Presentation by Dr. Kevin Lasher POL 101: U.S. Government Presentation by Dr. Kevin Lasher
Presidential Powers Constitutional powers --- Article II, Sections 2 and 3 --- commander-in-chief, receive ambassadors, make appointments, sign treaties, pardons, state of union, etc. --- fairly modest list of powers Modern powers --- expanded powers without constitutional change kkkkkkkkkk
Presidential Powers: Modern Powers Power over foreign policy Power through bureaucracy Power over legislation Power through leadership/persuasion Power through party x x x kkkkkkkkkk
Power over Foreign Policy kkkkkkkkkk Commander-in-chief
Power over Foreign Policy kkkkkkkkkk Deploy Troops Anywhere No Declaration of War
Power over Foreign Policy kkkkkkkkkk Nuclear Weapons
Power over Foreign Policy kkkkkkkkkk Chief Diplomat
Power over Foreign Policy kkkkkkkkkk Intelligence and Covert Actions
Presidential Powers: Modern Powers Power over foreign policy Power through bureaucracy kkkkkkkkkk
Power through bureaucracy kkkkkkkkkk Chief Executive
Power through bureaucracy kkkkkkkkkk Federal spending is 20-25% of US GDP
Power through bureaucracy kkkkkkkkkk Fifteen cabinet departments, more than 100 Independent Agencies, Govt. Corps, Boards, etc. Executive branch bureaucracy IMPLEMENTS laws
Power through bureaucracy kkkkkkkkkk President appoints top leadership of executive branch agencies Presidential control is diluted as one moves “down” the bureaucratic chain
Presidential Powers: Modern Powers Power over foreign policy Power through bureaucracy Power over legislation kkkkkkkkkk
Power over Legislation kkkkkkkkkk Much more than signing or vetoing laws
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Power over Legislation kkkkkkkkkk State of Union speech and other means to set “legislative agenda”
Power over Legislation kkkkkkkkkk Win public support for his legislative goals
Power over Legislation kkkkkkkkkk President can lobby for congressional votes
Presidential Powers: Modern Powers Power over foreign policy Power through bureaucracy Power over legislation Power through leadership/persuasion kkkkkkkkkk
Power through Leadership kkkkkkkkkk President as “comforter in chief”
Power through Leadership kkkkkkkkkk President can use television and other media to rally the country to his issues
Power through Leadership kkkkkkkkkk President can turn popularity into power
Power through Leadership kkkkkkkkkk How does a President respond to a crisis?
Presidential Powers: Modern Powers Power over foreign policy Power through bureaucracy Power over legislation Power through leadership/persuasion Power through party kkkkkkkkkk
Power through Party kkkkkkkkkk President is leader of his particular political party
Power through Party Fund-raiser-in-chief for self and others kkkkkkkkkk Fund-raiser-in-chief for self and others
Power through Party kkkkkkkkkk Help his party win more congressional seats in order to help him meet his legislative goals
Three Models of Presidential Behavior Sorenson’s theory of limitations Barber’s theory of presidential character Skowronek’s theory of political time kkkkkkkkkk