The Presidency

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The Presidency
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Elect the President

• Every eligible citizen in each state and DC can
  vote
• Whichever party wins the majority of the popular
  vote within the state gets the electors (though
  in some states they split them based on the of
  popular vote)
• Each state gets electors to representatives to
  U.S. House of Rep 2 senators.
• Meet at Srare Capital on 2nd Wed. in Dec. to vote
• All states electoral votes are counted in DC on
  January 6th
• 270 Electoral votes required to win
• If no 270, HoR votes (1 vote per state, 26 votes
  needed)
• If HoR cant decide, V.P. serves until they do
• If no VP wins majority, senate chooses between
  top 2 nominees
• Only happened once in 1837, Richard Johnson

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Defects in the Electoral College

• Majority take-all doesnt match popular vote
• CA 1 elector 551, 122
• AK 1 elector 183,384
• No federal law that elector has to vote for state
  majority
• House having to select gives AK to CA
• If strong 3rd party candidate, house might not
  reach 26 votes

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Proposed Electoral College Reforms

• District Plan
• 2 electors (same as Senators) vote as state
• of electors (same as Reps) vote as district
• Problem Popular vote still could lose, ex.
  Kennedy v. Nixon in 1960
• Proportional Plan
• Win the of electors to state vote
• Problem Popular vote still could lose as as
  smaller states over-weighted with electors v.
  population
• Smaller parties could win electoral votes, making
  270 nearly impossible and turning vote over to
  House
• Direct Popular Election
• Small states lose advantage
• Could weaken Federalism b/c states lose their
  role in choice of pres.
• Voter fraud increased because individual votes
  mean more

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The Roles of the President
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Chief of State

• This role requires a president to be an inspiring
  example for the American people. In some nations,
  the chief of state is a king or a queen who wears
  a crown on special occasions, celebrates national
  holidays, and stands for the highest values and
  ideals of the country. As the American Chief of
  State, the president is a living symbol of the
  nation. It is considered a great honor for any
  citizen to shake the president's hand.

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Examples of Behavior as Chief of State

• Awarding medals to the winners of college
  scholarships.
• Congratulating astronauts on their journey into
  space.
• Greeting visitors to the White House.
• Making a patriotic speech on the Fourth of July.

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Chief Executive

• The president is "boss" for millions of
  government workers in the Executive Branch,
  deciding how the laws of the United States are to
  be enforced and choosing officials and advisers
  to help run the Executive Branch.

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Examples of Behavior as Chief Executive

• Appointing someone to serve as head of the
  Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
• Holding a Cabinet meeting to discuss government
  business.
• Reading reports about problems of the Federal
  Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

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Chief Guardian of the Economy

• In this role, the president is concerned with
  such things as unemployment, high prices, taxes,
  business profits, and the general prosperity of
  the country. The president does not control the
  economy, but is expected to help it run smoothly.

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Examples of Behavior as Chief Guardian of Economy

• Meeting with economic advisers to discuss ways to
  reduce unemployment.
• Meeting with business and labor leaders to
  discuss their needs and problems.

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Chief Diplomat

• The president decides what American diplomats and
  ambassadors shall say to foreign governments.
  With the help of advisers, the president makes
  the foreign policy of the United States.

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Examples of BehaviorsChief Diplomat

• Traveling to London to meet with British leaders.
  
• Entertaining Japanese diplomats in the White
  House.
• Writing a message or a letter to the leaders of
  the Soviet Union.

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Commander-in-Chief

• The president is in charge of the U.S. armed
  forces the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.
  The president decides where troops shall be
  stationed, where ships shall be sent, and how
  weapons shall be used. All military generals and
  admirals take their orders from the President.

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Examples of Behavior as Commander-in-Chief

• Inspecting a Navy yard.
• Deciding, in wartime, whether to bomb foreign
  cities.
• Calling out troops to stop a riot.

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Chief Legislator

• Only Congress has the actual power to make laws.
  But the Constitution gives the president power to
  influence Congress in its lawmaking. Presidents
  may urge Congress to pass new laws or veto bills
  that they do not favor.

