THE PRESIDENCY:
PURPOSE: TO PREVENT AN HEREDITARY ARISTOCRACY FROM RUNNING THE
COUNTRY (OOPS)
ARTICLE II REQUIREMENTS:
PRESIDENT MUST WIN MAJORITY OF ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE:
PURPOSE OF ELECTORAL COLLEGE:
TO “DELIBERATE” AS TO WHOM THE BEST PERSON IS TO BE PRESIDENT: THE
FEAR WAS THE PEOPLE MIGHT ELECT SOME EMPTY HEADED, INEXPERIENCED,
UNQUALIFIED PRETTY BOY RELYING ON HIS FAMILY’S NAME AND $$ TO BE
PRESIDENT, AND THAT’S SOMETHING
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS:
12 TH
CHANGED WHO BECOMES VICE-PRESIDENT
20 TH
CHANGED DATE OF INAGURATION FROM MARCH TO JANUARY
22 ND
LIMITS THE PRESIDENT TO 2 TERMS
CANNOT BE MORE THAN TWICE ELECTED PRESIDENT
EVERY PRESIDENT BUT JFK HAS SAID ITS GOT TO GO,
OR BE MODIFIED TO A 2 CONSECUTIVE TERM LIMIT
LIMITS VICE-PRESIDENT BECOMING PRESIDENT TO 10 YRS.
23 RD
LET WASHINGTON DC RESIDENT VOTE FOR PRESIDENT
BY GIVING DC 3 ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES
25 TH :
2 AMENDMENTS IN ONE:
PRESIDENTIAL INCAPACITY:
PRESIDENT CAN VOLUNTARILY REMOVE HIMSELF FROM THE PRESIDENCY

“TEMPORARILY” BY WRITING A NOTE
OR INVOLUNTARILY BY THE CABINET AND VICE-PRESIDENT
(CONSIDERED DURING BOTH NIXON AND REAGAN PRESIDENCY)
THE OTHER PART ALLOWS THE PRESIDENT TO REPLACE THE VP IF HE LEAVES
OFFICE BEFORE HIS (THE VP’S) TERM IS UP:
FIRST USED TO REPLACE SPIRO AGNEW WITH FORD
FORD THEN USED IT TO REPLACE HIMSELF WITH NELSON ROCKEFELLER
NELSON ROCKEFELLER’S DEATH
FORMAL REQUIREMENTS TO BE PRESIDENT:
35 YEARS OLD
(MOST FOLKS DIED BY AGE 40 IN 1787)
NATURAL BORN CITIZEN
(BORN TO US CITIZEN OVERSEAS OR ANYONE BORN IN
GEOGRAPHIC/TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF US)
14 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE US
(PRESIDENT OF CONTINENTAL CONGRESS WROTE KING OF HANOVER ASKING
HIM TO BECOME KING OF THE US AFTER REVOLUTION)
INFORMAL REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL PROFILE OF PRESIDENTS
1.
WHITE: (NOT JUST WHITE, REALLY, REALLY WHITE)
NORTHERN EUROPEAN/SCANDANAVIAN/GERMANIC/ANGLO WHITE
NO OFF-WHITE, BEIGE, ANTIQUE WHITE:
WHITEST PRESIDENT=TIE: CARTER AND BUSH SR.
LEAST WHITEST PRESIDENT=JFK (IRISH)
IS THIS STILL AN INFORMAL REQUIREMENT?
NO ARGUMENT: SURVEY DATA
POLLS IN 1950S SAID NO WAY TO MINORITY PRESIDENT
TODAY OVER 90% SAY THEY WOULD VOTE FOR MINORITY CANDIDATE
FOR PRESIDENT IF HE WAS MEMBER OF RESPONDENT’S PARTY
AND WAS QUALIFIED
COLIN POWELL WAS AHEAD OF BUSH AND CLINTON IN 1992

IS RACE STILL A BARRIER?
YES ARGUMENT:
NOT A SINGLE MINORITY REP IN US HOUSE FROM NON-MINORITY DISTRICT
ONLY 6 BLACK SENATORS IN US HISTORY
ONLY 1 BLACK GOVERNOR IN HISTORY OF USA
WHITES REPORT THEY VOTE FOR MINORITES MORE THAN THEY REALLY DO
PROBLEM MAY BE GETTING THE NOMINATION:
A PARTY WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER THEY WILL LOSE AT LEAST 10% OF THE
WHITE VOTE IF THEY NOMINATE 2 EQUALLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES
2. GENDER:
IS THIS STILL AN INFORMAL REQUIREMENT? MOST LIKELY NO
REASONS: WE HAVE MORE WOMEN IN OFFICE NOW THAN EVER
#1 JOB TO BE PRESIDENT=SENATOR OR GOVERNOR
WE HAVE A COUPLE DOZEN WOMEN FITTING THIS DESCRIPTION
WHITE WOMEN #1 BENEFICIARY OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION HIRING
REPUBLICAN WOMEN GET ELECTED WITHOUT MOST WOMEN VOTING FOR THEM
GENDER DIVIDE IS ROUTINELY CROSSED IN ELECTIONS,
WHEREAS RACIAL LINE IS NOT
3.
MILITARY SERVICE:
THIS IS NOW A NEGATIVE: PERSON WITH MOST MILITARY/COMBAT
EXPERIENCE LOST EVERY SINGLE ELECTION FROM 1980 TO 2004
(POPULAR VOTE)
4.
MARRIED:
POLLS SHOW MOST AMERICANS NOT READY FOR GAY PRESIDENT
2 WIDOWERS AND 1 BACHELOR PRESIDENT
CLEVELAND HAD TO ADMIT TO “BASTARD” CHILD DURING CAMPAIGN
GOT ELECTED ANYWAY: WOULD THAT HAPPEN TODAY????
NO WAY IN HELL
5.
BIG STATE, SMALL TOWN
6.
ELECTED EXPERIENCE
GOVERNOR 4/5 LAST PRESIDENTS: SENATORS RUN, JFK LAST TO WIN

INCUMBENT VICE-PRESIDENTS WIN IN 1836, 1988 AND 2000 ONLY
(POPULAR VOTE)
EISENHOWER LAST PRESIDENT WITH NO ELECTORAL EXPERIENCE
HURT GENERAL WESLEY CLARK IN 2004
7.
LIKES TO GOLF AND HAS A DOG
8.
COLLEGE EDUCATION:
MOST LIKELY STILL A REQUIREMENT, UNTIL WE GET AN ASE CERTIFIED
MECHANIC ELECTED PRESIDENT
9.
RELIGION:
ALL BUT 1 HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY PROTESTANT
UNREPRESENTATIVE PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS BTW
SEVERAL HAVE BEEN CLOSET ATHIESTS/AGNOSTICS
REAGAN NEVER WENT TO CHURCH ONCE
CLINTON WENT EVERY SUNDAY
SEE, GOING TO CHURCH MAKES YOU A GOOD PERSON!
IS CATHOLIC OK? ONLY IF YOU’RE PRO-CHOICE
KERRY’S RELIGION MAY HAVE COST HIM THE 2004 ELECTION
CHURCH TOOK OUT ADS AGAINST HIM IN BATTLEGROUND STATES
WHAT ABOUT JEWISH?
WHAT ABOUT HINDU?
ISLAM ANYONE?
OTHER REQUIREMENTS 10.
MUST BE WILLING/ABLE TO RAISE $50 -$100 MILLION 2 YEARS IN ADVANCE
LOOK GOOD ON TV: NO BALDNESS, GLASSES, FACIAL HAIR, SPARE TIRE
(HMMM)
TRIVIAL PURSUIT: WHO WAS OUR YOUNGEST PRESIDENT?
YOU ARE WRONG
FIRST DIVORCED PRESIDENT? REAGAN
FIRST PRESIDENT TO LIVE IN WHITE HOUSE? ADAMS
NIXON’S RELIGION: QUAKER

