1. Executive Branch

2. Quick Questions What does the Executive Branch do? Where in the U.S. Constitution is the Executive Branch laid out?

3. The President The role of the U.S. President has changed greatly over the years. (We will talk more about this next class.) Founding fathers did not trust a single, powerful leader and made almost all executive power contingent on congressional involvement. – President commands military, but founding and rules come from Congress – Treaties and appointments become official only with legislative approval. – Veto actions could be overridden.

4. Qualifications for office, as stated in the U.S. Constitution Minimal qualifications Only requirements are – Must be 35 years old. – Must be a citizen (native born) – Residency (14 years in the United States)

5. Common characteristics of Presidents Historically, citizens have chosen certain kinds of political leaders for the presidency.

6. Trends change over time, but common characteristics are: Male European American Middle-aged Wealthy Protestant Christian

7. Trends change over time, but common characteristics are: Graduated from College Is In Good Health Is Relatively Attractive Is Married Has Leadership or Military Skills Is From and Important Electoral State Debates Well

8. Importance of Public Support Public support is critical to presidential success.

9. Presidential Approval Levels For over 50 years, the Gallup poll has asked Americans, “Do you approve of disapprove of the way _____________ is handling his job as president?” Data from the polls show factors increase presidential approval ratings: – Brief “honeymoon” periods at the beginning og an administration. – Foreign policy successes – Positive media coverage – Foreign crises that result in a “rally around the flag” effect. – Strong economic growth and unemployment.

10. Presidential Approval Ratings The following factors decrease presidential approval ratings: – Scandals involving the president and/or top aides – A gap between high expectations and poor job performance – Foreign wars that go badly and drag on for a long period of time – Weak economic growth and high unemployment

11. The Media and the President The media plays a key role in influencing how the public perceives the president The president is generally more successful than congressional leaders in using the media to set the policy agenda – President represents entire nation. Members of Congress represent districts and/or states – The president is the leader of the “free world” – The president is more powerful than any individual member of Congress. – The president speaks with a single voice. Congress has 535 competing members.

12. The President’s Many Hats

13. The Roles The Constitution speaks briefly about the duties of the President His duties can be broken into 6 main roles: – Chief of State – Chief Executive – Chief Diplomat – Commander in Chief – Chief Legislator – Chief of Party

14. A Complex Job These roles are all closely related The President has to play out all of these roles simultaneously. These roles needs often contradict one another. Chief of State

15. What is the Chief of State? Answer: the role of the president as ceremonial head of the government. EXAMPLES: – Decorating War Heroes – Throwing Out The 1 st Pitch of Baseball – Dedicating Parks and Post Offices – Receiving Chiefs of State at White House

16. The Chief of State Many believe that holding both of these roles at the same time limits the President’s ability to do “real work.” One effect of this role is that the President’s life is put in the spotlight.

17. The Chief Executive Role What is the role of the chief executive? Answer: this role makes the president the head of the executive branch of the government Constitutionally bound to enforce the acts of Congress, the judgments of federal courts, and treaties signed by the United States.

18. The Chief Executive Has the bureaucracy to help him with these tasks Powers of the Chief Executive: – Granting Pardons/Reprieves – Appointment and Removal

19. Chief Executive: Power of Appointment Jobs in the bureaucracy are protected by the civil service. What is appointment power? Answer: the power of the president to fill a position through appointing someone The President is able to appoint less than 1% of all bureaucratic jobs. Examples are cabinet heads, judges, and agency heads.

20. Chief Executive: Granting Reprieves and Pardons What is a pardon? Answer: the granting of a release from the punishment of a crime. A pardon can be granted before/after a conviction What is a reprieve? Answer: To postpone the execution of sentence imposed by a court of law; usually done to await new evidence/humanitarian.

21. Commander in Chief The armed services are under civilian rather than military control. Granted by the Constitution This position is the supreme commander of the military forces of the United States

22. Commander in Chief Powers based upon Washington as President Presidents no longer lead troops into battle This gives Presidents a tremendous amount of power Where ever the President goes, so goes the Nuclear Code briefcase. Only the President has the power to launch nuclear weapons. Exercises more authority than in any other role.

