Ch. 13 - The Presidency

1. Ch. 13 - The Presidency

2. The Many Roles of the President • Chief of State • Ceremonial head of the country • Acts as the “face of the U.S.” • Welcomes foreign dignitaries • For example…

5. The Many Roles of the President • Chief Executive • Ensures that the nation’s laws are enforced and carried out • Head of the executive branch

6. The Many Roles of the President • Chief Administrator • Head of the entire bureaucracy – people who work for the government to implement policies • Appoints everyone in the top levels of the bureaucracy, with approval of a majority of the Senate • May also fire any appointed person • does not need Senate approval for firing

9. The Many Roles of the President • Chief Diplomat • Develops the nation’s foreign policy stances • Top advisor on foreign policy is the Secretary of State • Spokesperson to the rest of the world • Meets and befriends leaders of foreign countries

12. The Many Roles of the President • Commander-in-Chief • Top commander of all branches of the armed forces • All are subject to his immediate control • Can wage undeclared wars

15. The Many Roles of the President • Chief Legislator • Proposes Laws to Congress • Chooses whether to sign bills into law or veto them • Can also issue executive orders – changes in executive branch policy that have the effect of law

18. The Many Roles of the President • Chief of Party • He is the undisputed leader and face of the party that helped elect him • Helps raise money and campaign for other party members • The “coattail effect” – Congressional candidates from the party “ride his coattails” into victory

20. The Many Roles of the President • Chief Citizen • Work to help the public as a whole, rather than private interests • Represent what all American people should be (in terms of character)

23. Qualifications WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE WORLD?!?!

24. Qualifications • 35 years old • Natural Born U.S. Citizen • Could be born in another country to an American parent (jus sanguinis) • Or born on U.S. soil (jus solis) • Resident of the U.S. for 14 years

25. Terms • Pres. serves a 4 year term • Limited to 2 terms by the 22nd Amendment • If V.P. takes over less than half of President’s term, it doesn’t count against him • Thus, most possible years = 10

26. $ Perks $ • Salary of $400,000 per year for life • $50,000 in expenses • Free medical care for life • Live in the White House • Use of Air Force One, Marine One, other transportation

27. Presidential Succession • Constitution originally only provided that when Pres. becomes incapable, V.P. would become “acting president” • Didn’t address: • Is V.P. now president forever? • Does “acting president” have the same power as president? • What if the V.P. leaves office? • Who decides if the president is “unable” • How is it determined when the president is “able” again? • All of this was fixed by the 25th Amendment (1967)

28. Presidential Succession • If president dies, resigns, is impeached, or is temporarily incapable, succession occurs • Pres. can be declared temporarily incapable by himself, or V.P. with a majority of the Cabinet (25th Amendment)

29. Presidential Succession • What if more than just the president dies, or is removed from office? • Order of Succession – set by Presidential Succession Act of 1947 • Vice President • Speaker of the House • President Pro-Tempore • Secretary of State • Each Cabinet Dept. Secretary in the order they were created

30. Presidential Succession • Impeachment – Explained in pieces of Articles I and II, on grounds of “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors” • House – “sole power of impeachment”, brings charges with a majority vote • Brought against 2 presidents – Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton • Senate – “sole power to try all impeachments”, convicts and removes with a 2/3 vote • Never successfully removed a president • Chief Justice – presides over trial of the president

31. The floor of the Senate during Clinton’s Impeachment Trial

32. But what if I die?!?!

33. Vice-Presidential Succession • If V.P. dies or resigns, president picks a new one • Majority of both houses of Congress must approve

34. What Does the Veep Do? • 2 Important Jobs (sarcasm) • Take over if the Pres. dies • Preside over the Senate • These 2 jobs take no time, and allowed Dick Cheney to spend time shooting old men in the face

36. So What do They Really Do? Reagan didn’t let me do anything. • They do whatever the president lets them do

37. How to Pick a V.P. • Balance the Ticket – pick a guy with qualities that will draw voters you wouldn’t

38. President Reagan From California (West Coast) Very conservative Idea man – not concerned with details Vice-President Bush From Connecticut (East Coast) Moderate conservative Technocrat – obsessed with nuance/details Example of Balancing the Ticket

39. Great Moments in Vice Presidential History

40. As Joe Biden introduces himself at a campaign event in central Missouri, he takes a moment to recognize the achievements of a dedicated public servant who happens to be paraplegic and wheelchair-bound.

41. Presidential Powers • Article II offers a vague definition of the president’s power • Section 3 - “Take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” for example • Has allowed substantial growth in presidential power

42. Presidential Powers • National Security Powers • Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces (expressed in Article II) • Power to wage undeclared wars (implied from Commander-in-Chief power) • Power to negotiate treaties • Power to make executive agreements

43. Presidential Powers • Legislative Powers of the President • Power to sign or veto bills • Signing statements – written explanation of how the president intends to implement a law he signs • Veto can be overridden by a 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress • Power to propose laws to Congress • Power to issue executive orders – directives with the effect of law • Power to call special sessions of Congress

44. Presidential Powers • Judicial Powers of the President • Clemency powers (apply only in federal crimes) • Pardon – complete forgiveness of an individual’s crime • Ford’s pardon of Nixon after Watergate • Amnesty – complete forgiveness to all who violated a law • Jimmy Carter to draft dodgers, Reagan to illegal immigrants • Commutation – reducing a criminal sentence • George W. Bush reduced Scooter Libby’s sentence to 1 day after the “Plamegate” scandal • Reprieve – delay the execution of a sentence • 2 married Enron execs with children, mother was reprieved for 10 years so she could raise the kids while father was in prison

45. Presidential Powers • Judicial Powers of the President • Power to appoint judges and justices • must have “advice and consent” from Senate (majority vote)

46. What Determines Whether a President is Effective or Not? • Richard Neustadt’s Theory of Presidential Power: • The power of the presidency the power to persuade.

47. Neustadt’s 5 Constituencies • Effective Presidents successfully persuade the following 5 groups to back their agenda: • The Public • His Party • The Bureaucracy • Congress • Foreign Nations • Neustadt rates presidents based on how they do with each of these groups

48. Running the Government:The Executive Branch • The Cabinet • Presidential advisors, not in Constitution • Top executives of the 15 Federal Departments, confirmed by the Senate • Generally political appointments, not necessarily personally loyal to the president

50. Running the Government:The Executive Branch • The Executive Office of the President (EOP) • Made up of several policymaking and advisory bodies • Three principle groups: NSC, CEA, OMB Figure 13.1