American Government Chapter 11 The Presidency
The Myth of the All-Powerful President The Imagined Presidency Ceremonial Figurehead and Government Leader
Core of the Analysis How did the president transform from chief clerk of the government, to a formidable political actor in Washington? Does a president s ability to sway public opinion help them deal with Congress? Has the growth of the institutional presidency transformed the Executive into an isolated, imperial office? What does the current era of divided party control of government imply for the president s ability to exercise national leadership?
Founders Fears of the Presidency Not another King George III of Great Britain President needed to be responsive to incidents like Shays' Rebellion
Key Questions Regarding Presidency How many people should constitute the executive branch? For how long should presidents serve? To what extent would the president be independent of other political branches, most notably the Congress? What powers could safely be entrusted to the president?
Federalist 70 Lays Out Founders Thoughts Energy in the executive Feeble executive equates to bad government Key ingredients of the presidency are Unity Duration Competent powers
Concerns Over Popular Control Four Year Term Electoral College
The President in the Constitution Commander in Chief Head Diplomat Chief Executive Chief Legislator
U.S. Military Interventions Before World War II
U.S. Military Interventions in Central America, 1898-1996
Treaties vs. Executive Agreements Years Treaties Executive Agreements 1789-1839 60 27 1839-1889 215 238 1889-1929 382 763 1930-1939 142 144 1940-1949 116 919 1950-1959 138 2229 1960-1969 114 2324 1970-1979 173 3040 1980-1989 151 3457 1990-1992 52 981 Total 1,543 14,122
The President in the Constitution Commander in Chief Head Diplomat Chief Executive Chief Legislator
The President in the Constitution Commander in Chief Head Diplomat Chief Executive Chief Legislator
Presidency in the 19 th Century Weak Clerks Lacked institutional strength Weak connections to public Did not formulate domestic policy
Growth in Presidential Power Popular Campaigning Nationalization of Media Increased Role in Policy Making Greater Institutional Power Increase in Staff
Media Coverage in the 19 th Century 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1824 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1876 President Congress Percent of Political News Devoted to President and Congress
Growth in Presidential Power Popular Campaigning Nationalization of Media Increased Role in Policy Making Greater Institutional Power Increase in Staff
Clinton 1 Clinton 2 Reagan 2 Bush Reagan 1 Ford Carter LBJ Nixon White House Staff 600 500 400 300 200 100 Coolidge Hoover 0 FDR 1 FDR 2 FDR 3 Truman 1 Truman 2 Ike 1 Ike 2 JFK
The President s Record as Chief Legislator Sets the public policy agenda for Congress
Public Expectations and Perceptions Leader of the people Promoter of consensus Personally responsible for the performance of government
PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL, 1953-1999 JAN 1970 AUG 1967 MAR 1965 OCT 1962 MAY 1960 DEC 1957 JUL 1955 FEB 1953 APR 1977 NOV 1974 JUN 1972 JAN 1999 AUG 1996 MAR 1994 OCT 1991 MAY 1989 DEC 1986 JUL 1984 FEB 1982 SEP 1979 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 Vietnam Nixon Elected Gulf War Victory Apollo Moon Landing Clinton Presidency Iran-Contra Watergate DATE Approval
Rally Effect After 9/11 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Approval Feb Mar April May June July Aug 10-Sep 15-Sep 22-Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb 2001 2002
Bush Approval before and After 9/11
Powers of the President Focal point of politics and policy in our political system Stronger executive in the twentieth century because Congress delegated authority to the president Power given to FDR because of the economic crisis of the Great Depression, President Bush received extra power due to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 T. Roosevelt: it is not the president's "right but his duty to do anything that the needs of the nation demanded unless such action was forbidden by the Congress JFK: "the president [may] assume just about as much power as he is capable of handling Presidents are agents of Congress and national constituencies.