1. Role of the President

2. Major Roles Head of State Chief Executive Chief Legislator
Recommend measures to Congress
Head of Party
Fulfill Programme
Chief Fundraiser
Appoints its national Chairman
Distributes favours to the party faithful
Commander in Chief
Chief Diplomat

3. The Presidential Veto
After passing through both houses, a bill is sent to the White House
If the President fails to act within 10 days the bill automatically becomes law
But if it is in the last 10 days of a session, a failure to act is known as ‘pocket veto’ – i.e. the bill is killed off as Congress cannot fight back as not sitting

4. The Presidential veto cont…..
When a President vetoes a decision, Congress can over-ride the decision if two thirds present, vote in favour
As Congress very rarely raise the two thirds, Presidents are able to use the veto as a check and balance against Congress – A threat to their power

5. President # of Bills Vetoed # of vetoes overridden % Roosevelt 1933-45
635 9
1.4
Eisenhower
181 2
1.1
Johnson 30
Nixon 43 7
16.3
Reagan 78
11.5
Clinton * 17 1
5.8

6. Those sneaky Congress types
Presidents have to reject entire bills
So Congressmen occasionally add extra provisions (riders) to a bill, which they know the President wants
Line-item Veto (1996), President allowed to veto ‘objectionable’ parts of an appropriations (expenditure) bill

7. Those pesky Supreme Courtiers
Line Item Veto tested in 1998
(Clinton vs New York)
Judges asked to decide if Bill Clinton’s rejection of a tax bill was legitimate
Concluded that the line item veto was unconstitutional as both houses must vote on a bill and then signed by the President. If the President is able to change the bill then in effect a new bill was being created

8. Impoundment
Bizarrely (hey this is America), having signed a bill, a President can withold funds appropriated by Congress.
President Nixon used it against the Democrat controlled Congress, to control spending and the behaviour of Congress. The Budget and impoundment Act (1974) now limits its use.

9. Foreign Policy role Crisis Management Appointing key staff to defence
Promoting security interests of US
Protecting foreign trade
Negotiate and enforce treaties
Appointing ambassadors
Protecting US Citizens wherever they may be
War powers Act (1973)
Imposed a 60 day limit for which an American President can keep troops abroad
Congress approves an extension

10. Executive office of the President
“The principal instrument of Presidential Government” – McGrew
Background info
Detailed analysis
Informed Policy recommedations
An umbrella under which a number of key agencies work

11. Features of the Executive Office
The White House office
The Presidents closest aides
Foreign and domestic affairs, speech writers, liaison officers (with congress) and the Press Secretary
Ensures urgent issues are with the Pres.
Authority comes from the President
The Office of Management and Budget
Prepare the Federal Budget for Congress
All Federal expenditure travels through here

12. More features…… The National Security Council
Informs the President of domestic, foreign and military matters
The Council of Economic Advisers
A 3 person panel of economic experts
They plan trends for the President to include in his annual speech to congress
The Office for Policy Development
Advises on domestic policy issues

13. Others National Economic Council Council of Economic Advisors
National Space Council
Office of Science and Technology
Office of the US Trade Rep.
Office of the Vice-President
Office of National drug control policy
Office of administration
National Critical Materials Policy

14. An Assessment of the Exec. Office
As Presidential role has increased so has their need for advisors
Now numbers 5000 personnel it has grown at a big rate
Appointed by the President, so may have a series of ‘Yes Men’, President only receives one line of view – so concentrated on the President, they forget about the demands of the other strands of Govt.
Key aides do appear as the lynchpin of the administration