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THE PRESIDENCY11 Theory of Knowledge/Government
Ms. Halle Bauer
The executive branch should be the most powerful branch of government in the United States.
Take a Stand…
What makes the American Presidency Unique?
President elected for fixed 4-year term Popular vote + Electoral college
President selects Cabinet from outside of Congress
President is Commander-In-Chief, Chief Diplomat, Chief Executive
President can be removed only through conviction, impeachment, or death
President does not necessarily have Congressional backing or support
Prime Minister and Cabinet share executive power
PM remains in office as long as the majority party holds majority in Parliament
Majority party in Parliament selects the PM
PM selects Cabinet from within Parliament
PM can be removed with a vote of the majority party in Parliament or by a vote of “No Confidence”
American PresidencyParliamentary System (UK)
Who has more authority? Who is more “legitimate”? Which system do you think is more democratic?
Presidents v. Prime Ministers…
POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRESIDENTWhat is the President’s job description?
Powers of the President
Explicit Powers
“Faithfully execute” the law
Article II Section 2 Commander-in-Chief Grant Pardons Make Treaties (2/3
Senate) Appointments
(Ambassadors, Supreme Court, Officers; Confirmed 2/3 Senate)
Article I Section 7 Veto
Implicit Powers
Executive Privilege Executive Orders
Directive to an agency instructing it to take a specific action
Dismissal Leadership
Persuasion Legislative agenda Foreign policy and
executive agreements with other nations
Executive Orders
Presidential Support Staff
White House Office (WHO)
The West Wing Appointed by the
President NOT confirmed by
Senate Friends of President
Oversee policies and programs of the President
Cabinet
Consists of the heads of each department and 5 “cabinet-level” executives
Appointed by the President Confirmed by the
Senate Cannot be
Congressmen
TOK and the Presidency
What ways of knowing should a President rely most heavily on?
HOW HAS THE PRESIDENCY CHANGED OVER TIME?The evolution of the American Presidency
The American Presidency is currently strong.
The American Presidency SHOULD be strong.
Take a Stand…
Presidential Powers Over Time
1933-Present: Imperial
Presidency
1837-1932:Congress as
Supreme (Except in
Times of War or Crisis)
Jacksonians: Expanded
Power
First Presidents:
Modest
Is Obama an imperial President? How has he changed the Presidency, if at all?
The Imperial Presidency
PRESIDENTIAL CHARACTERWhat defines a President’s term of office?
What traits do you think are most important for a President to embody?
Presidential Character
Active
Passive
Positive Negative
ConsistentProductive
FlexibleResults-oriented
Rational
AmbitiousAggressive in
policiesPowerful
Perfectionist
CooperativeComplacent
HopefulNot assertiveDependent
Focused on rightsDutiful
InflexibleTend to withdraw
Presidential Character…
What’s the ideal quadrant for a President to fall? Where does Obama belong?
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
The pathway to the Presidency
“It was desirable that the sense of the people should operate in the choice of (the President). This end will be answered by committing the right of making (the choice) not to any pre-established body, but to men chosen by the people for the special purpose and at the particular conjuncture.It was equally desirable that the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of al the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice. A small number of persons, selected by their fellow citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to so complicated an investigation.”Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist, No. 68
Why the Electoral College?
The Electoral College System
There are 538 electoral votes available Each state receives one
electoral vote per representative in Congress (DC has 3 votes)
270=WINNING Winner-take-all system in 48
states and DC If no candidate receives 270
votes, the House of Representatives votes with each state casting one vote Jefferson in 1800, John Quincy
Adams in 1824
Presidents who do not win a majority of the popular vote may be elected Nixon v. JFK in 1960 Gore v. Bush in 2000
Only about 12 “battleground” states are relevant in Presidential elections LIKE OHIO!!!!!! In 2004, 50% of all
campaigning money was spent in OHIO.
Voter turnout is irrelevant except in the smallest battleground states
How it works… What it means…
Who are the electors?
Constitution states that no national representative or officer may serve as an elector
States determine electors Usually determined at state party conventions
Electors are “pledged” to support candidates based on the popular vote This is an unwritten rule, and some have cast votes
according to personal ideology 1976 election would have gone to the House if an
elector hadn’t voted against his party line for Reagan
Is it democratic?
The Electoral College