Presidents vs. Presidency

Transcription

1 Today s Agenda 1 Grades on ELC extended office hours next week Presidents vs. Presidency The 44 Presidents Natural born citizen All-powerful President? President s and Foreign Policy President s and Law Making Going Public The Cabinet Government

2 Presidents vs. Presidency The study of the Presidency is NOT the study of the 44 Presidents History studies the individual Presidents Answers questions such as who the best President was Political science studies the office, no matter WHO is in the White House Answers questions such as how President s act in situations Intro. to American Government a mix of the two 2

3 Basic Facts on the Presidents 44 Presidents (43 different People) Grover Cleveland s 2 nonconsecutive terms All Presidents were identified as Christian Youngest to become President T. Roosevelt (42), Oldest Reagan (69) 11 Presidents never graduated from college Only 1 since 1900 (Truman) Birthplaces 3

4 Birthplaces of the Presidents 4

5 Who Can Be President? Who is eligible to become President? Article 2, Section 1: No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident. Natural born citizen, 35, 14 years a resident 5

6 Natural Born Citizen? 6 Courts nor laws have truly defined what this is Today 3 ways to become a citizen: Naturalization Process (Immigration). Born to at least 1 American parent. Born in the U.S.A. Which of these 3 defines a natural born citizen? Barry Goldwater, John McCain, Barack Obama, Ted Cruz. Chester A. Arthur

7 The White House 7 Originally called the Presidential Mansion Built Got it s name from Teddy Living Quarters 2 nd floor Ballrooms and Offices 1 st floor Most offices and work areas in the East and West Wing West Wing completed in 1902 East Wing completed in 1942 MANY basement levels

8 Other Basics President s can serve two 4 year terms First set by precedent by Washington & Jefferson 22 nd Amendment The terms do not have to be consecutive Grover Cleveland Can only be removed from office by impeachment from the House and conviction of the Senate for a high crime and misdemeanor 8

9 Very little real power Powers of the Presidents Commander in Chief of the military But Congress declares war Can veto legislation But Congress can override Appoints judges But Congress votes on them Directs the bureaucracy But Congress can also direct 9

10 Presidents All-Powerful? Many Americans imagine the President is allpowerful We expect Presidents to keep all their campaign promises, force their legislation through, fix the economy, etc. One explanation for this paradox is that the presidency is the one unitary institution in the federal government I am the decider George W. Bush What I didn t fully appreciate, and nobody can appreciate until they re in the position, is how decentralized power is in this system. Obama 10

11 The Power to Persuade 11 What is the President s greatest power? The power to persuade Richard Neustadt 1960 Presidential Power Presidential Power is the power to persuade The President is engaged in bargaining and give and take with other political actors The President s office and prestige give many advantages, but President s still fail If this were a dictatorship, it d be a heck of a lot easier. George W. Bush

12 Why Was the Presidency Built This Way? Fears of the monarchy of Great Britain, but after the Articles of Confederation a strong executive was needed 12 The Framers intentionally designed the presidency to allow its occupant to rise to demands for quick and concerted action during times of crisis energy of the executive. Created a focal point for coordinating collective action President best situated to propose a coordinated response.

13 Framers and the Presidency Framers rejected a plural executive. Thus, it would contain none of the internal checks provided by institutional design. 13 Instead, executive has resources to coordinate national responses, but not enough to usurp Congress Two presidencies Leadership goes to Pres. during crisis Does not suspend powers that belong to other institutions, and it dissipates as crisis recedes.

14 Presidents in Foreign Policy The one area where the Founders gave the President the MOST power: Foreign Affairs 14

15 Commander in Chief and Head of State President is commander in chief of the nation s armed forces Founders had some difficulty in granting one individual control over the military Checked this power by making it so ONLY CONGRESS can declare war. The authority of commander in chief provides the president with broad license 15

16 Commander in Chief and Head of State Idea that presidents have the military at their disposal (at least in the short run) remains unchallenged. Congress s check is a hollow one War Powers Act of 1973 Requires that the president inform Congress within 48 hours of committing troops to military action Operation must end within 60 days unless Congress approves extension. 16

17 The War Powers Act The impact of this law has been limited Presidents have continued to take military action without informing Congress Reagan invaded Grenada in 1983 George H.W. Bush deployed troops in Somalia in In 1999 U.S. military participated in NATO action against former Yugoslavia U.S. military bombed Gaddafi in Libya along with France, Italy, and NATO

18 Head of State The Framers provided broad authority to transact diplomatic affairs 18 Lesson learned from Articles of Confederation Washington interpreted receive ambassadors to mean that he alone had the authority to recognize new governments and receive its ministers Truman recognized the state of Israel

19 Head of State The most important limitation on president in foreign affairs is that a two-thirds majority of the Senate is required to ratify treaties 19 Rejected WWI peace treaty Wilson s League of Nations Not as limiting a check today due to executive agreements

20 Executive Agreements Unlike a treaty, an executive agreement cannot supersede U.S. law, and it remains in force as long as the parties find their interests well-served by it 20 LBJ created a number of executive agreements giving foreign aid funds to countries that kept forces in Vietnam These agreements are the mainstay of international relations Can only be made if no other law prevents them Obama wants to normalize relations with Cuba but cannot undo the embargo

