The Presidency on Trial Assessing the Limits of Presidential Power

President Bush delivering the State of the Union Address, 2003 "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." ~Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, at a concert in London (March 10, 2003) The Dixie Chicks in concert, 2003 President Bush delivering the State of the Union Address, 2003

Not Ready to Make Nice Recorded by the Dixie Chicks, 2006 Forgive, sounds good. Forget, I'm not sure I could. They say time heals everything, But I'm still waiting I'm through, with doubt, There's nothing left for me to figure out, I've paid a price, and I'll keep paying I'm not ready to make nice, I'm not ready to back down, I'm still mad as **** And I don't have time To go round and round and round It's too late to make it right I probably wouldn't if I could Cause I'm mad as **** Can't bring myself to do what it is You think I should

that she ought to hate a perfect stranger. And how in the world Can the words that I said Send somebody so over the edge That they'd write me a letter Saying that I better shut up and sing Or my life will be over I know you said Why can't you just get over it, It turned my whole world around and I kind of like it I made my bed, and I sleep like a baby, With no regrets and I don't mind saying, It's a sad sad story That a mother will teach her daughter

I'm not ready to make nice, I'm not ready to back down, I'm still mad as **** And I don't have time To go round and round and round It's too late to make it right I probably wouldn't if I could Cause I'm mad as **** Can't bring myself to do what it is You think I should (Repeat)

Forget, I'm not sure I could. They say time heals everything, Forgive, sounds good. Forget, I'm not sure I could. They say time heals everything, But I'm still waiting

The Dixie Chicks & George W. Bush Questions for Discussion What do you think this song is about i.e. what’s going on? What do you think is the overall message of the songwriter?

The Dixie Chicks & George W. Bush Questions for Discussion In your opinion, did the Dixie Chicks have a right to criticize the president in a time of war? Do country music stations and fans have a right to boycott Dixie Chicks’ music? How does this song, as well as other actions taken by entertainers and the media, serve as a check on presidential power?

Formal Checks on Presidential Power

Congressional Checks on the President (Article I) Make laws (ex: War Powers Resolution) Override presidential vetoes Power to declare war Power of the purse (taxes and funding) Regulation of the land and naval forces

Congressional Checks (cont.) Impeachment Power (House) Impeachment Trial (Senate) President Clinton’s impeachment trial, January, 1999

Limits on Presidential Power (Article II) President elected indirectly by the people through the Electoral College Selection of president (House) in case of no majority of electoral vote President must deliver State of the Union address Senate approves treaties and ambassadors

Limits on Presidential Power (Article II) Senate approves department appointments “Advice and consent” of federal judge appointments (Senate) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice testifies at her Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing, January, 2005. Nominee for Chief Justice, John Roberts is sworn in at his Senate Judiciary committee confirmation hearing, September, 2005.

Judicial Checks on the President Judicial review (Marbury v. Madison) Chief Justice presides over presidential impeachment trial (Article I)

Constitutional Amendments 12th – Choosing president & vice- president on separate ballots 20th – Presidential succession 22nd – Presidential term limits (2 terms; 10 years total) 25th – Presidential disability and succession

Limits on Presidential Power: Informal Checks

Public Opinion In a televised address in March, 1968, President Johnson announced he would not seek the Democratic nomination for president due to sagging public support for his administration and the war in Vietnam. Though he enjoyed record public support during the Persian Gulf War, President George H. W. Bush saw his numbers dip dramatically in the polls and he lost his re-election bid to democrat Bill Clinton in 1992.

The Media

Partisan Politics Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and vigorous critic of the Bush administration, May, 2005 Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R) battles President Bill Clinton (D) over the national budget resulting in the shutdown of the federal government in 1995

Congressional Investigations Senate Banking Committee begins its investigative hearings on the Whitewater scandal during the Clinton administration (1994) Oliver North testifies before Congress at the Iran-Contra hearings during the Reagan administration (1987) Former FEMA director Michael Brown testifies before the House Select Committee on Hurricane Katrina, Sept., 2002

Interest Groups & NGO’s The National Right to Life Committee and other pro-life interest groups spoke out against President Clinton’s veto of the ban on partial birth abortion, 1996 The National Organization of Women, Cindy Sheehan, and others protest the war in Iraq, April, 2006

Title: "Bill Clinton's Christmas present from the U.S. House." Artist: John Pritchett Date: unknown Source: http://www.pritchettcartoons.com/gift.htm

Title: “The Madness of King George" Artist: Drew Sheneman, The Newark Star Ledger Date: December, 2005 Source: http://www.cagle.com/news/DomesticSpying/1.asp