Executive Revision

1. Executive Revision A21 Check your answers

2. Executive A21 • ARTICLE 2 of the Constitution sets out key points about the American Executive. Use the picture clues to try and name them [4] • The constitution set out how the President was to be elected – INDIRECTLY but popularly through Electoral college vote. Fixed 4 year term • The only way to remove a President is throughIMPEACHMENTby Congress • It sets out the powers of the President • Under 22nd Amendment it limits terms to 2 TERMS. Which President served more? 2

3. A) CHECKS BY CONGRESS: • Congress can REJECT, AMEND or DELAY any legislation put forward by the President (Filibuster) • The Presidents budget has to be approved by Congress • Congress can override a Presidential Veto with 2/3rds Majority in both houses • Presidential appointments have to be CONFIRMED by Senate • Presidential treaties agreed abroad have to be RATIFIED by Senate • Congress retains the power to declare war and can in theory reject a Presidents demand to go to war • Congress can IMPEACH a President. 2. THE PRESIDENT IS LIMITED by CHECKS AND BALANCES WHAT ARE THEY?? [10] LIMITATIONS PRESIDENTIAL • CHECKS BY JUDICIARY • Through JUDICIAL REVIEW Supreme Court can declare actions or legislation unconstitutional

4. CONGRESS • Can amend/block/ delay legislation • Can override veto • Can refuse to confirm appointments • Can refuse to ratify treaties • SUPREME COURT • Can declare Presidents actions unconstitutional • Example Nixon’s refusal to hand over White house tapes PUBLIC OPINION Some Presidents can survive against the odds due to popularity – Clinton Vs Nixon A21 • OTHERS • Getting the Federal bureaucracy to do things can be difficult • Presidential reputation • Unity of opposition • Crises • Luck Limitations to the powers of Executive [10] PRESSURE GROUPS Can be effective in mobilising public opinion for or against a President – Example Gun laws and Obama FEDERALISM Many Presidents can be limited by the powers at State or local level MEDIA 24/7 Media coverage can make or break Presidents. Bush 9/11 make Bush Hurricane Katrina break

5. PROPOSE LEGISLATION • President can put forward their legislative agenda – State of the Union address • Initiatives include Health care – Clinton/Obama • Poverty - Johnson • SUBMIT BUDGET • The budget issued by Presidents Budget office. • It is then part of intensive negotiation with Congress SIGN LEGISLATION Presidents have to sign bills within 10 days before it becomes law A21 TREATIES Can negotiate and sign treaties but ratified by senate CHIEF EXEC In charge of running the Executive branch POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE [10] VETO A major Presidential power. A President can veto legislation they don’t agree with. Although this can be overturned, this is difficult and so can create compromise COMMANDER IN CHIEF An important power in crisis but checked by Congress power of purse ; investigations and power to declare war PARDON A President has the power to pardon (Ford of Nixon) APPOINT A Pres can appoint judges and a host of other federal positions including Cabinet members

6. Presidential Evolution A21 • What were the Framers original FEARS and intentions about an American President? [5]  • They feared TYRANNY – An Elected Monarch • They also feared a weak President too so were vague about the powers of the office allowing for some stretch in interpretation 2. What events and factors have led to the American Presidency being strengthened in over 200 years? [10]

7. IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY A21 1. Following the Second World War the growth of Presidential power seemed to be phenomenal. This was termed the IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY– Describe it? [10] • This term was used to describe the increasing dominance of the office of President (at the expense of Congress) under a strong of Presidents from FDR –Truman – Eisenhower – Kennedy – Johnson - Nixon • Circumstances particularly in foreign policy had seen the power of the President jump spectacularly. Presidents took vast powers to deal with Depression ; World War; Cold War ; Vietnam; Korea etc Johnson used it to try and eradicate Poverty in his GREAT SOCIETY. He also had the Gulf of Tomkin passed giving him free reign in Vietnam • This all ended with Nixon and WATERGATE