21 Executive Agreements The Case Act (1972) requires the President to inform Congress within 20 days of an executive agreement being signed Congress can make laws that remove them and the courts can judge them unconstitutional Grand total ~18,500 executive agreements made 17,300 since 1939, only 1,200 before Foreign policy is so much more complex today than it was ever envisioned by our framers. To go back in the Constitution and say everything should be done as a treaty is naive. Jeffrey Peake Clemson U. 21

22 Executive Orders 22 Until the 20 th century, presidents found themselves ill-equipped to intrude upon administrative practices Congress exercised oversight of the bureaucracy, assigning its committees jurisdictions that matched those of the federal departments Presidents stayed in the background and attempted to influence policy through political appointees to the bureaucracy or executive orders Executive Orders can only direct departments and bureaucracy to take action when no other law prevents it

23 Executive Orders Most Executive Orders are minor and not important Famous executive orders: Truman integrating the military, Lincoln s emancipation proclqmation, Obama suspending deportations of DREAMers, Constitutional origin 23 Take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed. Take care clause. Theodore Roosevelt first to subscribe to this expansive view of the office

24 President s Impact on Law Making 24 The Constitution gives presidents only a modest role in the legislative arena May call Congress into special session Veto laws (Article I) Must report from time to time to Congress with State of the Union address Yet modern presidents attempt to direct American policy by promoting a legislative agenda They must use their few constitutional tools as well as their ability to mobilize public support and their PARTY

25 President s Impact on Law Making 25 Until the twentieth century, presidents routinely delivered their State of the Union to Congress via courier, where it was read to an inattentive audience Today it is a prime-time opportunity for presidents to mold public opinion and steer the legislative agenda on Capitol Hill What are some of the things the president does during the State of the Union? Stage and punctuate presentation with props and the introduction of American heroes

26 President s Impact on Law Making Perhaps the president s most formidable tool in dealing with Congress is the veto Constitution defines the veto precisely Best thought of as a negotiation tool 26 Used relatively rarely most used by Gerald Ford. In the past fifty years, the average is fewer than ten vetoes a year The veto allows the president to block congressional action but does not allow the president to substitute his own policy preferences

27 President s Impact on Law Making Today, Congress gives the president s legislative proposals serious consideration Lawmakers expect the president to advise them about problems with current policy and administration and to recommend adjustments to improve performance 27 Because of the president s role administering the laws, a major role in the legislative process is ensured 90 percent of presidents initiatives are considered by some congressional committee or subcommittee

28 Working with Partisan Allies 28 In assembling support for their legislation, presidents begin with their party allies in Congress They cultivate this support by: Advocating spending on programs and public works for a district or state Appointing a member s congressional aide as an agency head Visiting a lawmaker s district to generate support for the next reelection campaign These fellow partisans do what they can to support their leader

29 Why Do Partisans Support the President? Presidential mid-term elections Presidents almost always lose seats in their midterms President s above 50% approval: average loss 14 seats President s below 50% approval: average loss 36 seats If you are in the President s party, your reelection depends on the President How to get the opposition party to support the President? Presidential popularity MAY help but does it? 29

30 Presidential Popularity 30

31 Obama s Legislative Agenda Party Support 31 The Senate Party Support

32 Divided Government When presidents find their party in majority control of the House and Senate, they have excellent prospects for passing their legislative agenda Examples: New Deal and Great Society However, during divided government (when the president s opposition party controls either or both legislative chambers), the president confronts majorities with different preferences 32

33 Divided Government During the past half century, unified party control has occurred less frequently than divided government. How do presidents deal with this situation? 33 Pull decisions into the White House. Carefully screen appointees to federal agencies. Utilize the veto. Go public (engage in intensive public relations to promote their policies to voters). Republicans gained control of Congress in the 2010 midterm elections, restoring unified party control of government, which continued into the 109th Congress.

34 Divided Government 34

35 Veto Bargaining The veto offers presidents a clear, self-enforcing means of asserting their preferences The threat of a veto is a potent one as well. 35 Presidents can use the threat to manipulate Congress s expectations about the likely result of alternative legislative packages, thereby inserting his policy preferences into legislation at an early stage of the process Reagan: Make my day.

36 Presidential Power: Going Public Going public is a tactic where presidents seek to force members of Congress to support their policies by appealing directly to and mobilizing the public 36 Bully pulpit Teddy Roosevelt Presidents went public more and more often throughout the 20 th century through speeches, radio, television, and now the internet

37 Presidential Public Appearances 37

38 Cabinet and Cabinet Level Staff The people who run the government with the President 38 Cabinet: Vice President, Sec. of State, Sec. of Treasury, Sec. of Defense, Attorney General, Sec. of Interior, Sec. of Agriculture, Sec. of Commerce, Sec. of Labor, Sec. of Health and Human Services, Sec. of Housing and Urban Development, Sec. of Transportation, Sec. of Energy, Sec. of Education, Sec. of Veterans Affairs, Sec. of Homeland Security

39 Cabinet and Cabinet Level Staff 39 Cabinet Level Officials: White House Chief of Staff, Director of OMB, Administrator of the EPA, Trade Representative, Ambassador to the UN, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, Administrator of the Small Business Administration Chief of Staff originally just a White House Secretary Became a position of power and authority under Eisenhower, but started under FDR Executive Office of the President 1939 Brownlow Committee

40 Any Questions? 40