Chris Belotti
Ms. Ebner
3/21/11
Notes on The Presidency
1). The Presidents
-Requirements
The President must have been born in the USA, at least thirty-five years of age, and have
resided in the United States for at least fourteen years. Citizens of the USA want a trustworthy
and strong president, but do not believe in giving him too much power. The Balance of Powers is
keeps the Executive branch from being overpowered and more influential than the Legislative
and Judicial branch.
-Expectations
So far, each president has been male and all but one has been white. They are expected to
peace, prosperity and security though passing/vetoing law and setting agendas.
-Term Details
Under the constitution, the election of a president lasts for four years or until impeached
(which has only happened to Andrew Johnson and William Clinton). The House of
Representatives may impeach the president for “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and
Misdemeanors.” A president can serve a maximum of two terms as regulated by the twentysecond amendment.
The Twenty-fifth Amendment (1967) permits the vice president to become acting
president if the president is declared disabled.
The order of presidential succession is vice president to Speaker of the House to president
pro tempore of the Senate and down through the cabinet members.
2). Presidential Powers
The Constitution does not mention much about presidential power. Presidents share
executive, legislative, and judicial power with other branches of government. The framers placed
checks on powers they believed to be most dangerous while protecting the general spheres of
authority from encroachment.
Today, presidential power is greater than the Constitution suggests. Many presidents
enlarged the power of the presidency by expanding the president’s responsibilities and political
resources. Legislation such as the War Powers Act, which limited the president’s power by
making them unable to set forth armed forces without authorization of congress.
3). Running the Government
One of the president’s most important roles is presiding over the administration of
government. One of the resources for controlling this bureaucracy is the presidential power to
appoint top-level administrators. Presidents have recently taken more interest in the regulations
issued by agencies, thus centralizing decision-making in the White House
A). Vice President
Choice of the vice president is often an effort to placate some important symbolic constituency.
They are assigned the task of presiding over the Senate and voting in case of a tie vote. Recent
vice presidents have had an increased role in the administration.
B). The Cabinet
The cabinet (head of departments) is a group of presidential advisors. Thirteen secretaries and
the attorney general head executive departments and constitute the Cabinet. The cabinet
historically has not been a powerful advisory board.
C). The Executive Office
The Executive Office consists of three major policymaking bodies. The National Security
Council is the committee that links the president’s key foreign and military policy advisors. The
Council of Economic Advisors has three members, each appointed by the president, who advise
him on economic policy. The Office of Management and Budget is responsible for preparing the
president’s budget and acts as a policy clearinghouse.
D). The White House Staff
The White House staff consists of the key aides the president sees daily. Presidents rely heavily
on their staffs for information, policy options, and analysis. Most staffs are hierarchically
organized with a chief of staff at the top. Presidential management styles vary considerably.
Despite reliance of their staffs, it is the president who sets the tone for the White House.
4). Presidential Leadership of Congress: The Politics of Shared Powers
A. Chief Legislator
The president is often called the chief legislator because he plays a major role in shaping the
congressional agenda. The president has the power to veto congressional legislation and
Congress can pass a vetoed law if two-thirds of each house votes to override the president. A
pocket veto occurs if Congress adjourns within ten days after submitting a bill and the president
does not sign it. The threat of a veto can be an effective tool for persuading Congress to give
more weight to presidents’ views. In 1996, Congress passed a law granting the president
authority to propose rescinding funds in appropriations bills and tax provisions that apply only to
a few people. In 1998 the Supreme Court declared this law unconstitutional. The presidential
veto is most useful for preventing legislation.
B. Party Leadership
Presidents remain highly dependent upon their party to move their legislative programs.
Despite the pull of party ties, all presidents experience slippage in the support of their party in
Congress. The primary obstacle to party unity is the lack of consensus on policies among party
members. When constituency opinion and the president’s proposals conflict, members of
Congress are more likely to vote with their constituents.
