The PresidencyThe PresidencyNovember 15, November 15,

20102010

A “Government of A “Government of separated separated

institutions which institutions which share power.”share power.”

Richard NeustadtRichard Neustadt

National and Partisan National and Partisan ConstituenciesConstituencies

President has the political advantage President has the political advantage of being the only political leader of being the only political leader with a national constituency with a national constituency

But President has partisan But President has partisan constituency as well—needs to constituency as well—needs to balance one against the otherbalance one against the other

Number Of

Voters

Opinions

(Ideology)

Left Right

Republican

Primary

Democratic

Primary

Presidential Power:Presidential Power:

The President "shall from The President "shall from time to time give to the time to time give to the Congress Information of the Congress Information of the State of the Union.”State of the Union.”

Congressional Check:Congressional Check:

NoneNone

Growth in Presidential Growth in Presidential Speech-makingSpeech-making

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““That said Andrew Johnson, President of That said Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, unmindful of the high the United States, unmindful of the high duties of his office and the dignity and duties of his office and the dignity and propriety thereof... did...deliver with a propriety thereof... did...deliver with a loud voice certain intemperate, loud voice certain intemperate, inflammatory and scandalous harangues, inflammatory and scandalous harangues, and did therein utter loud threats and and did therein utter loud threats and bitter menaces against Congress.” bitter menaces against Congress.”

-Impeachment charge, -Impeachment charge,

U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives, 1868.1868.

Bully PulpitBully Pulpit

Presidential Power of Initiative:Presidential Power of Initiative:

The President may recommend to The President may recommend to Congress for "their consideration Congress for "their consideration such Measures as he shall judge such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”necessary and expedient.”

Congressional Check:Congressional Check:

Only Congress may enact Measure Only Congress may enact Measure into Law.into Law.

Transitions and Transitions and HoneymoonsHoneymoons

Initiative Power is at its Height Initiative Power is at its Height Lincoln and Fort SumterLincoln and Fort Sumter Roosevelt and 100 DaysRoosevelt and 100 Days Reagan and the Budget RestructuringReagan and the Budget Restructuring

Experience Lacking—Risk of ErrorExperience Lacking—Risk of Error Kennedy and Cuban Missile CrisisKennedy and Cuban Missile Crisis Clinton and Gays in the MilitaryClinton and Gays in the Military Obama and Stimulus PackageObama and Stimulus Package

Presidential Veto Power:Presidential Veto Power:

Before any law "shall take effect," Before any law "shall take effect," it must be "approved by" the it must be "approved by" the President . . . .President . . . .

Congressional Check:Congressional Check:unless "repassed by two thirds of unless "repassed by two thirds of the Senate and the House of the Senate and the House of Representatives."Representatives."

Trends in Presidential Use of the Veto Power

Presidential Power:Presidential Power:The president “shall appoint The president “shall appoint ambassadors, other public ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls . . . and all ministers and consuls . . . and all other offices of the United States.”other offices of the United States.”

Congressional Check:Congressional Check:

Appointments are subject to the Appointments are subject to the “advice and consent of the “advice and consent of the Senate,” which is taken to mean a Senate,” which is taken to mean a majority must approve the majority must approve the nomination.nomination.

““. . . the President needs help. . . . . . . the President needs help. . . .

[Aides] would not be assistant [Aides] would not be assistant presidents in any sense. . . . presidents in any sense. . . .

[They] should possess of high [They] should possess of high competence, great physical vigor, competence, great physical vigor, and a passion for anonymity.”and a passion for anonymity.”

-Report, Brownlow -Report, Brownlow Commission, 1936Commission, 1936

Size of the White HouseSize of the White House

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

FDR-Tru

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Eisen

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JFK-L

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Nixon-F

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Reagan

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Chief of StaffChief of Staff

Senate confirmationSenate confirmation Lightening RodLightening Rod Experience needed—the Bakers, Experience needed—the Bakers,

Rahm Emanuel (not Sununu)Rahm Emanuel (not Sununu)

Causes of ScandalsCauses of Scandals

News story if White House involvedNews story if White House involved Partisan operations conducted inside Partisan operations conducted inside

the White Housethe White House Ambitious aides in White HouseAmbitious aides in White House

Presidential Power:Presidential Power:

The President "shall receive The President "shall receive Ambassadors Ambassadors and other public and other public Ministers...and shall Ministers...and shall Commission all the Officers of the Commission all the Officers of the United United States.”States.”

Congressional Check:Congressional Check:

NoneNone

Efficient aspect of governmentEfficient aspect of government

Dignified aspect of governmentDignified aspect of government “ “to see and be seen”to see and be seen”

Source: Walter Bagehot, Source: Walter Bagehot, The English The English ConstitutionConstitution

Presidential Power:Presidential Power:Inherent PowersInherent Powers

"The executive power shall be vested in a "The executive power shall be vested in a President.”President.”