8. IMPERILLED PRESIDENCY A21 2. What factors led the Imperial Presidency to become the Imperilled Presidency in the 1970’s?? [10] • This term was used to describe the spectacular decline of the office of President following two earth shattering moments in American History – WATERGATE and VIETNAM • Congress began to be RESURGENT and used the public discontent of the President to rein in their powers • Congressional resources were boosted (Budget office set up) • 1972 Case Act – Congress forces the President to inform them of all agreements made with other countries • War Powers Resolution Act – restricted in theory Presidential power to commit troops abroad (Vetoed by Nixon and overridden) • Several Nixon Supreme Court nominees rejected • Threat of impeachment

9. New Imperial Presidency? A21 3. Why was the period of George W Bush’s term 2000—2004 termed the New Imperial Presidency? [10] • The aftermath of 9/11 and war on terror had profound effect on America and led to a huge boost to Executive power • Power concentrated in Executive especially after Bush re-elected as a war President • Congress was much more docile in the face of external threats, as was Supreme Court • Republicans controlled Congress 2000-2006 and were much more ideologically cohesive and conservative. What did they control? • PATRIOT ACT pushed through. Authority for a Security State- surveillance and wire tapping • Guantanamo bay ; imprisonment without trial; Department of homeland security; Ease of starting Iraq war. Increase of Executive orders

10. Persuasion through people Vice President (Senate and foothold in Congress) Congressional liaison staff in West Wing Cabinet Officers and Party leaders A21 Persuasion through perks Phone calls ; personal meetings; invites to camp David Help with legislation Appointments Campaigning for members The President can use their own personal mandate and the media to persuade- Gun laws How can a President achieve their agenda? PRESIDENTIAL PERSUASION The President is nicknamed the ‘BARGAINER IN CHIEF’. They are to try and use their coalition building skills to hammer out agreements. Bush did this with Democrats in ‘No Child Left behind act’ Obama is struggling to do this with Gun Control.

11. Executive Policies FOREIGN POLICY DOMESTIC POLICY A21 • A President can make the biggest impact on the world stage • Kennedy – Cuba FDR- WWII • Clinton – Ireland / Middle East • Reagan – Cold War • Bush Senior – Gulf War • George W – Iraq / Afghanistan / War on terror. • CONGRESS usually defers to Presidents wishes in FP and gives them a relatively free rein • They face severe difficulties in trying to enact their policies in the face of divided government and partisan parties (Health care; welfare ; economic policy) • They focus on domestic policy when they have most chance of achieving success – Obama and healthcare

12. HONEYMOON PERIOD • The 1st 100 days when Presidential power is at its height and he has sympathy • LAME DUCK PERIOD • The final period in office when power is fading away • 1st or 2nd term? • 1st term may give him the benefit of the doubt. 2nd term experience expected CLEAR DIRECTION AND LEADERSHIP His direction is clear and Congress is confident of his leadership A21 EVENTS These can boost a Presidents power Party Support In Congress and country can be important SKILLS Political and personal skills in coalition building What circumstances affect the Presidency? Public approval This is often linked to stage of office and state of economy or FP Bush was only 26% at end(90% at 9/11) Obama was 70% in 2008 but 40% recently MANDATE Bush lost popular vote in 2000. Clinton got only 43% in 1992. Obama got 53% of vote in 2008 DIVIDED GOVT. This is often a problem for a Pres Obama had majorities in both House in 2008. Mid terms change this INSIDER? An insider – ex Senator will have more skills and connections than a Governor

13. WHAT IS THE EXOP? A21 The EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT is an umbrella term for a number of agencies that were set up to provide help, advice, coordination and administrative support to the President It was established in the 1930s by the BROWNLOW COMMITTEE in recognition that the office of President had grown so much that it needed its own dedicated help. It now has over 3,000 staff. There are 3 main agencies

