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Foundations of the Modern
Presidency Formal powers are modest
Power changes with national conditions, political circumstances, and
personal capacities and policy choices of the president
Imperial presidency
Article II contains general statement on the powers
Foreign policy – Congress would define it
President has sent troops over sees over 200 times and wars have
not always been declared
Executive agreements are more common than treaties
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 2
Executive power – interpret the meaning of this
Legislative authority – intent was limited
Two features – national election and singular
authority have had the most impact
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 3
Foundations of the Modern Presidency
Asserting a claim to national leadership
Andrew Jackson was first president to assert his
power
Whig theory: presidency was limited or restrained
office
Stewardship theory: strong, assertive presidential
role
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 4
The need for presidential leadership of an
activist government
Foreign policy leadership
Isolationism to internationalism
WWII fundamentally changed the US
Chief diplomat and military commander
Domestic Policy Leadership
Congress was supposed to be the leader
Progressive Era and the New Deal changed this
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 5
Electoral College
Jackson’s reform – separate slate of electors based
on popular vote
National convention – delegates sent by the party
Primary election – choosing delegates who select
the nominees
Open party caucuses
Super delegates
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 6
Choosing the President
The primary elections – momentum in the
early primaries
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 regulates
the raising of money
First $250 of each donation provided he/she raises
$5000 or more and $250 in 20 or more states
Candidates can receive matching funds
The national party conventions Officially nominate president and VP, adopt a party platform
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 7
The campaign for election
Election strategy – 270 out of the 538 electoral votes
House of Representatives
Unit rule – except Maine and Nebraska
Battleground or swing states
Media and money
10 second sound bites, tv commercials, and debates
Federal funding is available
The winners – governors are the most popular
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 8
Staffing the Presidency
Presidential appointees – significant source of power
The executive office of the President (WHO, OMB, and NSC)
No constitutional power to the VP but this position has grown over the
years
The President’s cabinet – Secretary of State is the most prestigious
Other Presidential appointees – up to 4000 during a term
The problem of control
Most severe with appointees working outside the White House – loyalty of
agency is more than loyalty to president
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 9
Cabinet (Executive) Departments
Figure 13-1
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 10
Factors in Presidential Leadership
Congress holds the key to presidential success
The force of circumstance- (FDR, LBJ, and
Reagan)
The stage of the President’s term
Honeymoon period
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 11
Factors in Presidential Leadership
The nature of the issue:
Foreign – congress defers to the president for several reasons
Domestic
Relations with Congress
Seeking cooperation from Congress – more constitutional authority for
Congress
Veto is a sign or weakness and strength
Benefiting from partisan support in Congress
Colliding with Congress – the power of impeachment
The War Powers Act
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 12
Factors in Presidential Leadership
Public support
Events and issues – economy is the most
influential
The televised presidency – bully pulpit
Twice as much coverage as Congress
The illusion of presidential government –
presidents get too much credit when things go well
and too much blame when things go bad
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 13