Chapter Fourteen The Presidency Chapter Fourteen Learning Objectives Summarize the key developments in the history of the American presidency and describe their importance Describe the organization of the executive branch and how it influences presidential deliberation ID: 718188
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "American Government and Politics: Delib..." is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
American Government and Politics: Deliberation, Democracy, and Citizenship
Chapter Fourteen
The PresidencySlide2
Chapter Fourteen: Learning Objectives
Summarize the key developments in the history of the American presidency and describe their importance
Describe the organization of the executive branch and how it influences presidential deliberationSlide3
Chapter Fourteen: Learning Objectives
Explain how the interaction of the presidency with the other branches affects the exercise of executive power and the functioning of the national government
Identify the ways in which presidents independently exercise authoritySlide4
Chapter Fourteen: Learning Objectives
Explain how presidents, Congress, and the courts have interacted, and sometimes clashed, in the area of foreign policy and war powers
Describe Congress’s power to hold presidents accountable for serious constitutional violations through impeachment and removalSlide5
Chapter Fourteen: Learning Objectives
Explain how presidents contribute to public deliberation on national issuesDiscuss how Americans judge presidential performance and what makes for presidential greatnessSlide6
Introduction
Presidents must deliberate with other governmental actors as well as the public in order to accomplish their goals.
Presidents have unique advantages as well as unique problems in deliberation.Slide7
Historical Development of the Presidency:Creating the Presidency
Features of the presidency
Single person has executive power
President
has a variety of powers
Legislature does not select president
Presidential term is four yearsSlide8
International Perspectives
Presidents and prime ministers
Prime ministers share power with members of parliament that serve in the cabinet.
American presidents rise to power through elections, not congressional service. Slide9
Historical Development of the Presidency:Citizenship and the Presidency
Article II, Section I sets forth the citizenship requirements for the presidency which require the presidency to be either “a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of the Constitution.”Slide10
Historical Development of the Presidency:Washington and the Early Presidents
How did the following early presidents contribute to the office?
George Washington
John Adams
Thomas JeffersonSlide11
Historical Development of the Presidency:Jackson and the Democratization
Jackson was the first president to
Speak directly to citizens, bypassing Congress
Interpret reelection as popular endorsement
Call himself the direct representative of citizensSlide12
Historical Development of the Presidency:Lincoln and the Civil War
Lincoln faced many struggles during the Civil War and one of his more controversial actions was the suspension of habeas corpus.
Was the suspension of habeas corpus by Lincoln constitutional? Why or why not?Slide13
Historical Development of the Presidency:Rise of the Modern Presidency
Theodore Roosevelt
Believed president was “a steward of the people”
Called the presidency a
“bully pulpit”
Use of rhetoric to develop policy
Bettmann/CORBISSlide14
Historical Development of the Presidency:Rise of the Modern Presidency
Woodrow Wilson
Scholar of American government (had a Ph.D.)
Made presidency center of policymaking
Shaped theory of modern presidencySlide15
Historical Development of the Presidency:Rise of the Modern Presidency
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Added political skill and charisma to presidency
Elected to presidency four times
Dominant on the national political scene
Bettmann/CORBISSlide16
Historical Development of the Presidency:The Contemporary Presidency
Since FDR, most presidents have embraced the role of legislative leader.
Contemporary presidents use rhetoric to influence public opinion.
Pete Souza/Mai /LandovSlide17
Historical Development of the Presidency:The Contemporary Presidency
Rethinking presidential power
The Vietnam War and Watergate made many Americans rethink presidential power.
Nixon’s successors had more low-key governing styles. Slide18
Historical Development of the Presidency:The Contemporary Presidency
Ronald Reagan
Reagan spoke against big government.
Reagan relied on rhetoric so much that he earned the nickname “The Great Communicator.”Slide19
Myths and Misinformation
Reagan and the size of governmentReagan’s quote concerning the size of government has been misconstrued.
Reagan had a more flexible approach to government than some would admit.Slide20
Historical Development of the Presidency:The Contemporary Presidency
Reagan’s successors
Have had a significant impact on foreign and national security policy
Not as dominant in areas of domestic policy
Controversy over president’s powers renewed after 9/11Slide21
Historical Development of the Presidency:The Contemporary Presidency
Barack Obama
Refashioned national security policy
Passed a large stimulus plan through Congress
Led federal “bailout” of banking and auto industry
Pushing for major national health care reformSlide22
Organization of the Executive Branch:The Vice Presidency
Nine vice presidents have become president.
