Chapter 13: The Presidency

The Basics35 Years Old

Natural Born Citizen14 year Residency

White, Protestant, MalesKennedy and Obama

13/43 have served 2 terms6 chose not to7 failed at reelection

Succession and Impeachment

“Accidental Presidents”9 VP’s have taken over upon death/resigning

Gerald Ford example

ImpeachmentHouse SenateJohnson and ClintonNixon resigned

Disability and SuccessionWoodrow Wilson

25th Amendment (1967)Presidential Capacity

Notification in writingVP and majority of the

CabinetHouse or Reps

Line of Succession

VP, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore, Secretary of State…Cabinet in order of addition

Presidential PowersOriginal intent vs Today’s

reality

Most sensitive powers went to Congress-War, taxing, commerce-Senate must ok treaties and appointments

4 year terms, Electoral College

America’s role in the world and technology are changing it

The Presidency Today1970’s skepticism of

powerVietnam, Watergate“Executive Privilege”

Ford and Carter strugglesReagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush

The Chief ExecutivePreside, execute, administer“…faithfully execute the laws…”

$3.7 trillion budget and over 4 million employees

Appoints nearly 2,500 positions-more attention on loyalty creates more centralized policy

Budgeting and Accounting Act 1921

Vice PresidentStrategic selection for

elections

Preside over the Senatetie-breaking vote

Presidential Capacity

Succession

More active lately

The CabinetWashington’s

precedent3 + A.G.

Congress must approve new positions and appointments

Secretaries of…

Executive OfficeNational Security

Council (NSC)

Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

White House StaffTrue employees of the

President

Jefferson had 2; paid for out of his own pocket

Today, over 600

Chief of Staff is the bossCongressional liaisonsPress SecretaryPolitical Advisors

The First LadyNo official duties

Usually take up a causei.e. Childhood Health

Adams, Madison, and Wilson

Clinton acted as part of the gov

Presidential Leadership of Congress

Shared powers require co-op. and persuasion

Chief LegislatorState of the UnionSigning LawsVeto Power (options)

Effective threat (4%)Signing Statements

Clinton v City of New YorkNo line item vetoes

Resources for Passing Legislation

1. Party LeadershipParty coalitionD/R’s not all the sameLoyal to const.Must use cong. LeadersLose seats in midterms

Decentralized partiesMust convert opp. party

Resources for Passing Legislation

2. Public SupportPublic opinion (polls)pressures cong.

Can depend on pop. of the Pres.

Electoral Mandates1932, 1964, 1980claimed too often

Resources for Passing Legislation

3. Legislative SkillsHoneymoon

Bargaining, personal skills

Agenda Setting

Limited political capital; must decide where to use it

National Security PolicyChief Diplomat

Recognition/AmbassadorsTreaties (Senate o.k.)Executive Agreements

Commander in ChiefCivilian control of military(standing army, alliances)

War Powers Resolution 1973Consult w/ Cong.60 days w/o Cong. approvalConcurrent resolution would end action Legislative veto = unconstitutional

National Security PolicyCrisis Manager

Missile Crisis, Iran, 9/11, Katrina, BP

President is able to act decisively

National Security is easier

to lead

Domestic Policy requires persuasion

Power of the PeopleMore visible

president-daily appearances

Staged events Approval ratings

allow for more infuence

“Popularity”“Pocketbook”

The Public PresidencyBully Pulpit

speeches/events to gather public support

Mobilize public support to pressure congress-Reagan’s 1981 tax cuts

(unusual)

The President and the PressIntermediary for the

people

Adversarial after 1960’sPress wants infoPres. wants message

Whitehouse press secretary-Briefings-Scripted

The President and the Press“Body Watch”

-where is he, what is he doing…?(substance?)

Coverage is more superficial, oversimplified, and overblown

Thematic coverage: Ford, G.W. bush