The PresidencyThe Presidency

1

““We ask our We ask our President to be President to be

head of head of government and a government and a national symbol.”national symbol.”-Robert Reich -Robert Reich

Secretary of Labor under Secretary of Labor under ClintonClinton

2

Constitutional PowersConstitutional Powers What is Hamilton’s main idea in Fed What is Hamilton’s main idea in Fed

69?69?

What are Hamilton’s main points in What are Hamilton’s main points in Fed 70?Fed 70?

3

King v. PresidentKing v. President

4

WHY HAS PRESIDENTIAL WHY HAS PRESIDENTIAL /EXECUTIVE POWER /EXECUTIVE POWER EXPANDED?EXPANDED?

5

Roles of the PresidentRoles of the President What roles does the President play?What roles does the President play?

Chief ExecutiveChief Executive Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat Commander-in-chiefCommander-in-chief Chief legislatorChief legislator Chief of PartyChief of Party Chief citizenChief citizen

What are examples of Presidents filling each of these roles?

6

Constitutional PowersConstitutional Powers ExplicitExplicit

Commander in Commander in ChiefChief

VetoVeto AppointmentAppointment PardonPardon RecommendationRecommendation

ImpliedImplied Executive OrderExecutive Order Executive Executive

AgreementsAgreements National Security National Security

DirectivesDirectives RemovalRemoval

7

Give an example of the President using an explicit power.

Checks on Executive Checks on Executive PowerPower

CongressCongress ImpeachmentImpeachment Override vetoOverride veto Confirm Confirm

appointmentsappointments VotersVoters

Midterm electionsMidterm elections Re-electionRe-election mandatemandate

Supreme CourtSupreme Court MediaMedia

Influences votersInfluences voters International International

coveragecoverage PartyParty

CongressCongress CampaignsCampaigns

8

Explicit Power: Explicit Power: AppointmentAppointment

Think: How does each of these appointees execute power?

John Kerry: Secretary of StateJohn Kerry: Secretary of State Confirmation

Sonia Sotomayor: Associate Sonia Sotomayor: Associate Supreme Court JusticeSupreme Court Justice

Chuck Hagel: Secretary of DefenseChuck Hagel: Secretary of Defense Michael Rogers: Director of the NSAMichael Rogers: Director of the NSA

9

10

Presidential Decision-Presidential Decision-makingmaking

Factors:Factors: Status relationshipsStatus relationships Formal rulesFormal rules Informal RulesInformal Rules Prior KnowledgePrior Knowledge Time AvailableTime Available Resources AvailableResources Available StyleStyle PrecedentPrecedent Personal BeliefsPersonal Beliefs Public OpinionPublic Opinion External decisionmakersExternal decisionmakers Importance of the issueImportance of the issue

Examples of Examples of Unitary Decision-Unitary Decision-making:making: War powersWar powers Natural disasterNatural disaster

11

Reflection on Reflection on Presidential PowerPresidential Power

In what ways could the President abuse In what ways could the President abuse his power?his power?

Which powers are particularly “elastic”?Which powers are particularly “elastic”?

Which powers have been enhanced by Which powers have been enhanced by the growth and development of the the growth and development of the media?media?

12

""Stroke of the pen. Law of the Land. Kinda cool." Stroke of the pen. Law of the Land. Kinda cool." Paul Begala, former Clinton advisor, The New York Paul Begala, former Clinton advisor, The New York

Times, July 5, 1998Times, July 5, 1998 Executive ordersExecutive orders--legally binding--legally binding--don’t require --don’t require

approvalapproval--orders can fulfill a --orders can fulfill a

vague lawvague law--order can depart --order can depart

from Congressional from Congressional “intent”“intent”

Checks on EOs:Checks on EOs:Supreme Court-not Supreme Court-not

oftenoftenCongress—withhold Congress—withhold

funds, pass new funds, pass new law (can be vetoed)law (can be vetoed)

PressPressFuture President Future President

(can reverse EOs)(can reverse EOs)

13

Implied PowerImplied Power Examine your Executive OrderExamine your Executive Order

Who was President?Who was President? What was the context?What was the context? What does the order do?What does the order do? Why was this done through an Why was this done through an

executive order?executive order?

14

Executive Orders: Share Executive Orders: Share OutOut

Prohibition of Discrimination in Defense Prohibition of Discrimination in Defense Industry (1941)Industry (1941)

Relocation of Japanese (1942)Relocation of Japanese (1942) Removal of Alien Enemies (1946)Removal of Alien Enemies (1946) Desegregation of Central High School Desegregation of Central High School

(1957)(1957) Prohibiting Transactions with Iran (1980)Prohibiting Transactions with Iran (1980) Blocking Property of Proliferators of Blocking Property of Proliferators of

WMD (2005) WMD (2005)

15

Expansion of Presidential Expansion of Presidential PowerPower

PrecedentPrecedent Acts of CongressActs of Congress Technology-MediaTechnology-Media Military MightMilitary Might GlobalizationGlobalization Executive Branch AgenciesExecutive Branch Agencies

16

For your reason:•Provide an example•Explain how it has expanded pres. power