Until recently, the vice president did not have many powers as the only constitutional duty of the office is serving as president of the Senate.Slide23
Organization of the Executive Branch:Executive Office of the President
Created in 1939, the Executive Office of the President
is the formal staff organization of the White House.
Presidents have delegated authority to these staffers in different ways.Slide24
Executive Office of the Presidency:The Cabinet
The Cabinet
is the president’s formal advisers. There are 15 cabinet-level departments.
Presidents rely on their cabinet secretaries in many ways.Slide25
Organization of the Executive Branch:The Special Case of National Security
The National Security Council (NSC)
was established in 1947 to deliberate about national security and foreign policy.
Presidents typically prefer to make decisions related to national security based on deliberation with the NSC.Slide26
Organization of the Executive Branch:White House Deliberation
Two obstacles in deliberation
Groupthink
Prestige of presidency may intimidate people to defer to his wishesSlide27
The Presidency and the Other Branches
What effect does the interaction of the presidency with the other branches have on the exercise of executive power and the functioning of the national government?Slide28
The Presidency and the Other Branches:The Two-Way Street of Persuasion
Presidents use a mix of deliberation and bargaining to influence Congress.
Congresspersons also want to influence the president’s policy decisions.Slide29
The Presidency and the Other Branches:Vetoes
Presidents may influence legislation through vetoes.
Vetoes are typically more common in times of divided government, but the president does rely on his party to provide opposition to sustain vetoes.Slide30
The Presidency and the Other Branches:Direct Authority
Tools of direct authority
Proclamations
Executive orders
Signing statements
Recess appointments
Executive agreementsSlide31
The Presidency and the Other Branches:Foreign Policy and the War Power
Presidents work with their advisers to negotiate treaties with foreign countries and to make policies related to war and national defense.
The Constitution grants the power to declare war to Congress, but presidents exercise war power.Slide32
The Presidency and the Other Branches:Foreign Policy and the War Power
Throughout history, Congress has passed resolutions to support the president’s use of the armed forces for war actions.
The War Powers Resolution
(1974) was passed by Congress to limit the president’s war making powers.Slide33
The Presidency and the Other Branches:Investigation, Privilege, and Impeachment
Presidents have exercised executive privilege
to keep information confidential.
In
U.S. v. Nixon
(1974), the president’s right to exercise executive privilege was recognized by the Supreme Court.Slide34
The Presidency and the Other Branches:Investigation, Privilege, and Impeachment
Presidents may be forced out of office through the impeachment
process.
The House draws up the articles of impeachment and the Senate conducts the trial.Slide35
Pledges and Promises
The presidential oath of office
The presidential oath is different from other oaths.
The words of the oath have been important in impeachment battles.Slide36
The Presidency and the Other Branches:The Judiciary
Presidents attempt to influence the judiciary through their appointments to the federal courts.
Presidents also appoint the solicitor general, who is responsible for government litigation in the Supreme Court.Slide37
The Political Presidency
When and how do presidents deliberate with the general public?
Do you believe such deliberation is influential on presidential behavior? Why or why not?Slide38
The Political Presidency: Links to Parties and Interest Groups
Presidents want to influence public opinion and may try to do so through party activists and interest groups.
There are limitations placed on the president’s use of government resources for political activities such as election campaigns.Slide39
The Political Presidency: Communication and the White House
Contemporary presidents have emphasized communication with the public and to do that, they have employed press secretaries and speechwriters to assist them.
How does speechwriting foster deliberation?Slide40
The Political Presidency: Presidents and Public Opinion
Many factors influence the public’s opinion of the president, but the economy and national security have greater impact.
What is the
rally effect
and how does that affect the president’s public opinion numbers?Slide41
The Political Presidency: Presidents, Sacrifice, and Citizenship
During difficult times, the president often asks Americans to sacrifice.
Asking for sacrifice may have an impact on a president’s public opinion ratings.Slide42
Presidential Greatness
Two factors in assessing presidential greatness
Time and chance
Courage and convictionSlide43
Presidential Greatness
Source: From Intercollegiate Review (Spring 1998). Copyright © 1988 by Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Inc.
Reprinted with permission.Slide44
The Presidency and Deliberative Democracy
How do presidents contribute to deliberative democracy?Deliberate with advisers and aides
Work to influence Congress
Participate in national debate to influence public opinionSlide45
Deliberation, Citizenship, and You
Influencing public deliberationImagine you are the president’s speechwriter and he asks you to write a speech on a subject that deserves more national attention. What would you write about? Who is your audience?Slide46
Summary
President protects nation, carries out lawsPresidents have been legislative leaders
Presidency is more than just one person
Presidents need to mobilize public support