the presidency - 1 i.historical development of the presidency a.initial constitutional provisions 1....
TRANSCRIPT
The Presidency - 1The Presidency - 1
I. Historical Development of the Presidency
A. Initial Constitutional Provisions1. institutionally strong with vague, shared powers
B. Historically Weak, Occasionally Strong
- e.g., Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, T. Roosevelt, Wilson
C. Franklin Roosevelt: establishing the “Modern Presidency”(1933-1945)1. Foundation: Progressivism2. Trigger Events: the Great Depression3. Response: the “1st 100 Days”4. Results: the “New Deal” programs5. elected to four terms--served 12+ years6. creates mandatory leadership role
The Presidency - 2The Presidency - 2II. Presidential Elections: “Old” to “New” Style
A. Nominations: Caucuses vs. Primaries1. Caucuses Party-dominated
2. Primaries Candidate-dominated B. General Elections:
1. Organization: Party vs. Candidate2. Strategies:
a. Canvassing vs. TVb. Insider vs. Outsider appeals
3. Financing: Unrestricted vs. Regulateda. 1971 Federal Election
Campaign Act—report donation sources/amounts
b. 1974 FECA Amendments—tried to limit campaign donations and expenditures
i. Buckley v. Valeo (1976)“independent spending”
c. 1979 FECA Amendmentsi. "soft money”
d. 2002 McCain-Feingoldi. Limits Soft Moneyii. Limits Interest Group
Adsiii. Limits Free Speech (?) -
Courts Say Noe. Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
Corporations can spend independently
C. The Electoral College1. Rules: 538 votes, majority rule
a. Votes Cast by States: unit rule
b. If No Majority: Congress selects2. Consequences:
a. ‘Small State’ Advantagesb. ‘Big State’ Advantages—
comes from unit rule3. Effects: Magnifies Victory
usually: PV winner = EC winner rarely: PV winner ~= EC winner
III. The Presidential InstitutionA. Powers of the Presidency
1. What are the boundaries? a. Strict Constructionist—
Example: W.H. Tafti. Powers granted are those
ONLY listed in Constitution or granted by Congress
ii. All other powers are forbidden
iii. Not a feasible point of view after FDR
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b. Trustee—Teddy Roosevelti. Powers granted are those
NOT STRICTLY FORBIDDEN by the Constitution
ii. All other powers are allowable, if in the public’s interest
c. Public President—Woodrow Wilsoni. President helps define the
public interestii. President is the only voice
in politics that has a national constituency
iii. President helps lead public opinion.
“His office is anything he has the sagacity and force to make it.”
d. Prerogative President—Abraham Lincoln
i. In times of crisis, president has no bounds on power
ii. Can even violate the Constitution
iii. Has no choice, if it is to save the Union
2. Sources of power: examplesa. Constitution - veto powerb. Statute Law - central legislative clearance/budget making power (1921 Budget & Accounting Act)c. Precedent
i. executive privilegeB. Structure of the Presidency
1. pre-FDR arrangements: small, informal
2. Executive Office of the President (1939)
3. Subsequent: growth (1940s-1973) decline (1974-1978) stability (1979-present)
4. Composition of EOPC. Internal Operations of the Presidency
1. Presidential Management Styles - pyramid model - wheel model - dynamics of change over time
2. Staff Orientations - personal service to president - institutional service to presidency - have changed over time
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IV. The Nature of Presidential Relations A. The Presidential Perspective: “Permanent Crisis” 1. Imperative Responsible for Initiative: - President as "Chief ..." 2. Short Time Frame for Action - ‘windows of opportunity’
“First 100 Days”“Presidential Honeymoon”
3. Interdependent Relations - Neustadt: “separated institutions sharing power”
B. Recent Developments: Divided Government1. Rise of Split Ticket Voting2. Chronic Divided Government3. Disappearing Moderate Middle4. Consequence: More Difficult to Lead
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C. Methods of Achieving Goals: - Persuasion, not Command 1. The Exchange Model: "inside" strategy through bargaining with elites
- bargaining advantages - professional reputation - public prestige
2. The “Going Public” Model: "outside" strategy
- decentralized institutional leadership - fragmented interest group structure - increased salience of public opinion - easier to “go public”—technology has
made it possible