chapters 14 and 16 the presidency and the bureaucracy

Chapters 14 and 16Chapters 14 and 16The Presidency and the

Bureaucracy

PresidentPresident

• Qualifications to be President:– 35 years old at time of inauguration– A natural born US citizens– US resident for at least 14 years

Roles of the PresidentRoles of the President

• The President assumes five different roles

• Head of State– The role of the president as the

ceremonial head of government. – In most democracies, someone other

than the elected leader is head of state (such as the Queen of England)


• Chief Executive– The role of the President as head of

the executive branch of government. – Bound to faithfully execute laws,

judgments of courts, and treaties of the United States.

– The President has “Appointment Power” and is at the top of the “Civil Service”


• Take Care Clause– Constitutional clause granting the

President the authority and leeway to determine if laws are being “faithfully executed” and to take action if in his judgment, they are not.


• Commander in Chief– The role of the President as supreme

commander of the military forces of the United States and of the state National Guard units when they are called into federal service.

– Though the Congress has the power to declare war, the President can commit troops to situations which are the equivalent of war.


• War Powers Resolution– A law passed in 1973 spelling out the

condition under which the President can commit troops without congressional approval.

– Once troops are sent, the President must report to Congress within 48 hours. Forces must be withdrawn if Congress does not approve of the use of troops within 60 (sometimes 90) days.


• Chief Diplomat– The role of the President in

recognizing foreign governments, making treaties, and effecting executive agreements.


• The President has the sole authority to negotiate treaties, which are approved under advice and consent of the Senate

• Advice and Consent– Terms in the Constitution describing

the US Senate’s power to review and approve treaties and Congressional appointments.


• Executive Agreement– An international agreement in which

the United States becomes a party once the president has signed it, without requiring approval from the Senate.


• Chief Legislator– The role of the President in

influencing the making of laws. – Presidents recommend to Congress

that legislation which they feel is necessary.


• Necessary and Expedient Clause– Constitutional clause that authorizes

the President to recommend legislation to Congress.


• Veto– The power of the President to reject

legislation passed by Congress.– Congress can override with a 2/3 majority

• Pocket Veto– If the President does not sign a bill within

10 days AND Congress adjourns during that time, the bill dies and Congress cannot override.


• Line Item Veto– Authority of a chief executive to

reject part of a bill passed by a legislature.

– Does not exist for the President today (it did exist from 1996-1998)

– It does, however, exist for the Missouri Govenor.


• Veto Message– The President’s formal explanation of

a veto, which accompanies the verbal legislation when it is returned to Congress.


• Signing Statement– A written declaration that the

President may make when signing a bill into law. It may contain instructions to the bureaucracy on how to administer the law or point to sections of the law that the President considers unconstitutional or contrary to national interests.


• Executive Order– Presidential directive or proclamation

that has the force of law.– Typically gives direction to the

implementation of legislation.


• Head of State• Chief Executive• Commander in Chief• Chief Diplomat• Chief Legislator

Becoming PresidentBecoming President

• Primary Election- A form of election in which voters

choose a party’s nominees for public office. In most primaries, eligibility to vote is limited to voters who are registered members of the party.


• How the primaries work– In a primary election, voters select the

person they wish to get the party’s nomination. However, they are actually voting for delegates to attend the national convention who have already pledged their support to that particular candidate

– While this pledge is not binding, most always delegates vote for who they are pledged.


• In addition to the delegates selected at the state level, super delegates also attend the convention to vote for the Presidential Nominee

• Super Delegate- A party leader or elected official who is

given the right to vote at the party’s national convention. Super delegates are not elected at the state level.

- Example: A senator or governor being rewarded for long term service to the party.


• Because of the influence of the media, a candidate that won an early primary or caucus (such as Iowa or New Hampshire) would have the advantage of being a front runner.

• Front-Runner– The Presidential candidate who appears

to be ahead at a given time in the primary season.


• States saw an advantage of holding early primaries: It got them media attention and allowed them to be significant in the nomination process.

• As such, states started moving their primaries to earlier and earlier times, front loading the primaries


• Front Loading– The practice of moving presidential

primary elections to the early part of the campaign, to maximize the impact of these primaries on the nomination.