The president’s relationship with congressional party leaders is delicate. Leaders are
predisposed to support the president, but are also free to oppose him. If party members wish to
oppose the White House, there is little the president can do to stop them because the parties are
so decentralized and members are largely self-recruited.
Presidential coattails occur when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of
the president’s party because those candidates support the president. This phenomenon seems to
be diminishing. The president’s party typically loses seats in midterm elections. In recent years
the president’s party has lacked a majority in one or both houses of Congress.
C. Public Support
One of the president’s most important resources for leading Congress is public support.
Presidents with the backing of the public have an easier time influencing Congress. Lack of
public support strengthens the resolve of those inclined to oppose the president. The impact of
public approval occurs at the margins of the effort to build coalitions behind proposed policies.
Some members support the president despite public support while others will not go against their
constituency or ideology even if presidential support is high.
An electoral mandate is the perception that the voters strongly support the president’s
character and policies. Mandates can change the premise of decisions from whether to act to how
to act. Not all presidential elections provide the winner with a mandate. Mandates are a rare
phenomenon.
D. Legislative Skills
Presidential legislative skills include bargaining, making personal appeals, consulting
with Congress, setting priorities, exploiting “honeymoon” periods, and structuring congressional
votes. Bargaining receives most attention and occurs in numerous forms. The president does not
have to bargain with every member of Congress; only enough to provide a majority.
An important aspect of presidential legislative strategy is establishing priorities. The
president is the nation’s key agenda builder; what the administration wants strongly influences
the parameters of debate.
There are limits to what the president can do, however. In general, presidential legislative
skill must compete with other factors that affect congressional voting behavior.
5). The President and National Security Policy
A. Chief Diplomat
The Constitution allocates certain national security powers to the president. He alone
extends diplomatic recognition, negotiates treaties, and negotiates executive agreements with
heads of foreign governments. The president must try to lead America’s allies on matters of
economics and defense.
B. Commander in Chief
The framers made the president the commander in chief of the armed forces. As such he
is the commander in chief of more than 1.5 million uniformed men and women.
C. War Powers
Presidents have customarily made short-term military commitments of troops or naval
vessels that have occasionally become long-term (Korea and Vietnam). The War Powers
Resolution (1973) required presidents to consult with Congress before using military force and
mandated the withdrawal of forces after sixty days unless Congress declared war or granted an
extension. The War Powers Resolution has not been a success and may be considered a
legislative veto and a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers. Congress has found it
difficult to challenge the president.
D. Crisis Manager
A crisis is a sudden, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous event. With modern
communications there is a premium on rapid action, secrecy, constant management, consistent
judgment, and expert advice. Congress moves slowly whereas the president can come to quick
and consistent decisions and confine information. Thus the president has become more
prominent in handling crises.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In selecting members of the White House staff, Presidents primarily seek people who
A. give the White House ideological balance
B. are personally loyal to the President
C. have extensive governmental experience
D. will help the President develop a good working relationship with Congress
E. can bring a nonpartisan perspective to policy deliberations
2. The use of direct primaries instead of the convention system in selecting presidential
candidates results in which of the following?
I.
A weakening of party control over nominations
II.
A reduction in the costs of election campaigns
III.
An increase in the number of people involved in the choice of candidates
IV.
An increase in voter turnout in midterm elections
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
I and III only
II and IV only
III and IV only
I, II, and III only
I, II, III, and IV
3. Of the following, which group voted most heavily Democratic in presidential elections
between 1964 and 1992?
A). Mexican Americans
B). Chinese Americans
C). Jewish Americans
D). Black Americans
E). Roman Catholic Americans
4. Among the president's constitutional powers as a maker of foreign policy is the
power to
A). Declare war
B). Extend diplomatic recognition to foreign governments
C). Ratify Peace Treaties
D). Appropriate foreign-aid funds
E). Overturn Supreme Court Cases
5). Which of the following was instituted to limit the power of the presidency?