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Examples of Behavior as Chief Legislator

• Inviting members of Congress to lunch in the
  White House.
• Signing a bill of Congress.
• Making a speech in Congress.

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Chief of Party

• In this role, the president helps members of his
  political party get elected or appointed to
  office. The president campaigns for those members
  who have supported his policies. At the end of a
  term the president may campaign for reelection.

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Examples of Behavior as Chief of Party

• Choosing leading party members to serve in the
  Cabinet.
• Traveling to California to speak at a rally for a
  party nominee to the U.S. Senate.

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Why has the Power of the Presidency Increased
since G.W.?

• State of U.S. social and economic life
  increasingly complex, calls for leadership in an
  industrialized and technologically advanced
  country.
• transportation
• labor-management relations
• civil rights
• health
• welfare
• communications
• education
• environmental protection
• decisive action in times of national crisis

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Where does he get his power?

• President can gain control due to specific
  elements
• role as Chief legislator
• role as Chief citizen
• role as Party Leader
• ran attract and hold public attention, making it
  easier to gain support for public policy and
  actions
• use of media

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Major Responsibility Executing Laws

• Constitution says he shall Faithfully execute
  the laws
• Executes enforces, administers, carries out
• Consists of all federal laws, even if he does not
  agree with it
• Example Congress passes Immigration Reform
  Legislation
• Executive Branch must execute the law
• President would assign Immigration and
  Naturalization Services, an office under the
  Justice Department, to draw up appropriate
  documents and details, for example if there was a
  language requirement to be a citizen.

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Ordinance Power

• Executive Ordera directive, rule, or regulation
  that has the effect of law.
• Example Gitmo closed in 1 year
• Ordinance Powerauthority to issue executive
  orders comes from 2 sources
• a. The Constitution
• b. Acts of Congressdue to of people
  president has working for him, congress has
  often delegated authority to president and
  staff to spell out policies and programs.

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Appointing Power

• With Senate consent, president names most of top
  ranking Federal Govt. officers (of nearly 3
  million civilian employees)
• ambassadors
• other diplomats
• cabinet members and their top aides
• heads of independent agencies
• Environmental Protection Agency
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• all federal judges
• federal attorneys
• officers in armed forces
• Courtesy plays a role in Senate approval
  (majority of senators present voting is
  required for authorization)

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Removal power

• President may remove any officers he appointed
  EXCEPT federal judges.
• V.P. cannot because he is elected by the people

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Diplomatic Power

• Power to Make Treaties
• A formal agreement between 2 or more sovereign
  states
• Senate must approve by 2/3 of those present
• Senate and not House b/c secrecy thought
  necessary in foreign relations and House too big
  a body to keep secretoriginally Senate only 26
  members.
• Based on need for 2/3, a small group can reject a
  treaty, example Senate rejected Versailles
  Treaty in 1919 which included provisions for
  League of Nations (President Wilsons baby)
• Executive Agreements
• A pact b/w President and heads of foreign states
• Does NOT require senate consent
• Typically based on legislation or treaty already
  passed by senate, but not always
• Power of Recognition
• President receives the diplomatic rep.s of
  another sovereign statehe is acknowledging the
  existence of that country and govt.
• Does not mean that one country approves of
  anothers character or conduct
• Used as weapons in foreign relations
• Recognition can help a new country survive
  turbulent beginnings
• 1903 Pres. Roosevelt recognized Panama within 3
  days, after we helped them win a Revolution
  against Colombia
• 1948 Pres. Truman recognized Israel within 24
  hrs.

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Military Powers

• Undeclared War
• 1. More than 200 times, Presidents have used
  forces without a declaration of war
• Wartime Powers
• powers as commander in chief are far greater
  during war
• exampleduring World War II congress gave Pres
  power to ration food and gasoline, control wages
  and prices, and seize and operate certain
  industries.
• Pres. Can use armed forces to keep domestic
  peace, including calling on state militias
• War Powers Resolution
• designed to place close limits on Presidents
  war-making powers
• A result of Vietnam, passes in 1973
• Nixon vetoed the act and congress overrode the
  veto
• Central Provisions
• After committing American troops to combat, Pres.
  Must report detailed circumstances to Congress
• Combat commitment must end within 60 days, can be
  extended another 30 to assure safe return of
  troops
• Congress may bring an end to combat commitment at
  any time by passing a resolution
• Constitutionality still a dispute, wont be
  determined until Congress demand Pres. Follow
  their provision and he disobeys.

