1. The Presidency

2. Foundations Article II is shorter than Article I Powers
Why?
Powers
Commander in Chief
Chief Executive
Chief Diplomat
Legislative Leader
Executive agreement v. treaty

3. Foundations National election Singular authority
Andrew Jackson
Whig theory v. Stewardship theory
Singular authority
No need for strong president around Civil War
U.S. history with isolationism
Transition to industry

4. Choosing a President
Four systems of presidential selection (Table p. 314)
Electoral College
Why?
Original set-up
President chosen by electors picked by states
1828 states link electors with popular vote
Party conventions as well
1904 Progressives give us the primary (indirect)
Minority at first
1972
Majority primary or open party caucus

5. Choosing a President Momentum in primaries Conventions
Need money
FECA 1974—matching funds but must limit
Conventions
After 1972, not so much fun
Election Strategy
538 votes—Need 270
Unit rule
Closeness of vote will determine where candidates go

6. Choosing a President Media—TV
Debates
Once you are nominee, you can get matching money but you cannot spend anything else (about $85M in 2008)
Criteria—35, natural-born citizens, 14 year resident
What types of offices get you to be President?

7. Staffing Obviously this is too much for one person… Executive Office
Created in 1939 (Brownlow Committee)
WHO, OMB, NSC VP
Webster: “I do not propose to be buried until I am really dead”
Changes with Carter
How pick a VP? Why Biden? Why Palin?

8. Staffing White House Office Policy experts Cabinet Hard to control
Communications, Press Secretary, Counsel, Legislative Affairs
Hire and fire at will
Policy experts
National Economic Council
Cabinet
Head of 15 executive departments
Confirm by Senate
Outmoded as policymaking firm
Hard to control

9. Leadership Circumstance Stage of Term Nature of the issue
Honeymoon period—Strategic presidency
FDR’s “Hundred Days”
Nature of the issue
Two presidencies
No interest groups

10. Relationship with Congress
Veto has limits…why?
Need to persuade
More likely to succeed when H and S are same party
Impeachment Process
You will need to know this
Budget Impoundment Act of 1974
Signing statements
War Powers Act

11. Public Support Approval ratings Lots of television
First-year v. final-year v. average
Clinton is the weirdo here. Why?
Rally ‘round the flag
Really ties to the economy
Lots of television
“Going public”
“Bully pulpit”
Unfair economic coverage?
“Illusion of Presidential Government”

12. For Tuesday…
Be ready to discuss differences between Hamilton/Brutus on taxes…
Be ready to discuss the 2010 elections…
With this, be ready to talk about the Obama video and how we feel about his administration thus far
What differences in eras does Neustadt find that make it unlikely for modern presidents to have Rooseveltesque “Hundred Days”?
Using Hartke and Pfiffner…why did the Framers decide to use the Electoral College? What do you think about it today?
Kelley CR will help with Paper 2…