14. WHITE HOUSE STAFF • Presidents closest aides • PRESS SECRETARY • CHIEF OF STAFF • DEPUTY CHIEF • ROLE • Give Policy advice • Manage crises • Liaise with Federal bureaucracy & Congress • Decide the Presidents daily schedule • Ensure orderly decision making • They are meant to act as ‘honest brokers’ and have a ‘passion for anonymity’ • THE CHIEF OF STAFF is a key position. They are there to act as the salesman or ‘javelin catcher’ for the President, taking the blame in a crises. • Currently Denis McDonough A21

15. NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL • ROLE • Created to help the President coordinate foreign and defence policy. • Headed by National Security Advisor • Coordinates advice from State department, defence dept, CIA, Congressional committees, UN ambassadors • Present carefully argued options • Has included CONDOLEEZA RICE A21 • Office of Management and Budget • ROLE • To advise President on allocation of Federal funds in budget • To oversee spending of Federal government departments. • LEON PANNETA was a good example of a director in this agency under Clinton.

16. A21 3. Why is the EXOP important to the President The EXOP gives the President a dependable and partisan group of advisors he can rely on and sound ideas off (as alternative to Cabinet who may have other agendas) It gives him a strong group of members to help in a crisis and manage the media and relations with other parts of government 4. What criticisms are made about EXOP? • President can become isolated and remote – listening only to his political cronies. (Bush and Karl Rove) • Unelected and unaccountable – few members subject to confirmation or oversight powers • Policy drift – when disputes with CABINET SECRETARIES occur (Big differences in Obama administration over Afghanistan)

17. Cabinets UK US • Important in UK. Meets every week. • Cabinet members are part of the legislature, (fusion of powers) individually elected as an MP. Therefore they can potentially be a threat to a PM • Cabinet controlled by Collective responsibility • Cabinet also responsible for its actions by Ministerial Responsibility accountable to Parliament • PM supposed to be Primus Inter Pares (1st among equals) However they can be highly dominant (Thatcher / Blair) • Appointments made are restricted to the Commons unlike President • Appointments are not CONFIRMED unlike US • Coalition government also adds a further division between US and UK. This affects PM powers • Presidentialised systems such as Blair saw power centralised sidelining Cabinet • Cabinet members are chosen for their expertise and ability. They cannot be selected from Congress. They are specialist not generalist as in UK. • They are also chosen to represent America. Gender; geography; race • They are not as important in American political system with little party ties • The Cabinet is selected to implement the Presidents policies. Appear before committees to represent President • They have to be confirmed. • They can choose rival political parties in the name of bipartisanship • Presidents have the EXOP- some don’t rely on Cabinet. They fear IRON TRIANGLES

18. VICE PRESIDENT A21 1. Who is the current VP? Joe Biden 2. How is a VP chosen?  They are chosen as a JOINT TICKET officially at Convention level but usually beforehand by Presidential candidate. They often try to BALANCE THE TICKET – Conservative & Liberal / North & South / Male and Female Newly appointed VP’s have to be confirmed by both houses.

19. Presiding officer over Senate Can vote the CASTING VOTE (in the event of tie) Example – Cheney and $trillion tax cut Chairs a Senate debate (this is formal and rarely happens) A21 COUNTING ECV’s Formal power announcing the winner The President can use their own personal mandate and the media to persuade- Gun laws Powers of a VP PRESIDENT IN WAITING They take over in times when the President is sick or incapacitated. Reagan 1981 (operation) Johnson took over from JFK after assasination. Ford after Nixon resigned

20. Increasing importance? A21 • Stepping stone to Presidency – George Bush Senior ; Truman ; Johnson • They all attend Cabinet meetings and are increasingly important in piecing together government. • They are very important if the President is a Washington outsider. They can help in plugging this gap and building congressional coalitions. (CHENEY) • Highly visible office today • Biden excelled in the Vice Presidential debates in election helping Obama claw back points