1. The Presidency Week 10 Chapter 10 in Wilson

2. The President Where in the Constitution?  Article II How important to Madison and the Founders?  2 nd, after Congress???  Clearly important: Absence of an executive was one of the main problems with the Articles of Confederation.

3. The President: Constitutional Roles--Article II Commander in Chief Controls the Military Commands in time of war Declares war NOT !!! Power to send in troops has always been a huge source of power Can effectively commit the nation without a declaration of war

4. The President: Constitutional Roles--Article II Director of U.S. Foreign Relations Conducts all foreign affairs Sends ambassadors  Nominates them – confirmed by the Senate Receives ambassadors Negotiates treaties  Signs them – ratified by the Senate

5. The President: Constitutional Roles--Article II Chief Executor CEO: Runs the government Presents and manages a federal budget Entire federal government answers to him Implements legislation  Oversees the translation of legislation into policy and procedures  Enjoys some degree of discretion in interpreting law – to create detailed policy

6. The President: Constitutional Roles--Article II Chief Executor Oversees law enforcement  Appoints Attorney General  Determines policy on when to fight in court to defend laws and when to surrender to claims of unconstitutionality

7. The President: Constitutional Roles--Article II Head of State Ribbon-cutter in Chief  Ceremonial roles: Domestic and Foreign Pardons and reprieves  Grant a Pardon Wipe a conviction clean  Grant Clemency Lift or reduce sentence for humanitarian reasons  Commute a Sentence Reduce a sentence to a lesser level

8. The President: Informal Roles Cheerleader in Chief Party Leader Spokesman to the World Mourner in Chief National Pastor ???

9. Presidential Power Sources of Presidential Strength Constitutional Powers Election Mandate -- NATIONAL Personal magnetism and skills Political Party Family: Especially the First Lady Millions of employees:  Cabinet  Appointees  Federal bureaucracy

10. Presidential Power Sources of Presidential Weakness Constitutional balance  Congress’s powers  Supreme Court’s powers Personal weaknesses Limited time and limited tenure

11. Presidential Power Sources of Presidential Weakness Millions of employees  Cabinet & appointees Tendency to “go native”  Civil Servants Civil service protection Can resist and drag feet

12. Power Balance: Ascendancy of the Presidency The Framer's Original Intent: Relatively weak leader Carries out the will of Congress on domestic front Strong in international affairs Always constrained by Constitution and Congress

13. Power Balance: Ascendancy of the Presidency The Power of War Presidents use Commander in Chief role to expand power  Lincoln conduced Civil War without Congress Nation tends to rally round the president in times of war Presidents manipulate that rally-round-the- President phenomenon  Wag the dog??

14. Power Balance: Ascendancy of the Presidency The Power of War: Presidents manipulate it? WW II: Roosevelt finally gets his New Deal policies once we’re at war Viet Nam: presidents sidestep Congress to achieve their own goals, build anti-communist credentials Iraq war, Desert Storm 1991: GHW Bush bolsters popularity and seems unbeatable Afghanistan and Iraq war now: GW Bush gained stature and respect as a “War President” that boosted his ratings and won him reelection in 2004

15. Power Balance: The President Checked War Powers Act, 1973 Passed, vetoed, overridden, Supreme Court challenge – it lives!!! Congress limited the President Requires presidents to consult Congress before any action except in emergency Requires presidents to inform Congress within 48 hours of committing troops  President must get congressional approval to keep troops engaged  Funding ends in 60 days without Congress’s approval Exceptions and extensions effectively give a president about 120 days to get troops out if Congress won’t comply

16. Power Balance: The President Checked Watergate Conspiracy and disgrace of Watergate weakened the president for some time

17. Power Balance: The Tug-of-War Continues... 9/11 and war…  Presidential power ascends  Patriot Act  Wire taps and record searches without warrants  Military Tribunals and Geneva Convention Supreme Court reigns in many excesses  Democratic victory in Congress -- 2006

18. Things to think about: The Vice President The First Lady The Cabinet