Prerogative Power: Extraordinary powers that the president may use under certain conditions The Virginia Plan was vague on the basic questions, including whether one person or a group of people would hold executive power, how long the term of office would be, whether the president could be reelected, and even what the precise powers of the presidency should be The New Jersey Plan was more state-centered, and although many of its provisions were also vague, it envisioned a relatively weak executive office. The principal powers granted by the Constitution to presidents allowed them to influence the judiciary by appointing judges to the bench, to have a modest say in making legislation, to conduct foreign policy, and to be the commander of the nation’s armed forces during times of war
Cato worried that the scheme outlined by the framers would allow the president to use his long term of office to take such a firm hold of the reins of power that it would ruin the democratic experiment.
Whig Model: A theory of restrained presidential powers; the idea that presidents should use only the powers explicitly granted in the Constitution. Stewardship Model: A theory of robust, broad presidential powers; the idea that the president is only limited by explicit restrictions in the Constitution Modern Presidency: A political system in which the president is the central figure and participates actively in both foreign and domestic policy
Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, the name he gave to his series of programs and initiatives that transformed the national
Cabinet: A group of presidential advisers, primarily the secretaries of federal departments. These officials are appointed by the president and, while they are confirmed by the Senate, they can be removed at the president’s will without the Senate’s consent. The President differentiates between the “inner” and “outer” cabinet, with the inner cabinet being the most important secretaries, usually those representing the Departments of State, Defense, Treasury, and Justice.
Executive Office of the President (EOP): A group of presidential staff agencies created in 1939 that provides the president with help and advice. others. One of the most important agencies in the EOP is the National Security Council (NSC) , established in 1947, and although its membership varies from administration to administration, it always includes the vice president and the secretaries of defense and state. The job of the NSC is to provide the president with information and advice on all matters concerning national security. The council is led by the national security adviser , who is appointed by the president without confirmation and is not officially connected with the Department of State or the Department of Defense. The Office of Management and Budget is responsible for preparing the president’s annual national budget proposal, monitoring the performance of federal agencies, and overseeing regulatory proposals. Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), established in 1946, is led by three members who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Their duties include assisting the president in the preparation of an annual economic report to Congress, gathering timely information concerning economic developments and trends, evaluating the economic impact of various federal programs and activities, developing and recommending policies that boost the nation’s economy, and making recommendations on economy-related policies and legislation.
The modern presidency is a massive network of offices, staff, and advisers, requiring a complex organizational chart to keep track of duties and responsibilities. The result is that presidents have become central to the policy process
Whether or not a president is viewed as successful or is a failure sometimes depends on the political context of the times In the first period, stretching from the early years of the nation to the reelection of Andrew Jackson in 1832, presidents garnered power through close, personal interactions with political elites. If the president was able to forge close, personal relations with a small group of decision makers, he was more likely to prevail From 1832 until the end of the eighteenth century, presidential success hinged on the ability of presidents to forge agreements with local party bosses From the turn of the century through the 1970s, presidential power sprung from the ability to bargain and negotiate agreements among competing interests From the 1970s through today, a successful president forges a personal connection with the public
FIGURE 7.1: The Ups and Downs of Presidential Approval Ratings Invariably, presidents begin their term of office with higher public support than when they leave. This is attributable to a variety of things, from the business cycle and economic conditions, to international relations or specific domestic policies the public views as a success or failure.
Ceremonial dinners and occasions to toss a baseball out at a special game might seem extraneous, but through these and many other events, our diverse nation becomes one
Veto: The disapproval of a bill or resolution by the president.
There are two types of vetoes. One approach is to simply send the legislation back to Congress with a message as to why the president disapproves—this is called a veto message . If a president fails to act on a piece of legislation within 10 days, it becomes law. If Congress adjourns within those 10 days, however, the president can let the measure die through a pocket veto . Here, there is neither a signature nor a veto message . Pocket vetoes are quite rare, especially on major legislation. The presidential duty to inform Congress about the state of the union each year has become another powerful legislative tool. It is an opportunity to lay out broad principles and to offer concrete measures. Even more important, it is an opportunity to speak directly to the American people.
This figure charts the percentage of presidential initiatives that are approved by Congress. Some presidents are more successful with the legislature than others. What makes this figure especially interesting is that presidents can be successful even when the other party controls Congress. What force do you suppose leads to greater success with Congress, even when the president faces a “hostile” legislature?
The president can travel around the world, meeting with the leaders of other nations, forging ties and formal alliances. The Constitution states that they can appoint and receive ambassadors. In appointing ambassadors, which the Constitution requires them to do with the advice and consent of the Senate, presidents can choose officials who share their outlook toward a given nation or foreign affairs more generally. The president can negotiate treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate. A treaty , is defined as a formal agreement between the United States and one or more other sovereign nations. Executive Agreement: Binding commitments between the United States and other countries agreed to by the president but, unlike treaties, not requiring approval by the Senate. Executive agreements are often arranged in secret. They do not require Senate approval, which makes them especially appealing to presidents—particularly if they confront a hostile Congress.
War Powers Resolution : A measure passed by Congress in 1973 designed to limit presidential deployment of troops unless Congress grants approval for a longer period. The War Powers Resolution requires that the president consult with Congress in “every possible instance” before sending troops to combat, that the president report to Congress in writing within 48 hours after ordering troops into harm’s way, and that any military engagement must end within 60 days unless Congress either declares war or otherwise authorizes the use of force (90 days under certain circumstances).
The president is in many ways the nation’s chief administrator and head bureaucrat. Although the vast majority of federal employees are civil service workers, the power to appoint certain high officials who lead the massive agencies and set their policies is an important executive function. Executive Order: A regulation made by the president that has the effect of law. There are three types of executive orders: proclamations, which serve the ceremonial purpose of declaring holidays and celebrations, and national security directives and presidential decision directives, both of which deal with national security and defense matters Signing Statement: A written proclamation issued by the president regarding how the executive branch intends to interpret a new law.
As Economists in Chief presidents are expected to keep a close eye on the nation’s economy and to take immediate and effective actions when conditions dictate. Presidents are also expected to be moral leaders and to set an ethical tone in both politics and society The president pushes the party’s policy agenda and helps other party members raise money during elections
Personal Presidency: The notion that there are greater and greater expectations placed on presidents, due in large measure to the way they run for office. At the same time, presidents are often unable to deliver on the promises they made during campaigns. Presidents are seldom in command and usually must negotiate with others to achieve their goals. As a result, achieving anything less is often viewed as failure in the eyes of the public.
The historian and presidential scholar Robert Dallek suggests that five qualities have been constants in the men who have most effectively fulfilled the presidential oath of office Vision: All great presidents have had a clear understanding of where they wanted to lead the nation in its quest for a better future Pragmatism: All great presidents have been realists, leaders who understood that politics is the art of the possible and that flexible responses to changing conditions at home and abroad are essential C onsensus building: All great presidents understood that their success depended on the consent of the governed. Moving government in a new direction, often down a difficult path, requires building a national consensus first Charisma: All great presidents have been able to capture and retain the affection and admiration of average citizens Trustworthiness: All truly successful presidents have had credibility and have earned the faith of their fellow citizens
The secretaries of the inner cabinet are the most important, usually those representing the Departments of State, Defense, Treasury, and Justice.
The secretaries of the inner cabinet are the most important, usually those representing the Departments of State, Defense, Treasury, and Justice.
Wherein the president attempts to win the public’s hearts and minds
Wherein the president attempts to win the public’s hearts and minds