1. President as Policy Maker
“It is the duty of the President to propose and it is the privilege of the Congress to dispose”
FDR

2. Setting the Agenda
Starting with FDR, Presidents would send a legislative packet to Congress and try to set their agenda
Agenda Setting
A policy agenda is a set of issues, problems, or subjects that gets attention of or is viewed by people involved in policy making

3. Main tool in Agenda Setting
The Media
Why does the president have an advantage over Congress in gaining media coverage?
President speaks with a single voice, while Congress has many voices
President represents the nation, while Congress represents states and districts
The president is the national leader to the country
President is more powerful than any member of congress

4. Lobbying Congress
President must successfully lobby congress to pass his agenda
Patronage-Jobs, Grants, and favors in exchange for support
Party- Party Discipline and Campaign Stops
Style and Force of Personality
Leadership
Persuasion

5. Policy Making through Regulation
Major Policy changes can be made through Executive Orders
Office of Homeland Security was established via an Executive Order
Used an Executive Order which radically changed the Presidential Records Act
Obama has used Executive Orders to completely change how we interrogate our Enemy Combats

6. Policy through the Budget
Economic Policy starts and ends with the Budget
President was given power of interjecting his views on the Budget during FDR’s presidency
Congress still plays an important role in the Budget
The lesson of 1998 – the year of the balanced budget- was that Congress, OMB, and the President all had to work together

7. Budget Process President Proposes OMB writes the Budget
Interest Groups and Agencies lobby for money to the OMB
CBO examines the budget and suggests revisions to the House
House introduces it and then it takes the normal steps of how a Bill becomes a law

8. Public Opinion The President’s Biggest Ally or Biggest Enemy
President has a much easier time passing legislation when his popularity polls are up
“Going to the Public”
Going Over Congress and straight to the People and allow the People to put pressure on Congress

9. Approval Ratings

10. What is the primary role of the OMB?
What is the number one advising group to the president?
What happens to a bill that is not signed or vetoed within ten days while congress is in session?
Define an Executive Order
Define an Executive Agreement
Define Going Native
List 4 formal powers of the President
Why is a line-item veto unconstitutional?
What was the result of Nixon v. United States?
A presidential nominee is usually concerned primarily with choosing a running mate who will _____________________