FIRST PRESIDENT WITH A CRIMINAL CONVICTION?
W
2 IMPEACHED PRESIDENTS:
CLINTON AND JOHNSON
PRESIDENT LOSES PENSION IF IMPEACHED
THAT’S WHY NIXON RESIGNED: HE NEEDED THE $$
THEORIES OF PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESS
GOOD THEORIES
2 PRESIDENCIES THEORY
PRESIDENT MOST LIKELY WILL GET ‘HIS WAY’ WITH FOREIGN POLICY
(ESPECIALLY IF HE GETS ALONG WITH FOREIGN POLICY’S KIDS AND BUYS
FOREIGN POLICY SHINY THINGS AS PRESENTS)
PRESIDENT WILL NOT GET HIS WAY WITH DOMESTIC POLICY
(DOMESTIC POLICY HOLDING OUT FOR A DOCTOR ON THE REBOUND OR PRO
ATHLETE WITH A GUILTY CONSCIENCE)
IRONY: PEOPLE DON’T LIST FOREIGN POLICY CONCERNS WHEN ASKED WHY
THEY WILL VOTE OR VOTED FOR SOMEONE FOR PRESIDENT!
INSTEAD THEY LIST BS REASONS LIKE:
GUNS, ABORTION OR THE DEATH PENALTY
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PRESIDENT CAN DO ABOUT
GUNS, ABORTION OR THE DEATH PENALTY?
THE PRESIDENT CANNOT PARDON PEOPLE OFF DEATH ROW
HE CANNOT “ORDER” THINGS GET DONE
THE SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN FAR MORE DEFERENTIAL TO PRESIDENTIAL
POWER IN FOREIGN POLICY THAN IN DOMESTIC POLICY CONFLICTS
ANOTHER GOOD THEORY: PERSUASION
PRESIDENT MUST “PERSUADE”: ABILITY TO COMPEL IS LIMITED
2 GROUPS TO PERSUADE: WASHINGTONIANS AND THE PUBLIC
SOME PRESIDENTS ARE GOOD AT 1 OR THE OTHER, BUT NOT BOTH

AVERAGE PRESIDENT: CAN GO PUBLIC LIKE JFK OR REAGAN OR CLINTON
OR WORKS WELL WITH WASHINGTON ELITES, LIKE LBJ OR BUSH SR
GREAT PRESIDENT: CAN GO PUBLIC AND CAN MOTIVATE WASHINGTON:
LIKE FDR, WASHINGTON, TEDDY ROOSEVELT
BAD/FAILED PRESIDENT: PERSUADES NOONE
NIXON, CARTER, ANYONE ELSE?
GROUPTHINK THEORY:
GROUP DECISIONS BECOME WORSE OVER TIME
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESS BECOMES WORSE OVER TIME
MOST PRESIDENTS LEAVE OFFICE LESS POPULAR THAN WHEN THEY COME IN
UNLESS TOM DELAY IS OBSESSED WITH THEIR SEX LIFE
FIRST 18 MONTHS ARE KEY TO SUCCESS OR FAILURE: HONEYMOON PERIOD
TO AVOID GROUPTHINK: BRING DISSENTERS INTO INNER CIRCLE
INVITE DEBATE AND CRITICISM
2 ND TERM W FIRED EVERYONE NOT COMPLETELY LOYAL DURING 1 ST TERM
HOW IS THAT WORKING OUT?
BAD THEORY: PRESIDENTIAL PERSONALITY
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
PEOPLE HAVE 4 PERSONALITIES
ACTIVE
QUARTERBACKS
COMPULSIVES/DANGEROUS
PASSIVE
CHEERLEADERS
“EEYORE”
PROBLEM WITH THEORY: LITTLE EMPIRICAL SUPPORT
MANY QUARTERBACKS FAILED
MANY COMPULSIVES EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL
CHEERLEADERS CAN BE MUCH MORE HARMFUL THAN GIVEN CREDIT
(NEW ORLEANS DISASTER EXAMPLE)
SOME PRESIDENTS MIS-CLASSIFIED BY THEORY:
TRUMAN QUARTERBACK? NO LBJ COMPULSIVE? NO

