The Presidency American Federal Government

My style: Professional Preppy Leadership styles –2 Theories Clerk and Chief: Congressional power is primary; no power of independent Presidential action Energetic Executive: Executive power requires discretion, just as cops must exercise discretion when enforcing the law

That’s right, he can do whatever he wants Executive Orders –Nothing explicitly mentioned in Constitution other than the vague executive powers clause –Examples Lend Lease Program Japanese Internment Camps Seizing Property during Wartime Retaliation against OPEC –Where does it end?

I don’t like your stinkin’ bill! Veto Power –Need 2/3’s override from Congress –Regular Veto and pocket veto –The demise of the line-item veto –New Era Threat of the Veto

Presidents who don’t play well with others The Presidential Record on Vetoes # of Vetoes# overridden Truman Eisenhower 73 2 Kennedy 12 0 Johnson 16 0 Nixon 26 7 Ford Carter 13 2 Reagan 39 9 Bush 29 1 Clinton 35 1

The Starting Point The Evolution of the Presidency –Constitutional Presidency ( ) Executive constrained and limited Indirectly elected, so hopefully no partisanship (never happened) Article 2 - “The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America” (many interpretations)

Andrew Jackson beat the Presidency with his cane The Evolution of the Presidency –Politicized Presidency ( ) Jackson made executive branch more assertive (i.e. veto for political purposes) Idea of a popular mandate emerges with expansion of voters President becomes responsible for the direction of the administration

FDR to Present: I’m the leader! The Evolution of the Presidency –Modern President (1932-Present) President portrays “national will” Media focus on most visible person New demands on government –Foreign Policy –Economic Crises –Some say this has gone too far?

Yes, the other two branches do still have some power An “Imperial” or an “Imperiled” Office? Separated Institutions Sharing Power –The power to persuade –Grassroots support –“going public” -- appealing over the heads of members of Congress –Political Capital and “Bank Account” –State of the Union/Honeymoons –Decline in support over time

We know about abortion, but what about Angola? Measuring Presidential Success in Congress –The “Two Presidencies” Domestic Policy: Visible and public was very aware Foreign Policy: Not as visible and less knowledge of foreign affairs –The impact of Vietnam –New Trend: Multiple Presidencies?

…and they’re not ALL interns The “Institutional Presidency” –Growth of staff accrual of functions to the presidency way to control policy initiatives chief of staff function

Presidency 4 Types of Presidents –2 Dimensions –Passive versus Active How much the individual used the Presidency to accomplish Legislatively active or defers to congress and advisors –Positive versus Negative View of the institution Vehicle to do good or a due burden