1 / 21

Ch. 14 The President in Action

Ch. 14 The President in Action. Where Does the President’s Power Come From?. Article II of the Constitution – called the Executive Article Most vaguely written and loosely interpreted Article of the Constitution. The “Imperial Presidency”. President’s power is always growing, never shrinking

Download Presentation

Ch. 14 The President in Action

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Ch. 14 The President in Action

  2. Where Does the President’s Power Come From? • Article II of the Constitution – called the Executive Article • Most vaguely written and loosely interpreted Article of the Constitution

  3. The “Imperial Presidency” • President’s power is always growing, never shrinking • Reasons: • President is one person – doesn’t argue with himself like Congress or the Courts

  4. The “Imperial Presidency” • President’s power is always growing, never shrinking • Reasons: • Life in America gets more complicated, people look to the President to fix problems

  5. The “Imperial Presidency” • President’s power is always growing, never shrinking • Reasons: • National emergencies require someone to act quickly, which only the President can do

  6. The “Imperial Presidency” • President’s power is always growing, never shrinking • Reasons: • Congress creates new programs, which executive branch must oversee

  7. The “Imperial Presidency” • President’s power is always growing, never shrinking • Reasons: • President can use mass media to attract attention like no one else in government

  8. Types of Powers • Expressed Powers – clearly written, spelled out in black and white in the Constitution • Ex. – “He shall have the power with the advise and consent of the Senate . . . to appoint ambassadors . . .” etc. (Article II, Section 2)

  9. Types of Powers • Implied Powers – not written in the Constitution, but reasonably derived from expressed powers • Ex. – Removal power isn’t specifically mentioned, but implied since he appoints executive branch officials

  10. Executive Powers • Power to Execute the Law • Expressed in the Oath of Office, also at the end of Article II • Gives him power to implement all federal laws passed by Congress

  11. Executive Powers • The Ordinance Power • Implied from power to execute the law • Gives him power to issue executive orders – a directive, rule, or regulation that has the effect of law (without Congress’s approval)

  12. Executive Powers • The Appointment Power • Expressed in Article II, Sec. 2 • Gives him power to appoint: • Ambassadors and diplomats • Cabinet members • Heads of agencies • Judges and U.S. Attorneys • Officers in the armed forces

  13. Executive Powers • The Removal Power • Implied from President’s Appointment Power • Gives him power to dismiss anyone he appointed • But not judges!

  14. Foreign Relations Powers • Power to make treaties • President negotiates, Senate approves with a 2/3 vote

  15. Foreign Relations Powers • Power to make executive agreements • Like treaties, but without Senate approval

  16. Foreign Relations Powers • Power of Recognition • Acknowledgement of legal existence of a country or government • Countries that recognize one another trade diplomats • President can kick diplomats out, declaring them persona non grata

  17. Legislative Powers • Power to propose laws • Not really expressed or implied, he just can do it since he’s so closely watched • Best time to propose new laws – the State of the Union Address, where the President must inform the nation once a year of our present situation

  18. Judicial Powers • Powers of Clemency – can use for anyone charged or convicted on a federal offense (not on state crimes!) • Reprieve – postpone a sentence • Pardon – forgive a crime • Commutation – shortening a sentence • Amnesty – forgiveness for a large group of lawbreakers

  19. What Determines Whether a President is Effective or Not? • Richard Neustadt’s Theory of Presidential Power: • The power of the presidency is determined by his ability to persuade 5 “constituencies” of people

  20. Neustadt’s 5 Constituencies • The Public • His Party • The Bureaucracy • Congress • Foreign Nations • Neustadt rates presidents based on how they do with each of these groups

  21. Neustadt’s 5 Constituencies • The important thing in Neustadt Ratings is not how often you get what you want • It is how often you take steps to improve your chances of getting what you want in the future

More Related