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Legislative Powers

• Recommend Legislation
• Veto power
• 1. Sign a bill
• 2. Veto a bill
• 3. Bill becomes law by NOT acting on it for 10
  days
• 4. Pocket vetocongress adjourns before 10
  days after sending bill to Pres. And he has not
  acted on it, it dies
• 5.Line-item veto, for appropriations (spending)
  bill--ILLEGAL
• Other Legislative Powers
• 1.Call Congress into special session
• Adjourn congress when the houses cannot agree on
  a date of adjournment

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Judicial Powers

• Reprievepostponement of the execution of a
  sentence
• Pardonlegal forgiveness of a federal crime
• Commutationpower to commute (reduce) the length
  of a sentence or a fine imposed by a court
• Amnestygeneral pardon offered to a group of
  violators
• exampleMormons pardoned in 1893 by Pres.
  Harrison for antipolygamy laws
• 1977 Pres. Carter gave amnesty to Vietnam War
  draft evaders

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Who Else Makes up the Executive Branch?

• Besides the V.P. there are many departments and
  independent agencies that report their findings
  to the president
• Examples CIA, Commission on Civil Rights,
  Federal Reserve System, Postal Service
• 3 Kinds of Independent Agencies
• Independent Executive Agency
• Same as 14 executive departments but not in
  cabinet
• Independent Regulatory Agency
• Largely beyond reach of President control or
  regulation
• Government Corporations
• Regulated and controlled by President but
  complete business functions (however, monitored
  limited, so not capitalist business)
• ex. Post Office, FDIC, Medicare

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The Cabinet

• Informal advisory body
• Not in Constitution
• Heads of 14 Executive depts. V.P. any
  additional persons the president chooses

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Executive Office of the President and the
Cabinet

• EOP is right arm of the president
• made up of several separate agencies staffed by
  most trusted advisers.
• The White House Office
• key personal and political staff
• most hold offices in the white house (about 400)
• chief of Staff
• chief executive of Foreign Policy
• Chief executive of Defense
• Chief of Economy
• Chief of National Health Care
• Chief of Political Affairs
• Chief of Congressional Relations
• Counsel to the President
• Press Secretary

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National Security Counsel

• called on short notice to advise on domestic,
  foreign, and military matters
• President, V.P., Secretaries of State and
  Defense, CIA Director, and Chairman of the Joint
  Chiefs
• Has a small staff of foreign and military policy
  experts who work for the National Security
  Adviser
• CIA answers to NSC

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Office of National Drug Control

• prepare an annual drug control strategy which
  pres. Sends to congress
• coordinate more than 50 federal agencies
  participating in war on drugs

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Office of Policy Development

• Advises president on all matters of domestic
  affairs.

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Office of Management and Budget

• Most influential
• In charge of preparing federal budget
• Approves expenditures of federal agencies
• Monitors spending of the congress appropriates

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Council of Economic Advisers

• 3 of countries leading economists, chosen by
  pres. Make up CEA
• Major source of info. On the state of the
  nations budget

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Additional Important Offices

• Council on Environmental Quality
• Office of U.S. Trade Representatives
• Office of Science and Technology
• Office of Administration
• Support staff

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The Vice President

• I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but
  I may be everything. John Adams
• 8 deaths 1 resignation in presidential post
• Today plays a bigger role member of Cabinet and
  NSC, etc.

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Succession to the Presidency

• The 25th Amendment to the Constitution ratified
  1967
• The Vice President Joseph Biden
• Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
• President pro tempore of the Senate Robert Byrd
• Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
• Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner
• Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
• Attorney General Eric Holder
• Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar
• Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
• Secretary of Commerce TBA
• Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
• Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom
  Daschle
• Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun
  Donovan
• Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood
• Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu
• Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki