Chapter 12- The Presidency:

                                (1). Outline the presidency's development in theory and legal & political independence.

                                (2). Examine the President’s constitutional powers, and those shared with Congress, to include: shared powers, enumerated powers, and implied powers.

                                (3). Outline the presidency in practice by which theoretical rules of the office are applied.

                                (4). Discuss the advent of the “modern” presidency and the impact of FDR.

                                (5). Summarize the key roles & responsibilities performed by the president, and contrast:

                                Chief of State, Chief Legislator, Chief Executive, Chief Diplomat & Global Leader,  opinion leader, and Commander in Chief.

                                (6). Outline how the President is nominated and how this process has changed over time.

                                (7). Explain how the President is elected, and the significant role of the electoral college.

(8). Examine the institution of the Presidency and various sources of Presidential power.

(9). Contrast the diverse models used by presidents and explain their historic impact.

                            (10). Discuss the organizational structure of the Presidency and key agencies of the EOP.

     (11). Examine how the office of the Presidency works and the impact of internal factors,

                                to include: EOP functions, Presidential Management Styles, and the role of the Staff.

                            (12). Examine external influences and the impact of expectations on the Presidency.

     (13). Analyze the modern presidency in political context of: permanent crisis, conflicting expectations, and time & institutional constraints.

                            (14). Compare the various presidential strategies and assess their effectiveness.

                            (15). Examine the diverse relationships which the President must effectively maintain.

                            (16). Assess the future strengths and limits of Presidential power and leadership.

 

CHAPTER OUTLINE:  The Presidency

 

v   The Development of the Presidency

Ø    12-1a  The Presidency on Paper: Constitutional Rules:

§       Three primary characteristics:

·        Legal & Political Independence

¨     Congress & Courts => no major role in selection

Ø    Only counts electoral college votes

Ø    Only selects if no candidate has clear majority

¨     Impeachment rules=> political independence

Ø    Examples: Johnson & Clinton’s impeachment

¨     Four year term & option for re-election

§       22nd Amendment

 

·       Shared Powers=> 

¨     Constitution both empowers & constrains:

Ø    Sign treaties & appointments (Senate’s role?)

·       Vague Definition of President’s power & authority:

¨     Enumerated Powers (Article II):

Ø    pardon & veto powers

Ø    recommend legislation

Ø    call Congress into session

Ø    appoint ambassadors

Ø    ensure “Laws be faithfully executed”  

¨     Implied Powers:

Ø    Vested with “the executive Power”?

Ø    “Commander in Chief”

¨     Result: Checks & Balances

Ø    Conflict & competition (other Branches)

Ø    Presidential actions=> establish precedents=>

§       Implied powers=> expanded as a result

Ø    12-1b  The Presidency in Practice: Applying the Rules:

§       Washington’s precedents:

·       Proposed & lobbied Congress for pass agenda

·       Established principle of confidentiality

·       Limited Senate’s “advice” to “consent” only

·       Denied Congress formal role in Diplomacy

·       Established President as leader of executive branch

·       Two Term limit informally established (impact?)

§       Jefferson’s precedents:

·       “Leader of the Party”

§       Jackson’s precedents:

·       “voice of the people” (national constituency)

·       Justification for President’s leadership role

§       Lincoln’s precedents:

·       Whatever it takes to protect Union=> peak of Power

¨     Usurped powers of Congress ($$$ & War)

¨     Ignored Constitutional limits (later rebuffed)

§       Ebb & flow of Presidential power:

·       40 years following Lincoln (Congress in lead)

¨     TR & WW=> revive growth of presidential powers

Ø    TR: progressive domestic & FP actions

Ø    WW: World War I & “State of Nation”

 

Ø    12-1c  The Advent of the “Modern” Presidency:

§       Impact of FDR: the role of Great Depression & WWII

·       Preeminent source of national leadership (why?)

