Informal Resources and Constraints
Freewrite What formal resources (Congress, Courts, parties, bureaucracy, staff, media, public opinion) give a president the greatest advantage? What institution provides the greatest constraints on presidential power? What are some informal (non-institutional) resources that may help a president? What are some informal constraints on presidential power?
Informal resources & constraints Skills: –Persuasion –Hidden hand leadership Personality Ambition Changes in the dominant political rhetoric
Richard Neustadt The constitutional presidency is a clerkship Presidential power is the power to persuade Build professional reputation and public prestige in order to bargain
Two resources Professional reputation Public prestige
The Hidden Hand Leader
6 strategies Hidden hand leadership Instrumental Use of Language Do not engage in personalities Base action on personality analysis Delegation Selectively practiced Build public support