pearson education, inc., longman © 2006 chapter 10 the presidency american government: policy &...

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006

Chapter 10

The Presidency

American Government:

Policy & Politics, Eighth Edition

TANNAHILL


In This Chapter We Will Cover:

• The constitutional presidency• The development of the modern

president• The organization of the presidency• Presidential policymaking• Presidential popularity• The presidency in context


The Constitutional Presidency

• Qualifications and Backgrounds– 35 years of age– Natural-born American citizen– U.S. resident at least 14 years

• Term of Office– 4 years– Two-term limit according to Twenty-second

Amendment (1951)


The Constitutional Presidency• Impeachment and Removal

– Andrew Johnson’s impeachment (1868)– Richard Nixon’s resignation (1974)– Bill Clinton’s impeachment (1998)

• Presidential Succession and Disability– The Twenty-fifth Amendment (1967) authorizes

the president to fill a vacancy in the office of vice president and establishes procedures for the vice president to become acting president should the president become disabled and incapable of performing the duties of office.



• The Vice Presidency– The Constitution gives the vice president

two duties.• The vice president is president of the

Senate and votes in case of a tie.• The vice president becomes president of

the United States if the office becomes vacant.



• Constitutional Powers and Duties– Diplomatic Powers

• Can negotiate treaties

– Military Powers• Commander in chief of the armed forces

– Judicial Powers• Nominates all federal judges pending

Senate confirmation• Issue pardons, reprieves



– Executive Powers• Head of executive branch• Can issue Executive Orders

– Legislative Powers• State of the Union Address• Veto


Presidential Vetoes, 1993-2000



• The Two Presidencies Thesis asserts that the president enjoys more influence over foreign policymaking than domestic policymaking.


The Development of the Modern Presidency

• The Early Days– Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase – Monroe and the Monroe Doctrine

• Twentieth Century– Most political scientists believe that the era

of the modern presidency began with Franklin D. Roosevelt.


The Organization of the Presidency

• The White House Staff

– Selected by president without Senate confirmation• Personal aides• Assistants• Advisors


The Organization of the Presidency

• The Executive Office of the President– National Security Council (NSC)– Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

• The Presidential Bureaucracy and Presidential Influence– The challenge for a president is to develop

a leadership style that neither delegates too little or too much.


Presidential Policymaking

• The Power to Persuade– Because presidents cannot command, they

must convince others to cooperate with them.

• Going public– A media-oriented strategy asking citizens

directly to assist the president in influencing legislators.


Presidential Popularity

• Presidential popularity influences presidential power. A president’s personal popularity affects the position of the president as a political broker.– Honeymoon effect– Rally effect


The Presidency in Context

• The role of the presidency is best understood by focusing on contextual factors.– International affairs

– Strength of the economy

– Composition of Congress


Concluding Review Questions

• What impact have the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 had on the powers of the presidency?

• What are the qualifications, term of office, process of removal, and order of succession for the presidency?

• How has the office of the vice president changed over the last thirty years?


Concluding Review Questions

• What does “going public” mean?

• How are treaties and executive agreements different?

• What executive powers does the president have in the legislative process?

pearson education, inc., longman © 2006 chapter 10 the presidency american government: policy &...

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