1. The Irony of Democracy 17th edition
Chapter 9
The Presidency

2. The President as Symbolic Leader
Presidential Approval Ratings
All presidents begin their terms with broad public support.
Over time, support declines until a new crisis or dramatic action is necessary.
Elite support among the masses are impacted by military actions, recessions, scandals, crises, etc.
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3. Presidential Approval Ratings
Figure 9.1
Source: Based on Gallup Reports, 1969–2014.
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4. The President as Symbolic Leader
Celebrity-in-Chief
Leading celebrity in the nation and possibly the world, with instant name and face recognition
The President and Mass Psychology
Fred Greenstein’s 5 psychological functions of the presidency
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5. The President as Symbolic Leader
Presidential Character
In the past, the news media protected the president by not reporting on his private moral conduct.
The masses appear to distinguish between private morality and public trust in the president.
Presidential Powers of Persuasion
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6. The President’s Formal Powers
Chief Executive
Chief executive of the nation’s largest bureaucracy
The Senate constrains the president’s appointment powers.
Congress determines the budgets of departments.
Executive orders
See figure 11.1 in Chapter 11
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7. The President’s Formal Powers
Chief Legislator
The Constitution requires presidents to “recommend to their (Congress’) consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”
80 percent of the bills considered by Congress originate in the executive branch.
State of the Union address
Veto
Signing statements
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8. The President’s Formal Powers
Chief Diplomat
Principle responsibility for formulating U.S. foreign policy
Constitutional authority to:
Make treaties with foreign nations
Appoint ambassadors and other public ministers and counsels, and receive ambassadors and other public ministers
Use of military force
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9. The President’s Formal Powers
Commander-In-Chief
Commander in Chief of the armed forces; Congress has retained the power to declare war
War Powers Act of 1973
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10. The President’s Formal Powers
Chief of Law Enforcement and Grantor of Pardons
Responsibility to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”
Party Leader
Not a formal part of the job, though recognized as leader of their party.
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The Vice President
Historically a limited role, though it began to expand with Walter Mondale.
Richard Cheney’s role in formulating policy was unprecedented.
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12. The President and Congress
White House Lobbying
Legislative liaisons:
Organize the president’s legislative proposals
Track them through committee and floor proceedings
Arrange committee appearances
Count votes
Advise the president on when and how to “cut deals”
Presidents are far more successful when Congress is controlled by their own party.
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13. The President and Congress
The Veto Power
Most powerful weapon in dealing with Congress.
Two-thirds vote of both houses required to override
Threat of veto usually forces opposition party leaders to bargain with the president.
The line-item veto gave the president the ability to veto some provisions of a bill while accepting others.
Found unconstitutional in 1996
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Presidential Vetoes
Table 9.2 Presidential Vetoes
Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard G. Niemi, Vital Statistics on American Politics, 2005–2006 (Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2006), p Updated by authors.
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15. Limits on Presidential Executive Power
Views on Presidential Power
Different presidents have had different perspectives:
Constructionist view – the president cannot exercise any power which is not specifically granted by the Constitution.
Stewardship view – president has the right and obligation to do anything needed unless specifically forbidden by the Constitution.
Abraham Lincoln held that unconstitutional measures may be required to preserve the Constitution itself.
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16. Limits on Presidential Executive Power
Executive Privilege
The right of the president to keep confidential communications from other branches of government
Not recognized by Congress
Federal courts generally do not interfere.
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17. Limits on Presidential Executive Power
Impeachment
Congress holds impeachment power over the president, vice president, and “all civil Officers of the United States.”
The House of Representatives brings charges; Senate holds the power to try impeachments, requiring a two-thirds vote to convict and remove from power.
Meant to be used for only serious criminal offenses, not political conflicts.
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18. Limits on Presidential Executive Power
Judicial Checks on Presidential Power
Federal courts may reverse presidential actions found to be unconstitutional or in violation of the laws of Congress.
The president has “absolute immunity” from civil suits “arising out of the execution of official duties.”
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The Obama Presidency
Obama’s Rise to Power
Admitted to Harvard Law School in 1988; taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School, practiced law representing community organizations and civil rights groups.
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The Obama Presidency
Obama’s Rise to Power
Elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996, representing Chicago’s south side, Hyde Park
In 2004, won the U.S. Senate seat
Won 53% of the Presidential popular vote
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The Obama Presidency
Obama’s Domestic Policy Record
Equal pay for women, an economic stimulus bill
Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act of 2010
ObamaCare
Obama’s Foreign Policy Record
Fight against Al Qaeda and terrorism; killing Osama bin Laden
Obama and Executive Power
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22. The Presidency: An Elitist Interpretation
Governmental elites do not command, they bargain and seek compromise.
Presidential power depends ultimately on his or her abilities of persuasion.
The president is the symbol of the government and the nation itself.
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23. The Presidency: An Elitist Interpretation
Presidents have an important psychological role for the masses.
A president must govern within the boundaries of checks and balances with other elites in government and outside it.
The president is expected to be commander-in-chief, diplomatic leader and leader in domestic policy.
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