THE PRESIDENCY
The purpose of this unit is to introduce you to: –The Constitution and the President –Powers of the President –Organization of the White House –The Responsible Party Model and the President The President
Commander -in-Chief Appointment Power Pardoning Power Legislative Power Treaty-making Power Veto Power Chief Executive Chief Diplomat Chief-of-State
Summary of Responsible Party System First Principle: Presidents should have strong personality Second Principle: Presidents implement the party’s platform Third Principle: Promote party legislation in messages Fourth Principle: Organize office to pass party legislation Ideal: The Responsible Party Model and the President
James David Barber, The Presidential Character –“Typed” Presidents: two dimensions Active-Passive Positive-Negative Reality: Do Presidents Have the Right Personality? Active-Positive Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Carter, & Kennedy Active-Negative Nixon Johnson Passive-Positive Reagan Passive-Negative Eisenhower
Do President’s Work to Implement Party Platform? Fulfillment of Party Pledges % % % % % % % Divided Government Unified Government
Budget Message Press Conferences Do Presidents Promote Party Legislation in Messages?
Reality: Do Presidents Promote Party Legislation in Messages? State of Union Message
Reality: Do Presidents Promote Party Legislation in Messages? Budget Message Press Conference –Purpose Provide information to various audiences Make important announcements Develop support for an initiative –Sample Press Conference
Power of the President is the power to persuade –Who does he persuade? Party leaders Members of Congress Public Opinion Media International Leaders –Sources of power Social Prestige Charisma Material Benefits Approval Rating Do Presidents Promote Party Legislation in Messages?
Presidential Support Obama
Presidential Success on Major Proposals
The End