1. Presidential Power/PowersME

2. The Modern Presidency
In the 20th century, the presidency has become ever more powerful.
The modern Presidency begins with FDR who was elected to four terms during two huge national crises:
The Great Depression
and WWII.

3. Legislative
Power
Chief-of-State
Pardoning
Power
Treaty-making
Power
Chief Diplomat
Chief Executive
Veto Power
Commander
-in-Chief
Appointment
Power

4. Informal Powers Power to Persuade Salient issues Coattail effects
Rally events
Declines with popularity
Coattail effects
Small
End by midterm elections
Public Approval
Honeymoon Period
Declines over time
Issue-related
Pocketbook-related
Party Powers
Members 70% predisposed
Best for majority party
All politics local, however!

5. Constitutional Powers
National Security:
Treaties
Executive Agreements
Nominate ambassadors
Administrative Powers:
Execute the law
Nominate/fire officials
Legislative Powers:
Recommend Legislation
Convene Congress
Veto (12% overridden)
State of Union
Judicial Powers
Nominate District Attorneys
Nominate Federal Judges
Reprieves
Pardons

6. Development of Presidential Power
All presidents have had similar formal grants of power and constraints via the Constitution.
The power and success of the presidency is dependent upon
the personality of the person holding the office.
the informal powers of the presidency
the goals of the officeholder
and, of course, the timing of events…events often shape a presidency (for example, crises often lead to an expansion of presidential powers).

7. Developing Power
FDR also personalized the presidency with his use of radio 'fireside chats' directly with Americans.
The modern president
leads a large government
plays an active and leading role in foreign and domestic policy
plays a strong legislative role
and uses technology to get 'close to Americans.'

8. Presidential Power
Difference between legal powers and power (which is the exercise of influence).
Powers include the constitutional and legal authority of the president:
National Security Powers: Commander in Chief, make treaties & executive agreements, nominate ambassadors.
Legislative Powers: State of the Union--recommend legislation, convene Congress, veto.
Administrative Powers: to faithfully execute the law; nominate executive officials (and fire them).
Judicial Powers: reprieves and pardons for federal offenses; appoint federal judges and S.C. justices.

9. Roles of the President
Party Leader: In this role, the president helps members of his political party get elected or appointed to office. The president campaigns for those members who have supported his policies.
Examples: Choosing leading party members to serve in the Cabinet. Traveling to California to speak at a rally for a party nominee to the U.S. Senate.
In what ways can the president’s party continue to work on his behalf?

10. Chief Executive
Empowered to administer the laws and affairs of the nation. While the president does not make the laws, his agencies have the responsibility and authority to carry out the laws.
Examples: Appointing the head of the CIA. Holding a Cabinet meeting to discuss government business. Reading FBI reports on the state of national security.
What articles in the Constitution grants the president executive power?

11. Chief of State
As Chief of State he represents the US at public events. This is mainly a ceremonial role that allows the president to promote/convey/represent American values.
Examples: Award medals, congratulating astronauts upon their return from space, delivering the State of the Union address.
How would a president play the role of chief of state during wartime?

12. Chief Legislator
He can’t make laws but he can voice his own ideas and opinions to Congress while they draft legislation. He does this through speeches promoting his agenda.
Examples: Signing or vetoing a bill, making a speech in Congress.
Name one controversial piece of legislation that the president has pushed through Congress?

13. Executive Orders
The actions of the executive branch in developing federal regulations and executive orders are subject to the same democratic political processes made possible by our Constitution. In the following orders rights were protected:
Executive order 9981 (1948) integration of the military
Executive order (1957) integration of schools in Little Rock
Why?

14. The President & the Public
The salient issues (often set by media) tend to be most important in determining public approval. Priming.
Rally events help explain sudden upsurges in approval as a result of a foreign policy event involving the US.
Most approval rallies are short-lived, however.
9/11 would be an example of an enduring rally, one that is not typical.

