The American Presidency Dr. Marco Castillo GOV 1101

Topic: The American Presidency Objectives: To Learn About the Process of Becoming President The Roles of the President The Importance of the Power of Persuasion The “Executive Branch” Limits on the Presidency

Who Can Become President? Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution sets forth the qualifications to be president The two major limitations are: - age (a minimum of 35) - natural-born citizenship - have lived in the US 14 years Besides these, the “requirements” for president are up to us What requirements should there be?

The Process of Becoming President Nomination by one of the two major parties Majority of votes cast in the Electoral College (270) The electors are decided in most states on a winner take-all system So it is possible for a candidate to win the popular vote yet lose the election (see Bush v. Gore)

ROLES OF PRESIDENT: CHIEF LEGISLATOR The president has principal responsibility for the initiation of national policy. About 80% of the bills considered by Congress originate in the executive branch. Each year the principal policy statement of the president is the State of the Union message to Congress. It is followed by the president’s Budget. Presidents are expected to be the chief lobbyist on favored bills (executive departments, private industry, “iron triangles). The veto is the president’s most powerful weapon in legislative affairs. *

CHIEF LEGISLATOR It is in this role that the presidential power to persuade is most important Presidents are limited in their formal legislative powers They must work with Congress to pass favored legislation One major tool presidents have at their disposal is the power of communication through the media to convince the public to support legislative efforts (“going public”) *

CHIEF LEGISLATOR But presidents do not only exercise their power to persuade through the media Interpersonal relations are of essence Presidents must also find ways to directly persuade Congress to support their legislative programs President Lyndon Johnson was known to be particularly effective in this regard… *

CHIEF OF PARTY Presidents are the recognized leaders of their party. They usually control the national committee and direct the national party convention. This role helps him in Washington, as Presidents enjoy stronger support in Congress from members of their own party Must help in fundraising, elections Serve the well being of political party *

COMMANDER IN CHIEF The President shall be the Commander in Chief of the military (Article II, Sec. 2). Yet Congress has the power to “declare war” (Article I, Sec. 8). Since 1789, U.S. forces have participated in military actions overseas on more than 150 occasions, but Congress has declared war only five times. This, in fact, gives presidents great power over military affairs. *

Declared Wars War of 1812 Mexican-American War (1846) Spanish-American War (1898) World War I (1917) World War 2 (1941) But many undeclared wars… *

THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION In 1973, Congress passed the War Powers Resolution, designed to restrict presidential war-making powers, overriding Nixon’s veto The act holds that in the absence of a congressional declaration of war, the president can commit armed forces to hostilities only for certain situations, that Congress must be promptly informed, that involvement of U.S. forces must be no longer than sixty days unless Congress authorizes it. Congress can end a presidential commitment by a concurrent resolution, an action that does not require the president’s signature. *

CHIEF DIPLOMAT As chief diplomat the president has principal responsibility for formulating foreign policy. Diplomatic recognition (Cuba) Can act unilaterally through executive agreements (Iran) or on a binding basis though treaties Presidents have expanded on their constitutional powers over American foreign policy making, in part through their role as Commander in Chief of the armed forces. Military force is the ultimate diplomatic language. *

Chief Executive The president is the chief executive, the “CEO” of the federal bureaucracy: fifteen departments, sixty independent agencies, 2.8 million civilian employees, and the executive office of the president (EOP). The president cannot govern this bureaucracy as a military officer or corporate president; s/he is checked by Congress, so presidents must “persuade” it (the EOP helps)

Special Uses of Presidential Power Emergency Powers Executive Orders - To implement and give administrative effect to Constitutional provisions, treaties, and statutes Executive Privilege

The Vice Presidency The vice president’s job -Strengthening the ticket -Supporting the president Presidential succession -The Twenty-fifth Amendment -When the vice presidency becomes vacant..

Line of Succession to the Presidency of the United States

Abuse of Executive Power and Impeachment Article I, Section 2, gives the House the sole power of impeachment If a majority of House members vote to impeach an officer of the United States, the Senate will conduct a trial If two-thirds of the Senators vote for conviction, the officer is removed from office Two presidents have been impeached; Neither was convicted