The Presidency Institutions of National Government #4

Expectations vs. Reality Americans seek out a powerful President of high character and great skill to lead and solve problems. However not all men are great. And Americans are skeptical about allowing individuals so much power

The Presidents Formal Requirements: Must be 35 years old Must have resided in U.S. for 14 years Natural born citizen Informal “Requirements”: White (One Exception) Male Protestant (One Exception) All manner of professions, but mostly political ones (former state governors, for example)

How to Become President Election: “The Normal” Way Once elected the President serves a 4 year term 1951 (22 nd Amendment) Limits the President to 2 terms Succession and Impeachment The Vice President succeeds if the President leaves office due to death, resignation or removal 25 th Amendment (1967) the Vice President becomes the acting president if the VP and Cabinet decide the President is disabled

Presidential Power Constitutional Powers of the Presidency are weak and reactive Presidents looks for opportunities to expand power and define new roles – Crisis is the most “accepted opportunity” “Hallowed Be Thy Presidency”: Until 1960s the American Public willing to allow expansion “Deliver Us From The Presidency”: From 1970s on Presidential Power has been checked (mostly) and the public distrusts the President

Informal Powers Executive Orders: A Presidential Order that has the force of law that does not require Congressional Approval (technically used to clarify a law or make it easier to enforce) Executive Agreements: A Presidential agreement with another country that does not require Senate approval (A political agreement rather than a legally binding one) Signing Statements: A written statement by the President upon signing a bill that includes the President’s objections to parts/all of the bill and may indicate how he will choose to enforce it (Constitutional, Political, Rhetorical)

The Jobs of the President Chief Executive Head of Executive Branch and wielder of executive power Chief Legislator Leads legislative direction of the nation Chief of Party Sets and leads the Party Agenda Commander-in- Chief In command of the entire U.S. Military Chief Diplomat Carry out Foreign Policy and relations with other countries Symbol-in-Chief Representative of the American People.

The Chief Executive Actions: Enforces Laws, Direct Agencies, Issue Executive Orders, Appoints Officials, Creates and Directs Commissions.

Running the Government: The Chief Executive Constitutional Charge “take care that the laws are faithfully executed” Scope of the Job The Federal Bureaucracy Spends $2.5 trillion dollars (2,500,000,000,000) a year and employs more than 4 million people The President directly appoints 500 high level officials and 2,500 other positions

Organization of the Executive Branch

The Executive Office Made up of policymaking and advisory bodies Three principle groups: NSC, CEA, OMB

Organization of the Executive Branch The Executive Office National Security Council (NSC) Created in 1947 to coordinate the president’s foreign and military policy advisers Members include the president, vice president, secretary of state and defense, and managed by the president’s national security adviser Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) A three-member body appointed by the president to advise on economic policy Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Performs both managerial and budgetary functions, including legislative review and budgetary assessments of proposals

Organization of the Executive Branch The White House Staff Chief aides and staff for the president—some are more for the White House than the president (Includes Chief of Staff, Counselor, and General Advisors) Presidents rely on their information and effort but presidents set tone and style of White House The First Lady No official government position, but many get involved politically Recent ones focus on a single issue, e.g., Hillary Clinton and health care

Organization of the Executive Branch