1. Hail to the Chief
The Power of the
American Presidency

2. On your worksheet, define formal and informal powers
Using your copy of the Constitution, sort the powers granted in the Constitution into the correct Role of the President listed on your worksheet

3. Presidential Powers
Formal Powers = those that are found in Article II of the Constitution
Informal Powers = powers that are not explicitly written in the constitution
"Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the manner in which the president personally exercises his assigned executive powers is not subject to questioning by another branch of government.“ – R.M. Nixon

4. Informal Powers Why have informal powers developed?
Avoid Congressional approval
Historical events necessitated
Varying degrees of Presidential leadership
Informal Powers increase the power of the President

5. Formal Powers

6. Formal Powers: Commander-in-Chief
Commands the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines
Formal Declaration of War comes from Congress
Can call the State Militia (National Guard)
Appoint Military Officers
President Bush aboard U.S.S. Lincoln, May, 2003

7. Formal Powers: Chief Executive
Ordinance Power – power to run the executive branch
May issue “commands” or “orders”
Used to run Executive Branch
“Faithfully execute” the laws
President Bush holds cabinet meeting
in October, 2005
President Clinton with Janet Reno, the first female Attorney General,
February, 1993

8. Formal Powers: Chief Executive
Appointment Power
Supreme Ct Judges/Federal Judges
Heads of Agencies
Ambassadors
Removal Power
No approval needed
Only applies to appointees within Executive Branch
No elected officials

9. Formal Powers: Chief Diplomat
Make treaties
Needs 2/3 Senate approval
Not all are approved: Treaty of Versailles, Kyoto Agreement
Recognize Nations
Receive & Appt. Ambassadors
President Obama and Russian
President Medvedev sign the
New START Treaty to reduce Nuclear armaments

10. Formal Powers: Chief Legislator
State of the Union address
Veto or Sign Laws

11. Formal Power: Checking the Judicial Branch
Reprieve
To delay the punishment/sentence of someone convicted
Commutation
To reduce penalties (sentences)
Amnesty
A pardon/forgiveness for an offense, especially a political offense
Ex: Washington granted amnesty to those involved in Whiskey Rebellion
Pardon
To forgive of a crime and cancel any penalty
EXCEPT in cases of impeachment
Ex: President Ford pardoned former President Nixon

12. Informal Powers

13. Informal Powers: Chief Executive
Executive Orders
Executive Agreements
Executive
Cabinet

14. Informal Powers: Chief Executive
Executive Orders - like a law, but doesn’t require going through Congress
Clinton signing his “don’t ask don’t tell” executive order for gays in the military

15. Informal Powers: Chief Executive
Executive Agreements - like a treaty, but does NOT need Senate approval
Usually Trade Agreements
Examples: Destroyers (50 to GB) for Bases, – FDR
NAFTA (Clinton)
Jefferson made an executive agreement with France to make the Louisiana purchase

16. Informal Powers: Chief Executive
Executive Privilege – President’s right to withhold information from the public (including Courts and Congress) to protect national interests
United States v. Nixon (1973) – presidents do NOT have unlimited executive privilege (Nixon Watergate tapes)
Eisenhower – during Army-McCarthy hearings

17. Informal Powers: Commander and Chief
Sending Troops into battle without a Formal Declaration of War
Korean War
Vietnam
War Powers Resolution (1973)
Report to Congress in 48 hrs
60 days + 30 days + Declaration of War or STOP
Congress can STOP anytime

18. Informal Powers: Chief Executive
Establishing the cabinet
Washington first to use the cabinet
Sec of State, Sec of Treasury, Sec of War, Attorney General
Other President’s have added as times have dictated – there are 16 positions today
Last Cabinet position added?
Department of Homeland Security

19. Informal Powers: Chief Diplomat
Conducting Foreign Policy
Determines foreign policy agenda
Commits the nation to a diplomatic course of action
Oversees the Department of State
Whether we will protect the Persian Gulf, Go after the “Axis of Evil”

20. Informal Powers: Chief Legislator
Introducing/Influencing Legislation
Teddy Roosevelt – National Parks
FDR’s New Deal
Obama’s Healthcare Reform

21. Informal Power: Party Leader
Power to lead the political party
During Campaigns
Developing party platform

22. Presidential Powers Limited - Fearful of strong Central Government
Constitution – Article II
Impeachment – applies “rule of law” to President
22nd Amendment – limits terms to 2 or 10 years
War Powers Act – must notify Congress within 24hrs; must have Congressional approval after 60 days

23. Exit Slip
Name two formal powers of the President and the role they fulfill
Define Executive Orders and Executive Agreements
What is one limitation on the President’s power
Why has the power of the Presidency expanded through informal powers

24. Qualifications for President
Get out your constitution packets (Article II)– Can you be President? Why or why not?

25. Presidential Qualifications
Formal Qualifications – written in the United States Constitution, Article II Section I
35 years old
14 year resident of the US
Natural Born Citizen

26. Fortunate Son Recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don’t they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no millionaire’s son, son.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate one, no.
Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, they’re red, white and blue.
And when the band plays, “Hail to the Chief,”
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord,
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no senator’s son, son.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate one, no.

27. Fortunate Son Recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no military son, son.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate one, one.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate son, son.
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate son, no, no, no.
Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, lord,
And when you ask them, “How much should we give?”
Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yo,

28. Presidential Qualifications
Informal Qualifications – unwritten qualifications
Have changed over time
Informal Qualifications
Gender
Race
Religion
Age
Education
Political Positions
Governor
Senator
Informal Qualifications
Military History
Geographic background
Family
Personal History
Political Leanings

29. Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Presidents
69% politicians
62% lawyers
>50% from the top 3% wealth and social class
0.5% born into poverty
69% elected from large states
100% male
Almost 100% Caucasian
97% Protestant
82% of British ancestry
77% college educated

30. Vice President Presides over Senate 1st in line for succession
Formal Powers
Presides over Senate
1st in line for succession

31. Balancing the Ticket
Presidential Candidates select their own running mates
“Balancing the Ticket” – selecting a running mate that compliments a Presidential Candidate
Different State
Different Gender
Different Age
Military Career
Different Religion

32. Presidential Benefits
$400,000 tax-free salary
$50,000/year expense account
$100,000/year travel expenses
The White House
Secret Service protection
Camp David country estate
Air Force One personal airplane
Staff of
Christmas at the White House, 2004

33. Presidential Superpowers
You are to create a Presidential Superhero that represents all of the different roles that the President plays in our government. You have 2 different options:
Create a superhero and weapons/powers that reflect the different roles of the President
Create a story by making a comic strip that tells a story of the Presidential superhero using all of his powers.

34. Questions for Discussion
Why have informal powers developed?
Avoid Congressional approval
Historical events necessitated
Varying degrees of Presidential leadership
Some Presidents saw the role as administrative only
Others saw the need for increased constitutional powers as necessary to accomplish the job
Need to used powers to deal with economic and social problems
Greater need to win passage of legislative agenda
Greater need for influence in foreign affairs and national security