• Because of frontloading, more than half the nation's primaries are held between the middle of January and the first week of February


• After the primaries, comes the national convention in which the nomination for President is officially made.

• Since most candidates come to the convention with enough delegates pledged to win the election, the conventions are mostly a formality and an excuse to show party pride and make speeches.


• The Changing Campaign– Before most households had televisions,

campaigning was personalized. Campaigns today are often less personal, with voters receiving information through the media.

– In recent decades campaigns have become less party-centered and more candidate-centered.


• Today, especially in national elections, professionals are hired to run campaigns, rather than the volunteers of old

• Political Consultant- A paid professional hired to devise a

campaign strategy and manage a campaign.


• Visibility and Appeal– While a highly visible incumbent may

not need to do much to remind voters of their good deeds, an unknown challenger going against a well known public office holder needs to get themselves out in front of the public.


• Use of opinion polls– Politicians rely on both the national

polls and private poll conducted by their party to determine where they stand in the minds of voters, and strategize accordingly

– Tracking poll• A poll taken for the candidate on a nearly

daily basis as Election Day Approaches.


• Focus Groups- A small group of individuals who are

led in discussion by a professional consultant to gather opinions on, and responses to, candidates and issues.

- Through these video taped discussions, candidates learn the true feelings of selected target groups, and tailor the campaign accordingly.

Electoral CollegeElectoral College

• When casting a vote in a Presidential election, people are actually casting a vote for an Elector

• Elector– A member of the electoral college, which selects the

president and vice president. Each state’s electors are chosen in each presidential election year according to state laws.

– There are 538 electors (100 for the amount of senators, 435 for amount of representatives and 3 for Wash. DC) A person must get 270 electoral votes to win the election.


• The Electoral College operates on a system of Unit Rule in every state by Nebraska and Maine.

• Unit Rule– The rule that grants all of a state’s

electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in the state.


• Takes the vote out of the cities• Maintains Federalism• Neutralizes turnout differences• Maintains the two party system,

which has proven to be stable.


• Popular vote not mattering• Electors no longer use their discretion in

choosing the President, instead they are already committed.

• Certain states “matter” more than others, and thus get more attention

• Disproportionate representation (in Wyoming (3 electoral votes) there is one vote per each 164,594 people; in California (55 electoral votes) there is one vote per each 418,046 people)

Federal Executive Federal Executive BranchBranch

• Cabinet– A group consisting of the heads of the

executive departments who are appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The cabinet was once the main advisory body to the President but it no longer plays this role.

• The “traditional” Cabinet- Presidents may add others as they see fit.


• White House Office– The personal office of the President, which

tends to presidential political needs and manages the media

• Chief of Staff– The person who is named to direct the White

House Office, and advise the President.

• Executive Office of the President– An organization with the purpose of assisting

the President in carrying out major duties.


• Vice President• The Vice President’s Job

– Strengthening the Ticket– Supporting the President

• Presidential Succession• When the Vice Presidency

Becomes Vacant

• Line off Presidential Succession

• Impeachment– An action by the House of Representatives to

accuse the President, Vice President, or other civil officers of the United States of committing “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors”

– The House draws up the charges and decides to move forward. The actual trial happens in the Senate.

– Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were both impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate. Richard Nixon was in the impeachment process when he resigned.

BureaucracyBureaucracy

• Bureaucracy– A group of departments, agencies,

and other institutions that for the most part are located in the executive branch of government and that develop and implement public policy.


• To speak of the Bureaucracy is to speak of the countless agencies, administrators, and employees who comprise the numerous government programs and make them possible.


• Hierarchical Authority– A basic principle of bureaucracy that refers to

the chain of command within and organization whereby officials and units have control over those below them.

• Job Specialization– A basic principle of bureaucracy holding that

the responsibilities of each job position should be explicitly defined and that a precise division of labor within the organization should be maintained.


• Formalized Rules– A basic principle of bureaucracy that

refers to the standardized procedures and established regulations by which a bureaucracy conducts its operations.


• Cabinet Departments– The major administrative units composed

of many agencies serving many functions.– Each department is headed by a

secretary except the justice department. These are presidential appointments.