A). Line-Item veto
B). War Powers Resolution of 1973
C). National Performance Review
D). Law authorizing the appointment of an independent counsel
E). National Security Advisor
6). All of the following are powers and duties of the president as set forth in the
Constitution EXCEPT the power to
A). appoint justices to the Supreme Court subject to the advice and consent of the Senate
B). receive foreign ministers with the advice and consent of the Senate
C). serve as commander in chief of the armed forces
D). act as chief legislator
E). fill open positions in the executive branch when Congress is in recess
7). "Shaping the agenda" is a phrase used to describe the role of
A). the president in the State of the Union address
B). the news media in determining which issues and personalities get attention
C). the president's chief of staff
D). the Supreme Court in choosing cases to hear
E). the Joint Conference Committee
8). Which of the following acts was passed in response to presidential actions that
Congress believed went beyond the responsible use of presidential power?
I. Freedom of Information Act
II. War Powers Act
III. Budget and Impoundment Control Act
A). I only
B). II only
C). III only
D).I and II only
E).II and III only
9). Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the presidential veto
power?
A). Vetoes are used on over 50 percent of the bills that pass through the White House
B). Republicans have been more likely to veto bills than have Democrats.
C). It is the most effective way for a president to influence the legislative process
D). A veto is final and Congress has no method of undoing it.
E). The use of the veto has declined in the last 30 years.
10). In choosing members of the cabinet, the president usually seeks out people who
A). exclusively come from his own political party.
B). are primarily from the business community
C). will remain loyal to the president.
D). are current government officials
E). are former government officials
FRQ
A number of factors enable presidents to exert influence over Congress in the area of
domestic policy. However, presidents are also limited in their influence over domestic
policymaking in Congress.
(a) The Constitution grants the president certain enumerated powers. Describe two of these
formal powers that enable the president to exert influence over domestic policy.
(b) Choose two of the following. Define each term and explain how each limits the president’s
ability to influence domestic policymaking in Congress.



mandatory spending
party polarization
lame-duck period
Answers:
Part A: (2 points)
-One point is earned for each of two descriptions of formal, enumerated powers that enable the
president to exert influence over domestic policy. Acceptable descriptions may include:






Legislative powers (veto, pocket veto, signing legislation).
State of the Union address.
Appointment power (to a domestic office).
Calling Congress into session.
Chief executive role (“faithfully execute the law” clause).
Commander-in-chief role (must connect it to domestic policy in order to earn the point).
Part B: (4 Points)
-One point is earned for each of two definitions and two explanations of limits to the president’s ability
to influence domestic policymaking in Congress.
Mandatory Spending - Spending not controlled by annual budget decisions (nondiscretionary spending,
automatic spending, etc.)
Explanations- 
 Budgetary constraints make it difficult to accomplish policy goals.
 It is difficult to make budget cuts that might accomplish policy goals.
Party Polarization - Increased interparty differences/Extreme public opinion divides and becomes more
extreme
Explanations-


Opposing party may block policy goals.
There is a lack of moderates with whom to build coalitions.
Lame-Duck Period- Period of time in which an officeholder’s term is coming to an end
Explanations

President’s power is perceived as being diminished.
Congress is less responsive to the president.
Answer Key – MC
1). B.) Because the White House staff are the President's closest advisors, they are chosen based
on personal loyalty.
2). A.) Party organizations have less control over nominations (I), and primaries involve more
people in the nomination process (III).
3). D)
4). B). Extend diplomatic recognition to foreign governments.
5). B). War Powers Resolution of 1973 - was a United States Congress joint resolution providing
that the President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of
Congress or if the United States is already under attack or serious threat.
6). B). The power to receive foreign ministers with advice from the senate was not mentioned in
the constitution.
7). A). The state of the union address is a general agenda constructed by the president
8). E). The War powers act and the Budget and Impoundment Control Act were implemented to
reduce the president’s executive powers.
9). C). Presidents don’t have any other way of directly influencing the legislative process. The
president’s power to veto a bill can strictly reject it.
10). C). A president’s loyal cabinet members will aid them in passing bills and carrying out his
agenda.