Political Science: An Introduction Ninth Edition  Chapter Fifteen: EXECUTIVES

Executives Prime Ministers In parliamentary systems, a national legislature indirectly elects a chief executive from its own ranks. Presidents A presidential system has a strong president not dependent on or responsible to a parliament but elected on his own for a fixed term.

European Parliaments “Forming a government” in Britain “Constructive no confidence” in Germany “Cohabitation” in France

Roles of the Executive Head of state Chief of government Party chief Commander in chief Chief diplomat Dispenser of appointments Chief legislator

Executive Leadership HANDS-ON? [Johnson, Carter, Nixon] HANDS-OFF? [Reagan, Bush 43] MIDDLE GROUND? [Clinton?] CHAOS? [FDR]

Barber’s Presidential Character Based on how much presidents like the political office and how much energy they put into it. TYPES: Active-positive [FDR, Kennedy] Active-negative [LBJ, Nixon] Passive-positive [Taft, Harding, Reagan] Passive-negative [Coolidge, Ike]

Disabled Presidents Presidential systems don’t know quite what to do with a seriously ill chief executive. Woodrow Wilson-strokes Franklin D. Roosevelt-heart/hypertension John F. Kennedy-Addison’s disease, back Ronald Reagan-Assassination attempt, Alzheimers?

You don’t have to be crazy to work here but it helps. Lasswell’s Psychology of Power All politicians start out mentally unbalanced Have an unusual need for power and dominance: that’s why they become politicians. Plato: people who become too powerful in high office go crazy. Image that they have many enemies Want more power to crush enemies, which Makes more enemies, so…

Amendment XXV, US Constitution (Ratified Feb. 10, 1967) Section 3 [Vice president as acting president] Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Amendment XXV, US Constitution Section 4 [Vice president as acting president] Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Cabinets Major executive divisions called “department” in U.S. and “ministry” in most of the rest of the world. Who serves in a cabinet? In parliamentary systems, ministers are drawn from parliament. In presidential systems, outsiders are appointed to the cabinet. Rise of noncabinet advisers Experts Often, buds or trusted advisors