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This chapter explores the presidency in the United States, covering topics such as presidential qualifications, election process, succession, impeachment, benefits, term limits, presidential powers and limitations, and the structure of the presidency.
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LongmanPoliticalScienceInteractive Magleby & Light Government by the People Chapter 12 The Presidency
The Presidency • Article II of the Constitution • Qualifications: • 35 Years Old • United States Resident for 14 non-consecutive years • Natural-Born Citizen (?)
Presidential Election • Election • Electoral College • House of Representatives elects if a majority is not won • Succession • Constitution allows for presidential power but not title of president. • 25th Amendment (1967) formally states that Vice-President becomes “President” • 25th Amendment also allows power to be assumed by VP if President becomes incapacitated.
Vice Presidency Succession • Vacated Position • President nominates and Congress approves • Succession Act of 1947 • Speaker of the House • President Pro Tempore • Members of Cabinet (order of creation)
Impeachment • Reasons • Treason, Bribery, High Crimes and Misdemeanors • House of Representative • Files formal charges with a majority vote • Senate • Conducts trial and can only convict with a 2/3 vote
Presidential Succession • Twenty-fifth Amendment • Twenty-second Amendment • Impeachment • Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton: Charged by House, acquitted by Senate • Richard Nixon: Resigned while House was drafting charges
Benefits • Annual Salary = $400,000 • Expense Account = $50,000 • Pension • Secret Service • Boeing 747 / Helicopter
Term Limits • Constitution • Four Year Term with no term limit • George Washington set the precidence with a two term limit • 22nd Amendment (1951) • Enacted after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected 4 times • Maximum of 10 years as President
Presidential Power and Limitations • Congress often hesitates to curtail presidential powers, especially in times of war • Example: • In 2002, George W. Bush secretly authorized the NSA to eavesdrop on phone conversations • When the policy became public, Congress placed legislative limits on the authority • When concerns arose that these limits exposed the U.S. to a greater terrorism threat, Congress reversed the limits
Structure and Powers of the Presidency: Separate Powers The United States is one of the few world powers that is neither a parliamentary democracy nor a wholly executive-dominated government
Structure and Powers of the Presidency: Defining the Presidency At the constitutional convention, the Framers debated whether the president should be elected via a direct election or through an electoral college
Running for Office • Originally, the vice president was the runner-up in the electoral college vote • The Twelfth Amendment (1804) encouraged two candidates to run together as a presidential ticket
Presidential Power • VESTING CLAUSE “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America”. Article II, Section 1
Presidential Powers (Roles) • Executive Powers (expressly or enumerated) • Commander-In-Chief • Chief Executive • Chief Diplomat • Chief Legislator • Chief of State • Chief Party Leader
Presidential Powers:Commander-in-Chief • President is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but Congress is charged with declaring wars • “Presidential prerogative” versus War Powers Act
Presidential Powers: Diplomat-in-Chief Foreign policy tools: Appointing ambassadors Receiving ambassadors Treaties Executive agreements & Congressional-executive agreements Fast-track trade authority Meeting with foreign leaders to forge ties and make formal alliances
Other Executive Powers • Appointment • Veto and pocket veto • Pardon • “Take care” power • Article II, Sec. 3: Presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed, even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws • Sometimes used by presidents to claim inherent powers (powers that grow out of the very existence of government) • Inform and convene Congress • State of the Union address
The War Power Presidents have defended their power to engage American military troops In 1973, Congress enacted the War Powers Act in order to limit the ability of the president to commit the armed forces of the United States; however, presidents have generally ignored it In Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Iraq (twice), Kosovo, and Afghanistan, the president did not ask Congress for a formal declaration of war
Executive Privilege The courts have recognized that presidents have the power to keep secrets; however, some experts argue that executive privilege has no constitutional basis Richard Nixon and George W. Bush created controversy by invoking executive privilege Boxes of newly released files from Richard M. Nixon's presidential papers
Executive Orders • Formal directives that are just as strong as laws and can be challenged in the courts • Used frequently throughout American history – 13,000 thus far • 1793 Proclamation, Japanese Internment, monuments, create new cabinet position, etc.
Budget and Spending Power • Congress appropriates, presidents spend • Impoundment • Line-item veto (cross off)
The First Presidency Precedents set by Washington • Presidential title • Two-term limit • White House staff • Department secretaries • President as sole authority in supervising executive branch
The First Modern Presidency Franklin D. Roosevelt • New Deal program ideas came from his “Brain Trust” • Policy Achievements: FDIC, SEC, Wagner Act, Social Security, minimum wages, maximum working hours, mortgage protections FDR inspects some Civilian Conservation Corps camps in the Shenandoah Valley
The White House Staff Three models for running the White House staff Competitive Hierarchical Collegial
The Cabinet The Cabinet Advisory council for the president, consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president The Inner Cabinet Departments of Defense, Justice, State, and Treasury
The Cabinet • President, vice president, heads of the 15 executive departments, and several others chosen by president • Has always been loosely designated • Typically does not have as much influence over the president as does the White House staff
The Vice Presidency • Benjamin Franklin: Vice president should be addressed as, “your Superfluous Excellency” • Beginning in the 1950s, the role of vice president became more important
Presidents as Morale Builders The President performs important ceremonial functions, in both good times and times of crisis At its finest, presidential leadership radiates national self-confidence and helps unlock the possibility for good that exists in the nation
Presidents as Agenda Setters National Security Policy Economic Policy Social Policy
Presidents as Persuaders Instead of persuading lawmakers face-to-face, presidents can use their “bully pulpit” to sway public opinion
Congress and the Presidency • Competing constituencies • Competing calendars • Competing campaigns
Presidential Mandates • A president’s claim of broad public support for the president or a policy issue • Depends in part on public approval, which generally falls over time • Presidents also benefit from rally points, spikes in public approval following a crisis
Judging Presidents • History tends to judge wars as the most significant test of a president’s leadership • Presidents also are judged by their ability to promote a distinctive vision of where the nation should go • Corruption and inability to deal with economic problems are sure paths to failure
