presidency part 2
TRANSCRIPT
The Presidency (Part 2)Michael P. Fix
Models of Presidential Power
Models of Presidential Power
Whig Model
President should take a passive approach to government policy,
deferring to Congressional
leadership.
Images from www.wikipedia.org
Models of Presidential Power
Stewardship Model
President should take an active approach, leading in both national politics and international affairs.
Models of Presidential Power
The Modern Presidency
Barber’s Presidential Character Types
Active-Positive Active-Negative
Passive-Positive Passive-Negative
Barber’s Presidential Character Types
Active-Positive
Images from www.wikipedia.org
Barber’s Presidential Character Types
Active-Negative
Images from www.wikipedia.org
Barber’s Presidential Character Types
Passive-Positive
Images from www.wikipedia.org
Barber’s Presidential Character Types
Passive-Negative
Images from www.wikipedia.org
Informal Presidential Powers
Informal Presidential Powers
Political Scientist Richard Neustadt argues that a president’s formal powers are relatively minor. A president’s real power lies in informal powers derived from personality and political skills.
Informal Presidential Powers
The Power to Persuade
The resources of the president’s office makes available many tools to make persuasion effective:
•The prestige of the office
•Personal charm
•Fear of retaliation
•Bargaining ability
Informal Powers of the President
Going Public
The emergence of radio and television has given presidents the ability to get their message directly to the American people.
The President and Public Opinion
Presidential Approval
Presidential Approval
Images from www.bluejacket.com (left) and www.cartoonstock.com (right)
Presidential Greatness
What qualities make a
president great?
Presidential Greatness
Vision, Pragmatism, Consensus Building, Charisma, Trustworthiness
The Vice-Presidency
The Vice-Presidency
• The only Constitutional Power of the Vice-President is the position of President of the Senate.
• All other responsibilities are at the president’s discretion.
The Vice-Presidency
• Historically, presidents gave little power to their vice-presidents.
• As such the office mostly consisted of ceremonial duties: • Attending important funerals• Dedicating bridges and parks• Presiding over the Senate on important
occasions and when ties were expected
The Vice-Presidency
“. . . the most insignificant office
that ever the invention of man contrived or his
imagination conceived”
John Adams
1st Vice-President
Image from wikipedia.org
The Vice-Presidency
“Once there were two brothers. One went
away to sea; the other was elected Vice-
President of the United States. And nothing was ever heard of
either of them again”Thomas Marshall
28th Vice-President
Image from wikipedia.org
The Vice-Presidency
“ . . . not worth a pitcher of warm
piss.”
John Nance Garner
32nd Vice-President
Image from wikipedia.org
The Vice-Presidency
“. . . heartbeat away from the presidency”
The Vice-Presidency
The increasing role of the vice-president
Increasing Role of the Vice-President
From wikipedia.org
When Harry Truman became
president upon the death of F.
Roosevelt, he knew nothing of the
development of the Atomic Bomb.
Increasing Role of the Vice-President
Walter F. Mondale
42nd Vice-President
Al Gore
45th Vice-President
The
Vice-
President
as part of the
president’s
inner
circle
Increasing Role of the Vice-President
Arguably the most powerful vice-
president in U.S. history. Dick
Chaney was one of the closest advisors to
President George W. Bush
Dick Chaney
46th Vice-President