Chapter 10 THE PRESIDENT: Governing in Uncertain Times Behavioral/Historical Focus © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Studying the American Chief Executive The office of the President is unique. It is an elected constitutional monarchy that has been replicated throughout the world Presidential scholars research the role and powers of the Presidency in two distinct approaches: The Presidency as an institution, or The President as a political actor © 2011 Taylor & Francis

President as Political Actor This approach is focused upon studying the individual President and his historical legacy. This political actor perspective grew out of Richard Neustadt’s research comparing one President to another via: Leadership styles Management styles Decision making Political persuasion or rhetoric © 2011 Taylor & Francis

President as Political Actor This approach was favored in political science research until the 1970s. Scholarship exploring the President as a political actor provides a descriptive account of individual Presidents and is favored by political historians. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

President as Political Actor Researching the President as a political actor has become increasingly popular again given the advent of political psychology: uses formal and cognitive models to explore decision making, leadership qualities, and stimulus/response schemas Yet, given the idiosyncratic nature of this approach, tends to limit the research capacity. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Example of political actor presidency

The Presidency as an Institution This approach emphasizes research on how the institution (as well as the other coequal branches of government) affect the actions of individual Presidents. Emphasizes institutional regularities that influence presidential behavior by identifying various variables that either promote or demote presidential agency. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

The Presidency as an Institution A number of patterns have been identified by institutional scholars: Public approval and corresponding political capital decline over time. Key events like national addresses, crises, and positive electoral outcomes promote presidential success. Smaller presidential legislative agendas done in a short period of time have the best chance for success. Unified government is better for presidential success than divided. Presidents control the national agenda and increasingly engage in unilateral action © 2011 Taylor & Francis

The Presidency as an Institution The presidency is dependent on a number of factors including: Popular support Congressional support Judicial support Good media relations Partisanship and ideological programs © 2011 Taylor & Francis

The Presidency as an Institution (Presidentially dependent factors cont.) Positive macro-economic and/or macro-social conditions And, especially the context of the times -war/peace; ideological conditions -economic boom/bust; time in term -social order/anarchy; etc. © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Example

Ex. of Presidential Policy Making

The Presidency as an Institution This approach does combine some individual qualities within an institutional framework by investigating the relationship of the individual President with: Bureaucratic agencies Cabinet secretaries White House staff Congress and its leaders Supreme Court © 2011 Taylor & Francis

Example of Presidential Bureaucracy

Conclusion Regardless of the approach, both can be helpful in determining ideological positions of the specific Presidents, as well as the role of the Presidency as an institution that shapes foreign and domestic policies. © 2011 Taylor & Francis