Chapter 10 The Presidency

Chapter 10: The Presidency

America’s Presidents

Presidents, Power, and Politics Kennedy’s New Frontier Presidents who served during hard economic times (Ford, Carter) were punished by voters. Presidential action often faced substantial hurdles in Congress, creating political conflict at the highest levels. Clinton’s welfare reform Obama health care reform

The President’s Job Description Head of the executive branch Constitutional authority and statutory authority Constitution “vests” the executive power in the president The president is also the head of state, which symbolically represents the nation as a whole.

The President’s Job Description Presidential authority to implement laws often forces presidents to turn legislative goals into actual programs. Executive orders – unilateral proclamations that change government policy without congressional consent Presidents are using executive orders more frequently. Their power is limited. Congress can always pass a law overturning an executive order.

The President’s Job Description Treaty making and foreign policy Initiate and negotiate treaties, needing two- thirds support in the Senate for approval If the treaty is negotiated under fast-track authority, majority support in the House and Senate is required. First-mover advantage in treaty-making process belongs to the president

The President’s Job Description

Executive privilege Not a formal power, but all presidents have claimed to hold it. They argue that it allows them to shield themselves and their staffers from revealing White House documents, decisions, and discussions to other branches of government.

The Limits of Executive Privilege

Presidential Popularity and Re-election

The President’s Job Description

Presidential succession Vice president Speaker of the House President pro tempore of the Senate Cabinet officers

The Executive Office of the President President is in charge of hundreds of thousands of employees in the executive branch In charge of another 1,800 in the Executive Office of the President EOP staff work to help president: Achieve policy goals Get re-elected

The Executive Branch

The president’s Cabinet 15 executive departments Chosen for a combination of loyalty and particular expertise

Citizen demands on the president

Assessing Presidential Power

THE CABINET INDEPENDENT AGENCIES & GOV. CORPORATIONS THE PRESIDENT AS HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THE PRESIDENT THE WHTE HOUSE STAFF EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Housing & Urban Development The Interior Commerce Labor Education Transportation Energy Veterans Affairs Justice Defense State Homeland Security Health & Human Services The Treasury Agriculture White House Office Office of Management & Budget Council of Economic Advisers National Security Council Office of National Drug Control Policy Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Council on Environmental Quality Office of Science & Tech. Policy Office of Policy Development Office of Administration Vice President Examples: Federal Election Commission Federal Trade Commission Social Security Administration National Transportation Safety Board

THE PRESIDENT AS HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH: POP QUIZ! 1. The president has direct control over the cabinet departments, but his control of _____________________ is more limited. a. the White House staff b.the Executive Office of the President c. the Cabinet d. the independent agencies e. the vice president

THE PRESIDENT AS HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH: POP QUIZ! 1. The president has direct control over the cabinet departments, but his control of _____________________ is more limited. a. the White House staff b.the Executive Office of the President c. the Cabinet d. the independent agencies e. the vice president

THE PRESIDENT AS HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH: POP QUIZ! 2. Officials who serve on the National Security Council and the Council of Economic Advisers are part of the a. White House staff. b. Executive Office of the President. c. Cabinet. d. independent agencies. e. government corporations.

THE PRESIDENT AS HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH: POP QUIZ! 2. Officials who serve on the National Security Council and the Council of Economic Advisers are part of the a. White House staff. b. Executive Office of the President. c. Cabinet. d. independent agencies. e. government corporations.

Public Opinion Poll Do you believe the expectations of the American people with regard to the president are too high? a)Yes b)No

Public Opinion Poll Which branch of government do you believe is most powerful? a)Congress b)Presidency c)Judiciary

Public Opinion Poll Which branch of government do you believe should be most powerful? a)Congress b)Presidency c)Judiciary

Public Opinion Poll Should Congress be able to declare, through legislation, that the president must cease a military activity? a)Yes b)No

Public Opinion Poll Which of the following do you believe is the most important role of the president? a)Commander in chief (in charge of the military) b)Chief diplomat (managing our relations with other nations) c)Chief executive (as “boss” of the executive branch) d)Chief legislator (legislative powers) e)Chief politician (party leadership)

Public Opinion Poll Presidents have expressed, delegated, and inherent sources of power. Which of the three do you think most accounts for the powers of the contemporary presidency? a)Expressed b)Delegated c)Inherent

Chapter 10: The Presidency Practice quizzes Flashcards Outlines wwnorton.com/studyspace

Following this slide, you will find additional slides with photos, figures, and captions from the textbook.

The Presidency