The Presidency

Chapter 11

Electing the President

• The presidential election cycle never really stops

– “Permanent campaign”

– By the time most people tune in, all the interesting stuff has already happened

• Timeline

Pre-primary

“Soon” after

election

Primary

elections

Jan – July

of

election

year

General

election

After Labor

Day

Nov 08Nov 04

• The game is straightforward:

– Organize campaign

– Establish self as credible contender

– Raise funds

– Become party’s nominee

– Win general election

The Primary System

• The parties use state-by-state elections to determine their nominees

– Problems:

• Low interest / turnout

• Primary voters not representative of population

• Possible bias in scheduling

• 1992 primary season

– 10 Feb to 9 June

• 44 contests in 4 months

• 20 in 1st month

• 2008 primary season

– 3 Jan to 3 June

• 26 in 1st month

• 21 on 5 Feb!!

• Who cares?

– States, parties, and candidates all have an interest in “front loading” the primary schedule.

– Why?

• Electoral College

– Each state receives (R + S) votes

– 270 / 535 needed to win presidency

– State by state plurality elections

The Presidency

• Evolution from “chief clerk” to CEO

– Original intent / “Whig theory”

• Role of an “executive”?

– Transition to “stewardship”

• Industrialization created a much more national politics

– Great Depression (1929) resulted in huge expansion of national government into economy

• Presidents tend to get too much credit/blame for economic conditions

Presidential “Roles”

• Chief of State

– Ceremonial role as head of the government

• Throwing out first baseball, lighting Christmas tree, etc.

• Chief Executive

– Executive power “vested” in the president by the Constitution

– Executing laws often means turning legislative goals into actual programs

• Ex: No Child Left Behind Act

– Appointment power

• Approx. 8000 positions directly appointed by president

– Ambassadors, federal judges, agency heads, etc.

– Some require Senate confirmation, most do not

– Executive orders

• Def: unilateral proclamation that changes gov’t policy

– Ex: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” stem cell research

• Can be overridden by act of Congress

– Ex: No federal funding for abortion services

• Commander in Chief

– President controls day to day operation of military

• BUT, only Congress can declare war

– They haven’t since 1941

– That’s why our troops haven’t been in combat since WWII

• Chief Diplomat

– Only the president (Department of State) can conduct foreign diplomacy, execute treaties

• Must be ratified by 2/3 Senate vote

– President decides if US will recognize new countries or have official relationships with them

• Ex: Taiwan, Iran, Cuba

• Chief Legislator

– Modern presidents fully expected to have a legislative agenda

• Makes recommendations to Congress

• Works with Congress to develop legislation

• Uses veto power to prevent undesired legislation