programs Devise and enforce regulations

Factors Explaining the behavior of officials: Recruitment and reward system Personal and political attributes Nature of work Constraints imposed on their agency

The Cabinet

Not explicitly mentioned in Constitution Presidents have many more

appointments to make than do prime ministers, due to competition created by the separation of power

Presidential control over departments remains uncertain—secretaries become advocates for their departments

Hiring Bureaucrats Office of Personnel Management (OPM):

‘Competitive Service’ ‘Merit System’

Decentralized ‘Competitive Service’: OPM is cumbersome and not geared toward department needs Agencies need for professionals Diversity pressure on agencies

Excepted Service: Presidential Appointment ‘Schedule C’ Non-career Executive Assignments

Buddy System: Name-request job:

Job description is tailored toward the individual Circumvents the usual search process

Encourages issue networking Plum Book:

Lists top available jobs for Presidential appointment Published by Congress

Firing Bureaucrats Most bureaucrats are out of the executive’s reach

Informal Methods: Frontal Assault Transfer Technique Special-Assignment Technique Layering Technique

Civil Service Reform Act of 1978: Meant to provide the president and cabinet more control in personnel

decisions Creates: Senior Executive Service (SES)

Fired employees may appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)

Agency ‘point of view’ Dominated by ‘lifers’

Pro: Assures continuity and expertise

Con: Provides a subordinate power over new political superior

Bureaucratic Work Nature Loose vs. high structured jobs:

Highly structured jobs make personal attitudes irrelevant

Loosely structured jobs allow for influence of personal attitudes

Whistleblower Protection Act (1989): Protection of bureaucrats who

report waste, fraud and abuses to Congress

Culture: Each agency has its own culture

Laws, rules, routines, informal understandings

Strong cultures make agencies resistant to change

Bureaucratic Constraints

Government agency vs. private organization Statute (Congress) vs. market

General Constraints: Administrative Procedure Act (1946) Freedom of Information Act (1966) National Environmental Policy Act (1969) Privacy Act (1974) Open Meetings Law (1976) Various agencies assigned the same job

Effects: Slow & inconsistent action Agencies cancel each other out Reluctant action by lower-ranking employees ‘Red Tape’

Reasons for Constraints: Constraints are a response to citizen demands

Bureaucratic Relationships ‘Iron Triangle’

Relationship between an agency, a committee and an interest group Example:

Committee on Armed Forces Department of Defense Defense Contractors

Less common today Complicated nature of politics More competing forces

‘Issue Network’ Groups that regularly debate

government policy on a certain subjects Networks are split politically,

ideologically and economically

The Independent Executive Agencies

Examples of independent executive agencies include NASA, the General Services Administration, and the EPA.

Some independent executive agencies are far from well-known, such as the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee.

The independent executive agencies include most of the independent agencies.

The most important difference between the independent executive agencies and the 14 executive departments is that they simply do not have Cabinet status.

Independent Regulatory Commissions

The independent regulatory commissions stand out among the independent agencies because they are largely beyond the reach of presidential direction and control.

Term length of members and staggering of member appointments keep these commissions from falling under control of one party.

The regulatory commissions are quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial, meaning that Congress has given them certain legislative-like and judicial-like powers.

The Government Corporations

Government corporations are also within the executive branch and subject to the President’s direction and control.

Government corporations were established by Congress to carry out certain business-like activities.

There are now over 50 government corporations, including the U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Bureaucratic ‘Pathologies’ Five major complaints: ‘Red Tape’ http://www.princeton.edu/~

ina/infographics/government.html

Conflict Duplication Imperialism Waste

Complaints have logical origins in constitutional order and policy Exaggerations and unusual circumstances

generate difficulties

Bureaucratic Reform National Performance Review (NPR):

Designed to reinvent government in 1993 More customer satisfaction

Less centralized management More employee initiatives Fewer detailed rules

Enforced by the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Difficulties of bureaucratic reform:

Reasons of red tape and rules Legislative-Executive struggles Agencies efforts to avoid alienating influential voters

Divided government Presidents of one party seek to increase political control

Executive micromanagement Congress of another party responds by increasing investigations and

rules Legislative micromanagement

(http://civitas88.blogspot.com/2011/04/learn-about-federal-bureaucracy.html

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