1. The President’s Limited Powers

2. Presidential Facts There have been 45 presidents
12 presidents have gained reelection
John F. Kennedy was the youngest elected at 43
Oldest Elected:
1st Term: Donald Trump (70 years old taking office)
2nd Term: Ronald Reagan (73 years old at reelection)
8 have died in office
4 by illness (Harrison, Taylor, Harding, F. Roosevelt)
4 by assassin (Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy)

3. President’s Limited Powers
We will be looking at aspects of the President of the United States
The President has limited powers
We will use Chapter 11 of America’s New Democracy
Starting with p. 267
Assignment:
Take notes on the slides
Write down the questions in your notes
Answer the questions and be ready for next class

4. President’s Limited Powers
2 sources of limitations on powers
Political parties
Constitution
Presidents can only govern with consent of Congress and Courts
Over 80% of the time, presidents either fail to get their legislative agendas passed by Congress or must compromise on changes that alter the original bill
Public expects quick, decisive actions but limitations prevent such
Expectations for a president have risen quicker than the presidential powers to meet such expectations

5. Power to Persuade
What is the most important power receiving no direct mention in the Constitution?
What is the main tool a president uses to persuade others?
How?
Define bully pulpit.
Which president made the bully pulpit famous and used it as a tool to persuade?
Define State of the Union address.
What others ways did presidents use to persuade?
Response question: Do you feel the power to persuade is an effective tool for a president to use?

6. Power to Recommend
What are differences in presidential policies before and after the Civil War?
Identify 5 powers of recommendation the president uses.
Give two examples in which Congress checked a president’s power to recommend.
Why is the honeymoon stage of a presidency so crucial?
Job-approval ratings:
Who had the highest rating to enter office?
Who had the lowest rating to leave office?

7. Budgetary, Veto, and Appointment Powers
What event led to the creation of the Bureau of Budget, now known as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)?
What is the job of the OMB?
What was created to counter the politicization of the OMB?
What is the job of the answer to the last question?
What is the most formal presidential power?
Define veto.
Since JFK, about how often does Congress override a presidential veto?
How can a veto be used a “weapon in negotiations”?
The president can nominate people for certain government positions. How does Congress check this power?

8. Treaty Power Define treaty.
What else does a treaty need in order to be official besides presidential approval?
What percentage of treaties have been approved by the Senate?
Define executive agreements.
Is the executive agreement a constitutional power?
What affirmed the constitutionality of executive agreements?
What are most executive agreements?

9. Power as Commander in Chief
What powers of war are given to the president and to Congress?
Which president broke tradition and acted without congressional consent in terms of calling forth an army and initiating military action?
What did the case of United States v. Curtiss-Wright allow the president to do?
How did Justice Robert Jackson limit the presidential power in the decision of Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer?
Did the War Powers Resolution expand or limit presidential power? Explain.

10. Inherent Executive Power
Define executive orders.
Why do presidents pass executive orders knowing it might upset Congress?
Define executive privilege.
What major presidential scandal made executive privilege controversial?
How can presidential pardons become controversial?

11. Power as Chief of State
Describe the difference between “efficient” and “dignified” aspects of government.
Explain how presidents struggle between fulfilling both the efficient and dignified aspects of government.