Unit 4 Part 2

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

7:47 AM

1. Key Questions
1. Powers
i. Formal:
Commander in chief
Commission officers
Grant pardons and reprieves for fed offense
Convene Congress in special sessions
Receive ambassadors
Faithfully execution of laws
Wield executive power Appoint officials of lesser offices
Veto
ii. Informal:
Access to media
Persuasion
2. The President has used many of these powers to expand the authority of the presidency. For example
throughout our history the commander in chief role of the president has grown exponentially.
3. I am under the opinion that to have a powerful country you need a powerful leader, so no the
president is not too powerful. However, the men that formed this nation did not envision such a
powerful leader, so in that respect the role is too powerful.
2. Objectives
1. Analyze restrictions on presidential foreign policy initiatives.
The president can say anything he wants to foreign nations but congress has the real power to
make decisions in that regard. However, if the President said we'd start trade with Cuba then the
Congress said no it would be horrible press for the nation. So, if the president says something in a
foreign setting it is likely to be true.
2. Analyze strategies for presidential opposition to Congress and the Supreme Court.
The President often picks middle-ground topics to focus on in order to obtain an agreement
between the two sides. There are also many times a president may hold their ground in order to
keep the policy how he/she wants it.
3. Analyze sources of presidential powers.
Many powers of the President are clearly stated in the constitution but how far that power
spreads is all based on the citizens. In depression citizens want the president to take reign of the
budget. In war times citizens want the president to be more powerful and authoritative. What it
comes down to is whether or not a president will get re-elected after something like this. If they
do the trend will continue.
3. Vocabulary
1. Caucus: A meeting of the members of a legislative body who are members of a particular political
party, to select candidates or decide policy
2. Gridlock: Refers to a situation when there is difficulty of passing laws in a legislature because the votes
for and against a proposed law are evenly divided, or in which two legislative houses, or the executive
branch and the legislature are controlled by different political parties, or otherwise cannot agree.
3. Party Polarization: Refers to the divergence of political attitudes to ideological extremes.
4. Notes
Presidency
Characteristics
100% male
98% White
97% Protestant
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97% Protestant
82% British
77% College Educated
69% politicians
62% lawyers
>50% form top 3% wealth
.5% born to poverty
69% elected from large states
Qualifications
35 years old
Born in us
Live in us for 14 years
Benefits
$400,000 tax free
$50,000/year expense account
$1,900 entertainment account
$100,000/year travel expenses
White House
Secret service protection
Camp David country estate
Air Force One personal air plane
Staff of 400-500
Election & Terms of office
4 year terms
No law for party nominees
2 term limit
22nd amendment
Broken by FDR, elected 4 times
Powers
Expressed
Granted under constitution
Delegated
Assigned to one branch then performed by another with express permission of the first
Inherent
Powers claimed that are not expressed but inferred
Modern Presidency
President has become more powerful
Modern presidency begins with FDR who was elected for four terms due to national crisis
FDR personalized presidency with fireside chats
Modern President
Leads large government
Plays active role in foreign and domestic policy
Plays strong legislative role
Uses technology to get 'close to Americans'
Development of Presidential Power
All presidents have had similar formal grants of power
The power and success of president is dependent upon
Personality
Informal powers
Goals
Events
Formal Powers
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 Formal Powers
Chief Executive
Faithfully Execute the law
Grant the pardons
Nominate judges of the supreme court
Fill vacancies that may happen during recess of Senate
Foreign Affairs
Appoint ambassadors, ministers, and consuls
Make treaties subject to senate confirmation
Receive ambassadors
Diplomatic Recognition
Chief legislator
Give state of the union address
Recommend measures to congress
Presidential Veto
Veto message within 10 days of passing house of origin
Pocket veto - president does not sign within 10 days
Congress can override with 2/3 majority from both houses
Veto Politics
Congressional override is difficult. (only 4%)
Threat of veto can cause Congress to make changes in legislation
Executive privilege
Right to decide information should be withheld for national security
Access to Media
Allows president to reach public in a way no other institution can
Persuasion
Bargain with members of congress and bureaucracy
Emergency Powers
In a crisis pretty much anything can be done
Congressional Checks on the President
Senate approves appointments
Veto Override
Impeachment
Limits on Presidential Power
President elected by electoral college
If no majority of votes is given congress decides the president
President must give SOTUA
Senate approves appointments
President and the Press
They're often adversaries
Press secretary is the main contact
Often more interested in the person, not the politics
Congressional Investigations
Oliver North scapegoat for Iran-Contra hearing
Whitewater
Interest Groups & NGOs
White House Office
President's closest advisors and staff
Most Powerful official is chief of staff
Office of Management and Budget
Prepares budget
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 Prepares budget
Decides with president how much money should go to each government program
National Security Council
Help president direct military and foreign policy
Head is national security advisor
Council of economic advisors
Helps president carry out role as economic leader
Cabinet
Appointments
Classified in terms of political proximity to the president
Factors
Safe nominees
Interest groups
Party affiliation
5. Wilson: Quiz
6. I believe this is the best way you can set the class up. It seems to be the best way to go about it all. I
definitely feel like I learned more this unit than any other. Please continue this.

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