·       Effect of all successors since? (The First 100 Days)

§       Institutional Leadership – Various roles of Presidents:

·       Chief of State

·       Chief legislator

·       Chief executive

·       Opinion leader

·       Chief diplomat

·       Commander in Chief     

v   Selecting a President

Ø    George Washington’s selection

Ø    12-2a  The Nomination Process (Figure 12-1):

§       Congressional Caucuses (1800-1824)

·       Role of Congress “King Caucus”

§       Party Conventions (1832-1968)

·       Whigs (Clay) vs. “King Andrew”

·       Role & power of state party leaders

¨     Loyal delegates appointed

¨     Candidates make deals & promises

 

§       Direct Primary (1924-’68 >40%  1968=>grows)

·       Role of Progressive movement

·       Impact after 1968: candidates up/parties down  

¨     Lesser known candidates get visibility

¨      Demonstrate candidate’s viability to party leaders

·       Impact of 1968 Democratic Convention (Figure 12-2):

¨     Democratic Party’s  rule changes & their affect:

Ø    increased participation of minorities & women

Ø    delegate allotted in proportion to rank & file votes

·       Primaries & the nature of Presidential nomination:

¨     Importance of early nominating events rises

¨     “Going early” => incentive for candidates

¨     Prompted states to hold primary races earlier

Ø    Frontloading (Figure 12-3)

¨     Increased importance of campaign $$$

¨     Weakened influence of state party organizations 

·        Result: Party’s nominee selection shifted over time:

¨     From the Congress (Caucus) to =>

¨      Party (Convention) to =>

¨     Rank & file voters (Primaries)     

Ø    12-2b  The General Election:

§       Two major changes shifting Nominee over Party’s role:

·       Emergence of Radio & Television

¨     Candidate able to address voters directly

¨     Political Ads cost $$$ =>

Ø    campaigns cost more $$$ (Figure 12-4)

·       Campaign Finance Laws (changes over time)

¨     FECA of 1971 (first attempt at election reform)

¨     1974 Amendments to FECA

Ø    voluntary public financing of campaigns

Ø    Mandatory limits: $1000/5000

Ø    Limits on candidates own spending w/Public $$$

¨     Buckley v. Valeo (1976) => undermined reforms

Ø     Court ruling on  independent expenditures

§       1st Amendment free speech (if no contact make)

Ø    No Government limitation on candidates’ own $$

§       If no public $$ used (Bush during nomination)

¨     1979 FECA Amendments=> soft money

Ø    role of political parties & influence rises

¨     Latest Changes: no soft $$ & increased individual $$

Ø    Under challenge in the Courts by opponents

·       Result: Candidate centered Campaigns

¨     Candidate’s control of own campaigns increases

Ø    12-2c  The Electoral College:

§       Popular vote vs. electoral vote- who elects?

·       How are number of electors per state decided?

·       How many votes needed to win? (margin of victory)

·       Which states have most electors? (Fig. 12-5)

§       Role of unit rule => impact on candidates’ campaigns?

·       Attention devoted to most populous & winnable states

·       Popular vote & electoral vote can be very different  

§       Potential impact of 3rd party candidates on election

·       Needed to win election? => 270 out of 538

·       If no majority of electoral votes– who decides election?

¨     Constitution’s guidance & role of House & Senate?

§       Should presidents be elected by direct popular vote?

·       Potential impact on system if approved?

Ø    12-2d  Consequences for Governing:

§       More personalized presidencies

§       Weakened political parties

§       More spit ticket voting 


v   The Presidency as an Institution

Ø    12-3a  The Powers of the Presidency:

§       Vague wording=> dynamic & flexible reading of powers

§       Sources of Presidential Power

·       Constitution (Article II)=> veto & its threat

·       Congressional statutory laws

¨     Discretionary authority

Ø    Reprogramming authority

¨     Budget & Accounting Act of 1921

Ø    Central legislative clearance

§       Review, revise, & assemble budget

§       Control of Executive Dept &  Agencies $$$

·        Custom & precedent

¨     President’s actions if left unchallenged

Ø    Dismissal power of the president

§       Models of Presidential Power

·       Prerogative Model (Lincoln & Bush?-whatever it takes)

·       Restricted Model (Taft=> permission)

·       Stewardship Model (TR=> forgiveness)

Ø    12-3b  The Organizational Structure of the Presidency:

§       Grown in size and complexity over years (esp. since 1932)

§       Historical Development

·       Washington’s personal secretary

·       Jackson’s Kitchen Cabinet

·       FDR’s Executive Office of the President (EOP)

¨     New Deal programs & WWII

¨     Agencies to perform key functions for president

§       Key Agencies of modern EOP

·       White House Office (The West Wing)

·       OMB

·       NSC

·       Office of the Vice President  (increasing power)