THEORY’S CLAIM TO FAME:
NIXON WOULD SELF-DESTRUCT: PREDICTED THIS IN ADVANCE
(ALONG WITH ABOUT 50 MILLION OTHER AMERICANS BTW)
ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT:
PRESIDENT IS HEAD OF STATE WITH SYMBOLIC DUTIES
LIKE QUEEN OF ENGLAND
MANY COUNTRIES DO THIS: THEY USE DUAL EXECS
ALSO POLITICAL PROTAGONIST
(I WAS A DRAMA MAJOR ONCE)
HE IS EXPECTED TO PUSH FOR POLITICAL PROGRAMS
SOMETHING THE QUEEN OR EMPEROR OF JAPAN DOES NOT DO
ALSO POLITICAL PARTY LEADER
REAGAN COMPLETELY RE-WROTE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM IN 1980
CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR:
IS SUPPOSED TO OVERSEE BUREAUCRACY TO ENSURE EFFICIENT OPERATIONS
(PAUSE FOR LAUGHTER)
LOBBIES CONGRESS FOR HIS PROGRAMS/IDEAS
COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES
CHIEF NEGOTIATOR OF TREATIES
SOME SEE HIM AS A MORAL LEADER, BUT TO LOOK FOR A POLITICIAN TO BE
MORAL, LET ALONE A LEADER IS A LITTLE LIKE EXPECTING ANNA NICHOLE
SMITH TO FILL IN THE MISSING EQUATIONS OF THE GRAND UNIFIED FIELD
THEORY OF PHYSICS ON A CHALKBOARD AT MIT WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY
RECITING THE CANTERBERRY TALES IN ANCIENT GREEK AND, OH, I DON’T
KNOW, JUGGLING A CHAINSAW, BOWLING BALL, AND RABID FERRIT
IN THE DARK.

THE TEXAS EXECUTIVE BRANCH
IS A “PLURAL” EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
A PLURAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS TYPICAL IN THE SOUTH WHERE
THE UNION ARMY INSTALLED STRONG GOVERNORS DURING RECONSTRUCTION.
THE CHART BELOW IS A GROSS SIMPLIFICATION OF HOW THE
TEXAS EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS ORGANIZED.
TEX EXECS ELECTED APPOINTED
SINGLE-HEADED
OFFICES
MULTI-HEADED
OFFICES
GOVERNOR
LT GOVERNOR
ATTORNEY GENERAL
COMPTROLLER
LAND COMMISSIONER
AG COMMISSIONER
RAILROAD COMMISSION,
STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION
SUMMARY OF MAJOR OFFICES:
MANY, MANY OFFICES
INCLUDING…
SECRETARY OF STATE,
INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER,
MANY, MANY OFFICES
INCLUDING…
BOARD OF PARDONS AND
PAROLES,
PUBLIC UTILITIES
COMMISSION
LT GOVERNOR ALREADY COVERED
GOVERNOR OF TEXAS:
MOST GOVERNORS HAVE BEEN DEMOCRATS
3 OF LAST 4 HAVE BEEN REPUBLICANS
GOVERNOR OF IS TEXAS ELECTED TO A 4 YEAR TERM.
THERE IS NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF TERMS.
THE TEXAS GOVERNOR’S POWERS ARE SUBSTANTIAL
WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION.
THE GOVERNOR SETS THE AGENDA FOR THE LEGISLATURE WITH HIS STATE OF
THE STATE ADDRESS MADE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION.
THE GOVERNOR CAN MARK CERTAIN LEGISLATION AS “EMERGENCY” OR
“PRIORITY” LEGISLATION, FORCING THE LEGISLATURE TO ACT ON IT FIRST.
THE GOVERNOR’S PROMISE TO SIGN OR VETO CAN MEAN SUCCESS OR DEATH
FOR PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