23. Commander In Chief Congress has the power to declare war, but the President can send troops. – In many cases the situation is confrontational War Powers Act (1973) – Spelled out conditions when the President can send troops – President must report within 48 hours – If Congress does not issue a declaration of war, troops must be withdrawn in 60 days.

24. Chief Diplomat What is the role of the Chief Diplomat? Answer: recognizing foreign governments, making treaties, and making executive agreements. Allows President to dominate foreign policy (China).

25. Chief Diplomat Under this Role the President has 3 main powers: 1.Recognition Power 2.Ratification of Treaties 3.Executive Agreements Nuclear Test Ban Treat (JFK)

26. Chief Diplomat: Recognition Power Recognition power is the power to recognize, or refusal to, foreign countries. Receives foreign diplomats; therefore the President recognizes their government.

27. Chief Diplomat: Ratification of Treaties Has the sole power to negotiate treaties – The Senate must approve these treaties (2/3) The Senate can also make amendments to the treaties, possibly leading to the dismissal of the entire treaty. Woodrow Wilson felt that changes to the Versailles Treat were so extensive that it led to the US not becoming a part of the League of Nations. – Senate changes made the treaty ineffective

28. Chief Diplomat: Executive Agreements What are executive agreements? Answer: international agreements made by the President w/o Senatorial ratification. – However, the Senate and House may not appropriate funds to support the agreement Agreements and treaties are binding on all future administrations. Advantages of this power is speed and secrecy – Essential during a crisis Many agreements discuss military support.

29. Chief Legislator What is the role of the Chief Legislator? Answer: to influence the making of laws The President recommends laws to Congress. Helps create Congressional Agenda State of the Union Address

30. Chief Legislator President must give a State of the Union Address every year. – Displays what legislation the President would like to see passed in the upcoming session of Congress Getting Legislation Passed – Power of Persuasion – Compromise Presidents who share the majority party in Congress have an easier time passing legislation

31. Chief Legislator The President has the power to veto legislation. – Veto Message – Pocket Veto When a President vetoes legislation it is sent back to Congress with a veto message stating why the President vetoes the bill. Top 3 “Vetoing” Presidents: – 1. Franklin Roosevelt 635 vetoes – 2. Grover Cleveland 414 vetoes – 3. Henry Truman 250 vetoes

32. Chief of Party No mention of position in Constitution Choose national chairperson Disciplines party members who do not support him. Rewards those that support him

33. Chief of Party What is patronage? Answer: rewarding faithful party workers and followers with government employment and contracts – Usually positions found in the bureaucracy Try to maintain a high level of public opinion ratings. This gives them even greater influence – Nixon had a rating of 90% prior to his resignation

34. Special Powers Presidents have a variety of powers and special privileges not available to other branches of the U.S. government. The 3 types are: – 1.Emergency Powers – 2.Executive Orders – 3. Executive Privilege

35. Emergency Powers These are powers that are exercised by the President during a period of national crisis, particularly in foreign affairs These are also known as inherent powers. Inherent powers are those that are derived from the statement “the executive power shall be vested in the President” EXAMPLE: 1952 – Truman tried to take over steel mills because he needed weapons for Korean War. – Supreme Court said the President could not take away private property.

36. Executive Orders Executive Orders are rules issued by the President that have the force of law. They can do 3 things: – 1. Give force to legislative statutes – 2. Enforce the Constitution or treaties with nation – 3. Establish practices of administrative agencies This represents the Presidents legislative pwr. EXAMPLES: 1) to classify gvt. Information as secret, 2) ration consumer goods, and 3) restructure the White House bureaucracy

37. Executive Privilege This is the President’s right to refuse to appear before, or to withhold information from a court or Congressional investigation. During Watergate the Supreme Court subpoenaed secret tapes. Nixon refused to turn them over claiming executive privilege. The Supreme Court held that executive privilege could not be used to prevent evidence from being heard in criminal proceedings.