15. Presidential Power
How much power presidents have depends on the political context in which they govern– something over which they have little control. Bad economy?
Presidential power = the power to persuade-- presidents must often bargain in order to persuade. Little can be done alone.
Viewed this way, power (influence) fluctuates from president to president, and within presidencies.

16. The Constituencies of Presidency
The People;
Their Party;
Executive Branch (the bureaucracy);
Congress;
Foreign Leaders.
All of these look to the president for leadership.
May see things differently, however.
A President’s ability to persuade relates more to things he cannot control (e.g. partisan division of Congress), rather than things they can control.

17. The President & the Public
Public approval is an important resource for presidential leadership.
Approval fluctuates with time.
The honeymoon: Approval generally highest early during the term.
Generally declines over time.
Approval levels typically reflect public evaluation of the handling of key issues (economy, war)
They are not a reflection of their feelings regarding the president’s personality.

18. The natural decline of approval over time

19. Presidential Effects on Opinion
Presidents try to persuade the public to gain support, generally, and for specific proposals.
How successful are they?
Popular presidents are more likely to be successful.
For a speech to work, the public must react favorably, and then make it clear to Congress what they want.
Presidential speeches designed to influence the public have generally been unimpressive.
They rarely persuade the public.

20. Presidential Leadership of Congress
Most powerful legislative tool: the Veto.
Requires 2/3rds majority in both chambers of Congress to pass bill over a veto.
Very difficult to override. Only 12% of vetoes (since Eisenhower) have been overridden.
Even fewer overrides recently (see table).
The Veto is a tool of minority presidents or presidents during divided government.
Threat of veto important can help shape legislation.

21. Divided Government
When one political party can control executive branch and one controls Congress– or in recent times both control Congress.
Problems for President: Making appointments, getting legislation through,
causes gridlock.
Offices go unfilled
Approval/confirmation huge issue
Frequent character attack on nominees
Narrows field of nominees

22. Divided government How do they overcome these problems?
Can generate public support/use media
Compromise on choses/ideological compromise
Build coalition in Congress
Make interim recess appointments—Obama did this recently
Select minority nominees/diversify
Remember when asked this question you must reference Senate or Congress!

24. 3 Essential Leadership Resources
1. Political Party. Members of his party are predisposed to support the president.
On average a member of the president’s party supports the president about 70% of the time.
Has increased during polarized era.
Much lower among the opposing party.
Presidents have little impact on the number of their partisans in Congress.
Presidential coattails-- uncommon, and disappears by the midterm election.

25. Presidential Legislative Strategies for Success
Move quickly once elected.
Take advantage of the “honeymoon” that follows inauguration.
Legislative success usually comes early.
Focus the agenda by setting clear priorities on a few important items.
Understand the strategic situation. Many presidents attempt too much, given context. Health Care?
Consult with Congress, don’t alienate them.

26. Presidents & the Executive Branch
As chief executive, President is charged with overseeing vast federal bureaucracy.
Size of executive branch has increased drastically since the 1930s.
Before 1939, presidents had little help in this task creation of the Executive Office of the Presidency (EOP). Has 11 offices, incl:
National Security Council
The Council of Economic Advisors
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-- most important.

27. Presidents, White House Staff & Cabinet
The Cabinet includes department secretaries.
Modern presidents rely less on their cabinet for advice.
Cabinet secretaries have mixed loyalties.
Must satisfy Congress & interests.
Hence, modern presidents have relied on EOP to manage bureaucracy and their White House staff for political and policy advice.
White House staff work directly for President.
This might limit diversity of advice.

28. Managing/Leading the Bureaucracy
Despite their role as chief executive, modern presidents have been frustrated leading the bureaucracy.
Agencies often resist presidential leadership.
Modern presidents have tools to help in task:
The appointment power. Changing agency leadership can influence what agencies do.
Budgetary control. Using the carrot and stick of agency resources, presidents request budgets.
Centralized management, through the OMB.

30. GW Bush