1. American Government
Ch. 12 The President

2. Warm Up!
Supreme Court Justice Breyer!
3 Facts
Annotate

3. Obama Are individual personalities now more important than parties?
American Government
Are individual personalities now more important than parties?

4. Bush
American Government
Can the President control public discussion?

5. Clinton, Reagan, Nixon
American Government
Does a president have to be “moral” in order to be a good president?

6. Nixon Do Americans need a President to have trustworthy character?
American Government
Do Americans need a President to have trustworthy character?

7. Eisenhower
American Government
Must the modern President always be involved in everything or have a solution for everything?

8. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
American Government
What role does confidence in the President have on American morale?

9. FDR Does a lot of action and policy creation make a President “great”?
American Government
Does a lot of action and policy creation make a President “great”?
Can a President be “great” if not much is changed during their Presidency?

10. Constitutional Requirements
American Government
Qualifications
Art. II
“natural-born citizen”
14 years of US residency
35 years of age
THAT’S IT!!!

11. Constitutional Powers
American Government
Powers/duties are very limited
“executive power” – enact/enforce law
Military Power
Diplomatic Power
Appointment Power
Veto Power

12. Military Power Commander in Chief (civilian control)
American Government
Commander in Chief (civilian control)
Prez can send armed forces abroad
Congress has not declared war since 12/8/1941
Korea, Vietnam, Iraq? – all Constitutional
War Powers Resolution, 1973
Prez must report to Congress within 48 hours after deployment
If Congress does not OK in 60 days, must withdraw
Check on president, attempt to limit president

13. Diplomatic Power
American Government
Create treaties with foreign nations with Senate permission, 2/3 Senate approval (advice and consent)
Executive agreement – not permission needed, deal between heads of state, not binding to next administration
Diplomatic Recognition – power to officially recognize foreign gov as legit
Ex – USSR not recognized
Ex s – China not recognized

14. What are the requirements to be president?
What are the executive powers?
What are the War Powers Resolution?

15. Appointment Power
American Government
Power to appoint ambassadors, public officers, and Supreme Court Judges with Senate approval (advice and consent)
Civil Service – most gov jobs under executive filled based on merit system
Janet Napolitano
Susan Rice
John Roberts

16. Veto Power Veto – return the bill to house it originated
American Government
Veto – return the bill to house it originated
(no action within 10 days – bill becomes law)

17. Strengthening the Presidency
American Government
Washington – set precedent for future
Jackson – frequent use of veto power
Lincoln – Commander and Chief to new levels of power during the Civil War
FDR – huge influence on policy with New Deal, checked by Supreme Court

18. Executive privilege
American Government
The right to privacy of conversation between advisors and prez
Why?
Separation of powers prevents branches from sharing internal workings
Privacy is needed for candid advice from advisors with out political pressure

19. Executive Privilege US v. Nixon
American Government
US v. Nixon
Nixon refused to hand over recorded conversations, claiming Exec. Privilege
Court ruled in favor of US
EP can’t be used to block the function of the federal court procedures

20. Impoundment
American Government
Presidential practice of refusing to spend money appropriated by Congress.
Budget Reform and Impoundment Act of 1974 – president must spend funds

21. The President as Morale Builder
American Government
Symbolic importance (FDR – Great Depression, Bush – 9/11)
Unify nation

22. Agenda Setting
American Government
The President can control public policy and discussion through…
The media
State of the Union speech
Make policy proposals
Encourage the Congress

23. Executive Orders Prez issues executive orders that have force of law
American Government
Prez issues executive orders that have force of law
Ex – power to enforce the Constitution, treaties, laws, etc.
FDR – allowed Japanese internment
Truman – integrate military
Eisenhower – desegregate public schools

24. Line-Item Veto???
American Government
Should the President be able to veto certain parts of a bill, and not other parts?
Line-Item Veto Act 1996
Clinton v. City of New York (1997) – law found unconstitutional

25. Gridlock
American Government
Divided government – Prez and Congress majority represent different political parties
“gridlock” – the inability to accomplish goals
Con – government operation shuts down
Pro – slows the decision making process, example of check and balance

26. Vice President Preside over the Senate, tie breaking vote
American Government
Preside over the Senate, tie breaking vote
Takes over the presidency if the President cannot finish term
12th Amendment – voters choose President and VP together
Previous to 1804, the losing candidate became VP

27. White House Office
American Government
“Pyramid” model – assistants answer to a hierarchy up to a chief of staff (few top advisors to prez, prez free but isolated)
“Circular” model – direct contact with staff (many top advisors to prez, prez busy but connected)
Significance: determines what aids have the most influence on presidential decisions

28. Executive Office of the President
American Government
National Security Council – advises on military and foreign policy
Office of Management and Budget – prepares national budget, largest office
National Economic Council – advises with economic planning

29. The Cabinet 15 major department heads advising prez
American Government
15 major department heads advising prez
“Inner cabinet” – Secretary of State, treasury, attorney general, and defense
Robert Gates – Secretary of Defense
Hillary Clinton – Secretary of State

30. Presidential Disability and Succession
American Government
22nd Amendment – limited President to 2 terms, serving no more than 10 years
25th Amendment – If the VP office is vacated, then the President can select a new VP

31. Impeachment
American Government
House impeaches, Senate tries the prez, Chief Justice presides over the trial
Two presidents impeached, neither removed (Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton)