The Presidency AP Government

Mr. Zach

• Myth v. Reality:

• How powerful is the President?

• What powers does he have?

• How does his power compare to other world leaders?

• Are there limits on his powers?

• What is the public’s perception of Presidential powers?

How They Got There • Constitutional Qualifications:

• Natural Born Citizen

• At least 35 years old

• Lived in USA for at least 14 years.

• What do voters really want?

• 22nd Amendment (1951)

• 2 terms or 10 years.

• Reaction to FDR’s 4 terms in office.

• 25th Amendment (1967)

• POTUS disability/death & VPOTUS vacancies

• Vacancy in the VP. • If VPOTUS slot is vacant, POTUS will nominate a new VPOTUS and

both Houses of Congress will approve.

• Presidential disability. • If POTUS is unable to complete his duties, VPOTUS will.

• Impeachment

• Roughly equivalent to indictment under criminal law.

• House can impeach for “treason, bribery, & other high crimes & misdemeanors”.

• Goes to Senate-Tries POTUS with Chief Justice of SCOTUS presiding. • 2/3 vote can convict.

• What is impeachable: breaking law, covering up law-breaking, not following articles of Constitution.

• Who has been impeached: A. Johnson, Clinton.

Presidential Powers • The Constitution says….not much.

• “Executive Power shall be vested in a President”.

• POTUS power has grown greatly since the Founders.

• National Security Powers:

• Commander in Chief of armed forces

• Make treaties (2/3 of Senate must ratify)

• Nominate ambassadors (with Senate approval)

• Receive ambassadors from other nations, conferring recognition.

• Legislative Powers:

• State of the Union Address

• Recommend legislation

• Convene both Houses of Congress in extraordinary situations

• Adjourn Congress if they can’t agree on adjournment

• Veto legislation (2/3 of both Houses can override)

• Administrative Powers:

• Faithfully execute laws

• Nominate officials (with Senate approval)

• Request written opinions of admin officials

• Fill administrative vacancies during Congressional recesses

• Judicial Powers

• Grant reprieves & pardons for federal offenses (except impeachment)

• Nominate federal judges (approved by Senate)

• Perspectives on Federal Power

• “Imperial Presidency” – Makes use of all powers, creates new ones, dictates to Congress, goes around Congress.

• In recent years – Powers of President grown dramatically through Executive Orders used by George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

The Vice President • Qualifications – Same as POTUS

• Constitutional Duties:

• Preside over Senate, vote in Senate in case of tie, help determine POTUS disability.

• Early Days:

• VPOTUS was unimportant, did almost nothing.

• Today:

• Policy initiatives, campaigns, pushes pet projects.

• Recent VPs:

• Walter Mondale: Carter’s VP, adviser to Carter

• George H.W. Bush: Loyal to Reagan, backed up his policies

• Dan Quayle: Considered too young and inexperienced for the job

• Al Gore: very involved, from political family - environmentalist

• Dick Cheney: very experienced & involved - military

• Joe Biden: instrumental in foreign policy initiatives

• Mike Pence: works the members of Congress to support Pres. plans

• The Cabinet

• Not in Constitution, but every POTUS has one.

• Origins: Washington had 3 Secretaries & Attorney General.

• Today: 14 Secretaries & Attorney General.

• Appointed by POTUS & approved by Senate.

• Role: Run their departments & advise POTUS.

• The Executive Office.

• Some created by Congress, some by POTUS

• National Security Council (NSC)

• Foreign & military policy advisors

• POTUS, VPOTUS, SecState, SecDefense, other informal members

• Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)

• 3 members appointed by POTUS

• Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

• Run by appointees, 600 employees; prepare POTUS’ budget, review legislation

The White House • Over 600 staff working in White House

• Main Players:

• Chief of Staff: Gatekeeper to POTUS.

• Schedules meetings, gives political advice, manages staff, decided who gets in to see POTUS

• Press Secretary: Deals w/ press, press conferences

• Two styles of management that POTUS uses:

• Hierarchical – Chief of Staff is boss, manages everyone

• Wheel & Spokes – Aides have equal status and are balanced against each other.

The First Lady • No official govt position or salary.

• Has office & staff

• Tends to focus on 1 issue and promote it.

• Betty Ford: Alcoholism

• Rosalyn Carter: Mental Health

• Nancy Reagan: Drugs, “Just Say NO”

• Barbara Bush: Literacy

• Hillary Clinton: No single issue, served as Advisor to POTUS; healthcare

• Laura Bush: Literacy

• Michelle Obama: Childhood obesity & exercise

Duties of POTUS • Chief Legislator:

• Not in Constitution, but important to legislative process

• “Honeymoon” – 1st 100 days of Presidency; used to promote legislation

• “Lame Duck” – Last 2-4 years POTUS can serve; if Congress opposes, can’t do much

• Finalizing a bill:

• Veto – Refuses to sign bill, does not become law; can be overridden by 2/3 of Congress

• Pocket Veto – If Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill, he can let bill die by not signing or vetoing.

• Chief of Party:

• Head of his party.

• Elections – POTUS campaigns for party members in battleground states/districts

• Coattail Effect – When voters vote for Congressional candidates of POTUS’ party because they support POTUS

• Mandates – Strong electoral support for POTUS

• Gives perception voters strongly favor his policies & promises

• In off-year elections, POTUS’ party tends to lose Congressional seats.

• Chief Diplomat:

• Only he can give diplomatic recognition to foreign ambassadors & states

• Commander-in-Chief:

• Head of military

• Crisis Manager:

• Tends to be foreign policy issues

• Working with Congress:

• Must work with Congress, but many times relationship is adversarial, even with own party.

• How the press views him:

• Until LBJ, press worked with POTUS; now often against each other (love/hate relationship; they need each other)

• Much of relationship occurs thru press secretary and sets tone.

• 2 of Obama’s press Secretaries, Robert Gibbs & Jay Carney argued with press, mocked & belittled them. Both have since resigned.

• Approval Ratings:

• Based on polls of job POTUS is doing.

• Most start high (honeymoon) & drop over the course of the term(s).

• Average for Presidents – 53%

• Average for 2nd term – 48%

• Last time Obama had 50% approval – April 29-May 5 2013.

President Highest Approval Rating Lowest Approval Rating

Bill Clinton 73% 36%

George W. Bush 92% (9/11/2001) 19%

Barack Obama 76% 39% and falling