American Federal Government Chapter 10: The Presidency

PRESIDENT Popularly elected Congress may be opposing party May have no Congressional experience Cabinet chosen as reward/representation Does not have to defend govt policies in Congress Cannot control Congress PRIME MINISTER Selected by Parliament Parliament majority party, along with PM Has always served in Parliament first Cabinet chosen from majority party in Parliament Appears often in Parliament to defend govt Legislative power

Constitutional Presidential Powers Commander-in-chief Commission officers of the armed forces Grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses Convene Congress in special sessions Receive ambassadors Ensure laws are faithfully executed "Executive power" Appoint officials to lesser offices Make treaties Appoint ambassadors, judges and high officials Approve legislation

Constitutional Presidential Powers ocampus.skins/default&course=AP%20Government%20and%20Politics&lesson=20&topi c=1&topicTitle=Express%20Roles

Electing the President

Famous Presidents Through History

Early Presidents Goal: establish legitimacy Modest Vetoes unusual Two-term presidency George Washington John Adams Thomas Jefferson James Madison John Quincy Adams

Jacksonian Era Mass political participation Jackson: powerful Strong & independent Vetoed many bills Congress reasserted power after Andrew Jackson

Congress In Power Martin Van Buren William Henry Harrison John Tyler James Polk Zachary Taylor Millard Fillmore Franklin Pierce James Buchanan

Lincoln "Take care that the laws be faithfully executed" Commander in chief Abraham Lincoln

Congress In Power Again Andrew Johnson Ulysses S. Grant Rutherford B. Hayes James Garfield Chester Arthur Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison Grover Cleveland William McKinley

Modern Presidency Representative of national government Powerful Expanded powers & mandate Theodore Roosevelt William Taft Woodrow Wilson Warren Harding Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Dwight Eisenhower John F. Kennedy Lyndon Johnson Richard Nixon Gerald Ford James Carter Ronald Reagan George H.W. Bush William Clinton George W. Bush Barack Obama

White House Staff Structure Circular o Few key assistants o Personal involvement in detail Pyramid o One chief of staff o Order, authority o Reduced information Cluster o Key advisers, no chain of command o Personal involvement in detail

The Executive Office Agencies report to President Not in the White House President appoints heads, confirmed by Senate Office of Management & Budget (OMB) o National budget & flow of information

The Cabinet -and-video/video/inside-white- house-cabinet

Presidential Popularity Popular Presidents tend to have more legislation passed Congress is wary of crossing him/her Honeymoon Midterm elections - President's party loses seats Pres. Obama at 45% High point Jan %

The President's Key Programs Planning a program o Limit on time o 90 hour workweek o Massive legislation o Crises o Federal govt secure Economy and foreign affairs President's bills passed President's position prevails

The President's Key Programs riefing-room

Presidential Denial Veto o Veto Message o Pocket Veto o No line-item veto o If not signed or vetoed, becomes law Executive Privilege o Communications with staff seen to be confidential o Separation of powers o Watergate Impoundment of Funds

President vs. Congress Share powers Both want control Different constituents o President: all people o House: local districts o Senate: states

The Vice-President Acting President or temporary? Not a fast track to election Presides over Senate o Break ties Endorse President's programs 25th Amendment o VP serves in case of disability or death o Appoints new VP, confirmation

ocampus.org/hippocampus.skins/default&course=AP%20Government %20and%20Politics&lesson=19&topic=2&topicTitle=Rules%20and%20 Contingencies Succession

Impeachment All civil officers o Usually Pres, VP, federal judges Indictment o Charges, majority in House Removal o 2/3 vote Senate "Treason, bribery or other high crimes & misdemeanors" o Not clear o Congress decides o Illegal or unconstitutional

Impeachment atch/?id= n

Foreign Affairs Used to be Secretary of State National Security Adviser Dept. of State o Geographic, foreign service officers Dept. of Defense o Pentagon, alliances and military aid CIA o Langley, offices abroad and analysts o Update President on intentions of foreign powers o Influences policies o Congressional oversight committee National Security Council o Committee o Pres, VP, Sec. State, Sec. Defense

Checks on President's Power Advisers Senate confirmation ambassadors Senate ratifies treaties Congress approves military spending and declares war

War Powers Act: Notification Pres. reports use of troops within 48 hours 60 days: Congress authorizes continued presence If not authorized, Pres. withdraws Congress: resolution to force withdrawal Public opinion

Economic Policy Voters are critical; first hand knowledge Little control Authority over policy dispersed Office of Management & Budget (OMB) o Spending, changes o Can't touch SS, vets, military Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) o Economic studies Secretary of Treasury o Interest rates, currency value Federal Reserve Board (Fed) o Independent, powerful

Executive Orders Legally binding order from President to federal agencies Execution of congressionally authorized laws o Sometimes fail to detail law Sometimes contrary Proclamations National Security Directives Recourse o Rewrite/amend law o Challenge in court o Foreign policy, security - usually left to President orders/2009-obama.html

Annual Federal Budget Feb: President submits to Congress Committee discussions o Caps on spending - defense, foreign aid, entitlements, discretionary April 15 - Budget resolution passed May - Appropriations bills Summer - President signs/vetos October - new fiscal year

Budget Deficit campus.skins/default&course=AP%20Government%20and%20Politics&lesson=23&topic= 2&topicTitle=Surpluses,%20Deficits,%20and%20the%20National%20Debt

Group Discussion Group 1: What makes it difficult for the President to carry out programs? Group 2: What is the War Powers Act? Is it effective? Group 3: What is the role of the Executive Order? Should they be used? Group 4: What are some of the powers of the President? What are some checks? Are these adequate?