Congressional Check:Congressional Check:Impeachment PowerImpeachment Power

Presidents may be impeached by a majority of thePresidents may be impeached by a majority of the

House of Representatives for “high crimes andHouse of Representatives for “high crimes and

misdemeanors.” The president is removed frommisdemeanors.” The president is removed from

office if the Senate convicts by a 2/3 vote.office if the Senate convicts by a 2/3 vote.

““My belief was that it was not My belief was that it was not only the [president’s] right but only the [president’s] right but his duty to dohis duty to do anything that the anything that the needs of the Nationneeds of the Nation demanded demanded unless such action was unless such action was forbidden by the Constitution or forbidden by the Constitution or by its laws.”by its laws.”

-Theodore Roosevelt-Theodore Roosevelt

0510152025

1900 1907 1914 1921 1928 1935 1942 1949 1956 1963 1970 1977 1984 1991

Year

Number of Significant Executive Orders, 1900-1996

Decline in Presidential Decline in Presidential Popularity over the First Popularity over the First

TermTerm

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

Ch

ange

in P

ub

lic A

pp

rova

l (%

)

1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years

2

President Bush Job ApprovalPresident Bush Job Approval

1

President Obama Job ApprovalPresident Obama Job Approval

Do Failed Policies and Presidents Lead to the Election of Presidents Who Succeed by Repudiating the Past?

Ronald Reagan Jimmy Carter1980

Barack Obama? George W. Bush?2008

Franklin Roosevelt Herbert Hoover1932

Abraham Lincoln James Buchanan1860

Andrew Jackson John Q. Adams1828

Thomas Jefferson John Adams1800

George Washington

Articles of Confederations

1789

Very Successful President

Leads to….FailureYEAR

Presidential Power:Presidential Power:

"The President shall be "The President shall be Commander in Commander in

Chief of the Army and Navy of Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.”the United States.”

Congressional Check: Congressional Check:

Only Congress can declare war.Only Congress can declare war.

Presidential Power:Presidential Power:The President "shall have the The President "shall have the power to make treaties . . . .”power to make treaties . . . .”

Congressional Check: Congressional Check:

"provided 2/3 of the Senators "provided 2/3 of the Senators present concur."present concur."

Presidential Power:Power to grant Reprieves and

Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

Congressional Check: None

The EndThe End

Town on one Street

Krazy-Mart

Wally-Mart

Presidential Initiative on Terrorism: Too Presidential Initiative on Terrorism: Too Little, Too LateLittle, Too Late

DateDate EventEvent DeathsDeaths

Dec. 1992Dec. 1992 Aden Hotel BombingAden Hotel Bombing 22

Feb. 1993Feb. 1993 World Trade Center BombingWorld Trade Center Bombing 66

Nov. 1995Nov. 1995 U.S. Saudi training facility bombedU.S. Saudi training facility bombed 77

May 1996May 1996 Bin Laden Shifts from Sudan to Bin Laden Shifts from Sudan to AfghanistanAfghanistan

June 1996June 1996 Truck Bomb in Dhahran, Saudi ArabiaTruck Bomb in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 1919

Aug. 1996Aug. 1996 Bin Laden “Cut off the Head of the Bin Laden “Cut off the Head of the Snake” SpeechSnake” Speech

Sept. Sept. 19961996

Taliban Captures Kabul, AfghanistanTaliban Captures Kabul, Afghanistan

Aug. 1998Aug. 1998 U.S. Embassies (Kenya and Tasmania) U.S. Embassies (Kenya and Tasmania) bombedbombed

224224

Oct. 2000Oct. 2000 USS Cole Attacked, YemenUSS Cole Attacked, Yemen 1717

Sept. Sept. 20012001

Pro-West Northern Alliance Leader in Pro-West Northern Alliance Leader in Afghan. KilledAfghan. Killed

Sept. Sept. 20012001

9/11 Attacks on World Trade Center and 9/11 Attacks on World Trade Center and PentagonPentagon

2,9922,992

DateDate ResponseResponse

Aug. Aug. 19981998

Missile Attack on Bin Laden Camp in Missile Attack on Bin Laden Camp in AfghanistanAfghanistan

Oct. Oct. 20012001

U.S. Offensive in AfghanistanU.S. Offensive in Afghanistan

Year-Round

Krazy-Mart

Wally-Mart

Winter Only

Wally-Mart Branch

Krazy-Mart Branch

Krazy-Mart

Wally-Mart

Number Of

Voters

Opinions

(Ideology)

Left Right

Republican

Primary

Democratic

Primary

National National ConstituencyConstituency

vs.vs.Partisan Partisan

ConstituencyConstituency