TEXAS GOVERNORS’ VETOES ARE ALMOST NEVER OVER-RIDDEN.
WHY?
MOST BILLS ARE PASSED DURING LAST 3 DAYS OF
THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE’S REGULAR SESSION.
THE BILLS DON’T REACH THE GOVERNOR’S DESK
UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE IS OUT OF SESSION.
SO IF A BILL IS VETOED, THE LEGISLATURE IS OUT OF SESSION
AND CANNOT OVER-RIDE A VETO.
THE GOVERNOR CAN CALL THE LEGISLATURE INTO SPECIAL SESSION.
SPECIAL SESSIONS LAST 30 DAYS, AND THE GOVERNOR GETS TO SET THE
AGENDA.
IF THE GOVERNOR ONLY WANTS THEM TO WORK ON SCHOOL FINANCE, THEN
THE LEGISLATURE CAN ONLY WORK ON SCHOOL FINANCE.
THE GOVERNOR CAN EXERCISE A LINE-ITEM VETO ON SPENDING BILLS.
THE LINE-ITEM VETO ALLOWS THE GOVERNOR TO VETO A SPECIFIC SPENDING
ITEM WITHOUT VETOEING THE WHOLE BILL.
THIS IS A POWER THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT HAVE, BUT DESPRATELY WANTS.
THE LINE-ITEM VETO IS A BIT OVER-RATED:
GOVERNOR PERRY USED IT TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT SPENDING BY 1%.
IN ADDITION TO LEGISLATIVE POWER, THE GOVERNOR HAS EMERGENCY
POWERS FOR HURRICANES, TORNADOES, WILDFIRES, ETC.
HE IS ALSO THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD.
WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT IN SESSION, OR WHEN
THERE IS NO EMERGENCY, THE GOVERNOR HAS LITTLE TO DO
THE TEXAS GOVERNOR IS CONSIDERED THE 49 TH MOST POWERFUL
GOVERNOR IN THE US (IN TERMS OF FORMAL POWERS).
THE FOLLOWING THINGS HURT THE GOVERNOR’S POWER:
1.
THE MOST POWERFUL EXECUTIVES IN TEXAS ARE ELECTED
2.
NONE OF THE ELECTED EXECUTIVES HAVE TO DO ANYTHING THE
GOVERNOR TELLS THEM TO DO: HE IS NOT THEIR BOSS.

3.
THE FOLKS THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS NEED A 2/3RDS APPROVAL BY THE
TEXAS SENATE, RATHER THAN A SIMPLE MAJORITY LIKE THE PREZ.
4.
THE FOLKS THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS, WITH THE TEXAS SENATE’S
APPROVAL CANNOT BE FIRED/REMOVED BY THE GOVERNOR
WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.
BECAUSE APPOINTED OFFICIALS ARE NOT EASILY REMOVED, THEY CAN ACT
INDEPENDENTLY OF THE GOVERNOR’S WILL IF THEY LIKE
OTHER IMPORTANT EXECUTIVES:
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS
(FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL MORALES IN JAIL (STILL?))
IS THE STATE’S CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
HE IS NOT A PROSECUTOR!!
HE DOES NOT DECIDE WHO GETS EXECUTED, AND WHO DOES NOT.
HE DEFENDS THE STATE AGAINST LAWSUITS, AND INITIATES LAWSUITS ON
BEHALF OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
HE ALSO OFFERS LEGALLY BINDING OPINIONS TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE
WHO MAY NEED TO KNOW WHETHER A STATUATORY LAW OR A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY.
BUT MOST ATTORNEY GENERALS RUN AS TOUGH LAW AND ORDER TYPES,
EVEN THOUGH THEY TECHNICALLY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EITHER.
THE COMPTROLLER:
KEEPS TRACK OF STATE FUNDING AND SPENDING
PROVIDES BUDGET PROJECTIONS TO LEGISLATURE
LEGISLATURE IS BOUND BY COMPTROLLER’S PROJECTION
ALSO SITS ON THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD.
LAND COMMISSIONER=
COLLECTS AND INVESTS REVENUES FROM LAND LEASES
AG COMMISSIONER=
STATE’S WEIGHTS, SCALES AND MEASURES
THE BOOK CAN FILL YOU IN ON THE OTHERS

HORROR STORIES:
STATE BOARD OF INSURANCE SCANDALS
BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES
THE LENA GUERERRO STORY
THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION THINKS
DISNEY IS TRYING TO TURN KIDS GAY.