President of the United States… POTUS

Presidential Roles  Ceremonial  Chief Executive  Commander in Chief  Chief Diplomat  Chief Legislator  Chief Economist  Party Leader… primary agenda-setter; State of the Union message

How much does a President make?  Salary was raised to $400,000 per year in 2001  In addition, the president receives $50,000 expense account  The Vice-President’s salary is $230,700  Other perks of a president… live in the White House, fly in Air Force One…

Head of State or Head of Government?  Head of State… ceremonial leader and symbol of government; can get favorable press coverage, contributing to public support  Head of Government… power in government and politics; carries out the laws; head of the executive branch

Presidential Influence  Pres. power is to persuade, not to command  “Bully Pulpit”… ability of a president to persuade or mobilize the public to support his policies  Mobilizing the public to communicate its views to Congress in support of the president is very difficult  Linkage Institution between the president and voters is the Media

Average Approval Rating over term in office  John Kennedy—70%  Lyndon Johnson—55%  Richard Nixon—49%  Gerald Ford—47%  Jimmy Carter—45%  Ronald Reagan—53%  George HW Bush—61%  Bill Clinton—55%  George W Bush—49%

Presidents & Domestic Policy  Presidents are frequently frustrated with their domestic agenda… need support of Congress  If a president faces a divided government, could get little done and use the veto power more frequently

Executive Orders  A directive issued to executive-level agencies, department heads or other employees from the president  Similar to written orders or instructions  30 days after the EO is published in the Federal Register, it becomes law

Executive Orders  Reasons for issuing an EO…  Instructions for running the executive branch  Instructions for running federal agencies or instructions to federal officials  To carry out presidential responsibilities  Many EO cover domestic issues; some also cover foreign affairs

Executive Orders  FDR used EO establishing agencies that became the “New Deal”  President Clinton established the Commission on Aviation Safety and Security by an EO  President Obama established the White House Homeland Security Partnership Council by an EO

Executive Proclamations  Ceremonial or  Deal with trade issues  May or may not become legal/laws  Example… a Proclamation by President Obama about education  office/2012/11/09/presidential-proclamation-american- education-week office/2012/11/09/presidential-proclamation-american- education-week-2012

Presidents & Foreign Policy  Competition for control of policy…  Public… will allow the President to lead in foreign affairs, but are vocal if the public does not like the results  Interest groups… strongest are ethnic groups whose members have strong ties to their homeland, such as Cubans in Florida  Congress… generally Congress does not set defense policies

Presidents & Foreign Policy  Military… very weak… no control over budget  Military-industrial complex… the industries that make a lot of money from government military contracts. Boeing wants the defense contract, but is not concerned as much with actual foreign policy

Presidents & Foreign Policy  State Department… the Secretary of State is nominated by the president. Ambassadors are nominated by the president. Even though many people in the State Department are career, professional people, the president can win on any issue that is important to the president.

War Powers Resolution 1973  Purpose was to be sure both Congress & President worked together to share decision to go to war  Pres. Nixon vetoed the resolution in 1973; Congress overrode the veto  The House defeated an amendment to repeal central features of the WPR in 1995

War Powers Resolution 1973  President must consult with Congress before and during the deployment of troops  Troops can remain 60 days unless Congress declares war, has extended the 60-day period or Congress cannot meet due to an attack  The 60 days can be extended 30 more days  If Congress says “come home”, troops must come home

War Powers Resolution 1973  Presidents have considered the resolution unconstitutional  Presidents consider the WPR a form of Legislative Veto… ability of Congress to pass a resolution to override a presidential decision  Supreme Court in 1983 INS v. Chadha ruled the legislative veto unconstitutional, saying that anything Congress passes must go to president for signature

War Powers Resolution 1973  Presidents have submitted over 120 reports required by the WPR

Executive Agreements  An international agreement not submitted to the Senate  Two types…  Sole Executive Agreement when the president acts alone  Legislative—executive Agreement which requires a simple majority of both houses of Congress (compare to requirement to ratify a treaty)

Executive Agreements  Presidents justify EAs four ways…  Responsibility to represent the US in foreign affairs  Authority to receive ambassadors  Authority as Commander-in-Chief  Duty to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed  Congress has been unsuccessful in limiting presidential use of EAs

Sources    actions/executive-orders actions/executive-orders  Constitution-Executive-agreements.html Constitution-Executive-agreements.html  ratings-gallup-historical-statistics-trends.aspx