Presidency (Unit IV)
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What are the Constitutional Powers of the
President?
What are the informal roles of the President?
Why do scholars argue that the informal
responsibilities are more important?
How has the power of the Presidency grown
over the years?
www.potus.com
Unit IV: Institutions of Government: Congress, Presidency,
Bureaucracy, Courts
(35-45%)
Power of President vs. Congress
The next 15 slides address this:
Great resource on
WPA:http://loufreyinstitute.org/ci
vicsconnection/conversations/4/
16
PRESIDENT vs.
CONGRESS
The Struggle for Political Power
THREE CONSTITUTIONAL
REQUIREMENTS
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NATURAL BORN CITIZEN
LIVED IN CONTINUOUSLY IN
UNITEDSTATES FOR 14 YEARS
35 YEARS OLD
CONSTITUTIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES
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COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
HEAD EXECUTIVE BRANCH
NEGOTIATE TREATIES
STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSES
MAKE APPOINTMENTS
INFORMAL ROLES OF
PRESIDENT MORE IMPORTANT
CHIEF LAWMAKER
PARTY LEADER
CRISIS MANAGER
RECRUITER
MORALE BUILDER
CHIEF DIPLOMAT
Current Events and the War
Powers Resolution
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/world/afr
ica/13powers.html?_r=1
War Powers Act?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/world/a
frica/13powers.html?_r=2
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/de
ath-of-the-war-powersact/2011/05/17/AF3Jh35G_story.html?hpid=
z5
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/1
62323-lawmakers-quiet-on-war-powersauthority-in-libya●
WHAT DID THE FRAMERS
ENVISION ROLE OF
PRESIDENCY TO BE?
Federalist #70
Alexander Hamilton
ARTHUR SCHLESINGER
WROTE “THE IMPERIAL
PRESIDENCY”
POWER OF PRESIDENCY HAS
GROWN IN MODERN TIMES “PRESIDENT CAN RULE BY
DECREE”
POWER OF
PRESIDENCY
HAS DOMINATED
CONGRESS IN FOUR
MAIN AREAS:
ONE: WAR POWERS
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President =
Commander in
Chief
Congress
declares war
President
Johnson
persuades
Congress to
enact Gulf of
Tonkin
WAR POWERS ACT
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ENACTED DURING NIXON’S ADMINISTRATION
TROOPS ABROAD REQUIRE CONGRESSIONAL
APPROVAL (BTW 60 - 90 DAYS)
CONGRESS REASSERTING ITS AUTHORITY
NIXON VETOED BILL
CONGRESS OVERRIDES THE VETO
TWO: LEGISLATIVE POWERS
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CHIEF LAWMAKER
VETO POWER
FEWER THAN 3% OVERRIDDEN
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PRESIDENTAL SIGNING STATEMENTS –
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EXECUTIVE
ORDERS(Korematsu v. US)
BUDGET MAKING
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PRESIDENT IS CENTRAL TO BUDGET
MAKING PROCESS
CONSTITUTION SAYS CONGRESS HAS
POWER OF PURSE
PRESIDENT IMPOUNDS FUNDS
CONGRESS FIGHTS BACK FOR
POWER
BUDGET IMPOUNDMENT
CONTROL ACT (1974)
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CREATED THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE (CBO)
GAVE CONGRESS THEIR OWN
ECONOMIC ADVISORS
MADE THE IMPOUNDMENT OF
FUNDS MORE DIFFICULT
THREE: APPOINTEES
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CONFIRMING A CABINET USUALLY
VERY EASY
MANY WHITE HOUSE STAFF
OFFICIALS (NATIONAL
SECURITYADVISOR) DO NOT
REQUIRE SENATE CONFIRMATION
POLICY CZARS (OBAMA)
FOUR: FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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WITH GROWING NATIONAL SECURITY
PRESIDENTS GAINED POWER OF
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEDGE
ALLOWS THEM TO WITHHOLD
INFORMATION IN COURT INQUIRIES IF
INFORMATION WOULD ENDANGER
NATIONAL SECURITY
US v. Nixon
TREATY MAKING
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CONSTITUTION REQUIRES SENATE
RATIFICATION OF ALL TREATIES
PRESIDENTS CAN MAKE “EXECUTIVE
AGREEMENTS” THAT HAVE
THEEFFECT OF A TREATY (NO SENATE
RATIFICATION REQUIRED)
CONCLUSION:
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POWER OF PRESIDENCY HAS
GROWN OVER CONGRESS
PRESIDENT CAN WAGE WAR
PRESIDENT CAN LEGISLATE
PRESIDENT CAN APPOINT
PRESIDENT CAN DOMINATE
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ALL WITH LITTLE INTERFERENCE
FROM CONGRESS!