– Each department has responsibility for a major function of the federal government, such as defense agriculture or justice


• Independent Agencies– Bureaucratic organizations that

operate outside of Cabinet-level departments and are less subject to congressional or presidential influence.

– Example: National Aeronautics and Space Administration


• Regulatory Agencies and Commsions– Administrative units, such as the

Federal Communications Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, that have responsibility for the monitoring and regulation of ongoing activities.


• Government Corporations– A corporation created and funded by

the government to provide some public service that would be insufficiently provided by the private sector

– Amtrak or the USPS


• Presidential Commissions– Advisory organizations within the

bureaucracy that are headed by commissioners appointed by the president. An example is the commission on Civil Rights.


• Cabinet Departments• Independent Agencies• Regulatory Agencies• Government Corporations• Presidential Commissions


• Functions of the Bureaucracy– Implement Laws– Make Rules– Provide Expert Advice– Settle Disputes


• Spoils System– A system of government in which a

presidential administration awards jobs to party loyalists

• Civil Service (Merit) System– System of government in which

decisions about hiring, promotion, and firing are based on individuals’ work experience, skills and expertise.


• Neutral Competence– The administrative objective of a

merit-based bureaucracy. – Competent – The employees are hired

and retained on the basis of expertise– Neutral – Operates by objective

standards rather than partisan ones.

Problems with Problems with BureaucraciesBureaucracies

• Slack– A situation in which bureaucrats do not

work as hard as Congress or the President would like

• Drift– Situation in which bureaucrats create

policy that does not mach the policy preferences of Congress or the President.

Problems with Problems with BureaucraciesBureaucracies

• Agency Capture– The condition under which an agency

primarily serves the interests of a nongovernmental group rather than those of elected officials.

• Red Tape– The inefficiency and waste that result

from excessive regulation and overly formal procedures.

Missouri Executive Missouri Executive BranchBranch

• The Missouri Executive Branch is composed of six elected offices and sixteen executive departments.


• Governor– Chief executive in the state– Appoints the members of all boards and

commissions, and all state government department heads.

– Sings or vetoes laws passed by the General Assembly

– Grant reprieves or pardons– Commander in chief of the Missouri National

Guard


• The Current Governor of Missouri is Jay Nixon.


• Attorney General– Chief Legal Officer– Must prosecute or defend all appeals to

which the state is a party, including all felony criminal cases appealed to the Supreme Court of Missouri or the Missouri Court of Appeals.

– Must use civil suit when necessary to protect the state’s rights, interests or claims.


• The Current Attorney General in Missouri is Chris Koster


• Auditor– Chief Fiscal Regulator– Conducts financial and performance

audits for state agencies, boards, and commissions.

– Can be requested to audit cities and counties


• The current Auditor in Missouri is Thomas A. Schweich


• Lieutenant Governor– Assumes powers and duties of Governor

when Governor is unable to fulfill them due to absence or inability.

– Elected separate from the Governor. – Presides over the Senate, able to cast a

tie breaking vote and participate in debate.

– Sits on several boards and commissions.


• The current Lieutenant Governor in Missouri is Peter Kinder.


• Secretary of State– State’s main election official, operating

the office that registers candidates. – Prepares the official ballot for elections– Deals with business filings– Office serves as a repository for public

records


• The current Secretary of State is Jason Kander


• Treasurer– Manages State Revenues, Investments,

Unclaimed Property, and Tuition Savings Program.

– Serves as Banking Director for State Government

– Reports on State’s Financial Activities– Manages Money and Security

Transfers.


• The current Treasurer in Missouri is Clint Zweifel


• Department of Administration• Department of Agriculture• Department of Conservation• Department of Corrections• Department of Economic

Development• Department of Elementary and

Secondary Education


• Department of Health and Senior Services

• Department of Higher Education• Department of Insurance, Financial

Institutions and Professional Registration


• Department of Labor• Department of Mental Health• Department of Natural Resources• Department of Public Safety• Department of Revenue• Department of Social Services• Department of Transportation

chapters 14 and 16 the presidency and the bureaucracy

Documents

presidentthe president

chiefthe role

united states

presidentvetothe power

verbal legislation

appointment power

use of troops

making of laws