US GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
MRS. LACKS

EXECUTIVE
Latin verb, to follow
• follows the lead of the legislature or board of directors
• CEO carries out the will of the Board of Directors
• President carries out the will of Congress

PRESIDENTIAL VS
PARLIAMENTARY
Most republics have a parliamentary system
US has the longest lasting presidential system
Why did the Framers want a presidential system?
with no check, the legislature could become too powerful

CREATING AN AMERICAN
EXECUTIVE
Framers decided on four ingredients used to create the executive
(1) Unity: pulls the country together; is characterized by the single individual ( “ I am the decider, ” President
Bush)
(2) Duration: ensures stability (instability in administration would be ruinous); allows for expertise

CREATING AN AMERICAN
EXECUTIVE
Framers decided on four ingredients used to create the executive cont…
(3) Competent Powers: all powers granted to the president (discussed later in PPT)
(4) Support: from Congress

CREATING AN AMERICAN
EXECUTIVE
Good government requires stability, continuity, and energy
Founders ’ executive themes:
Fitness of Character
Political Considerations
Duty to consult

FITNESS OF
CHARACTER
Family background, education, honor, esteem
Above all, reputation and integrity
Guardian of Liberty:
The people, according to Adams, were the worst keepers of liberty
Needed trustworthy administrators (Congress and
Executive) who would preserve liberty

POLITICAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Military preference (experience, thoughts)
Geographic balance (no state/region gets too powerful)
Senate Input

DUTY TO CONSULT
Washington listened to his cabinet
He required “ opinions in writing ”
He did not debate. He listened to their opinions and then made a decision.
Top-level administrators (Cabinet, military commanders/advisors)
They were assistants
They were not substitutes or rivals to the President
They gave opinions, and then carried out the decisions made by the President

CONSTITUTIONAL
REQUIREMENTS
• Formal Requirements:
• Must be 35 years old
• Must be a natural-born citizen
• Must have resided in U.S. for 14 years
• Informal “ Requirements ” :
• White, Male, Protestant (except two)
• All manner of professions
• Most common winners are former state governors

CONSTITUTIONAL
REQUIREMENTS
Must be elected
Electoral College is in place to refine the opinion of the masses born from NJ Plan (NJ was scared all presidents would be from VA or other big states)
Founding Fathers did not trust the electorate

CONSTITUTIONAL
REQUIREMENTS
The normal road to the White House:
Candidate runs in a primary to gain nomination of his party; then runs in the general election for president
Once elected, a candidate gets a term of four years
In 1952, the 22 nd Amendment limited the number of terms to two
Most Presidents have been elected to office

CONSTITUTIONAL
REQUIREMENTS
Succession and Impeachment
VP succeeds if President leaves office due to death, resignation, or removal
Impeachment is investigated by the House, and if impeached, tried by the Senate with the Chief Justice presiding.
Only two presidents have been impeached: A.
Johnson & Clinton - neither was convicted
The 25 th Amendment clarifies what happens if the president becomes disabled (POTUS can sign a letter invoking the 25 th and then return to power when ready) – Reagan (1985); Bush II (2002, 2007) – both for anesthesia

CONSTITUTIONAL
REQUIREMENTS
Constitutional Line of Succession: (first five)
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President Pro-Tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
Secretary of Defense

CONSTITUTIONAL
POWERS: FORMAL
Commander in Chief
Wage (not declare) War
• Structural characteristics of the executive: unity, secrecy, decision, dispatch, and superior sources of information
Congressional check on the Commander in Chief Clause
• Appropriation Power
•
Power to declare war
• Presidents may only issue orders in a framework given by Congress

CONSTITUTIONAL
POWERS: FORMAL
Chief Foreign Policy Maker (aka Chief Diplomat)
Treaties
• Use of secrecy and information enable the president to make deals with foreign countries
Congressional Role in Checking this Power
• Treaties must be passed by the Senate
• President is not the sole voice in declaring the state ’ s policy related to foreign policy

CONSTITUTIONAL
POWERS: FORMAL
Chief Legislator (aka Chief Lawmaker)
Executive Order
Veto
State of the Union
Formal Judicial Powers
Appointment Power
Pardoning Power
Solicitor General
Signing Statements

CONSTITUTIONAL
POWERS: INFORMAL
Executive: Article II, Section 1
“ The executive power shall be vested in a President ”
Why significant?
The phrase “ herein granted ” is omitted
Does this mean the president has powers that are not enumerated?
Some say yes, some no

CONSTITUTIONAL
POWERS: INFORMAL
Basic Assumptions –
Powers are implied, but not stated
Allows executives to deal with states of emergencies, crisis situations, etc.
Why ’ d the Framers think to do this?

CONSTITUTIONAL
POWERS: INFORMAL
The Framer ’ s chose not to include a provision in the
Constitution that would allow the President to suspend the
Constitution.
Was this a mistake?

OTHER POWERS
Head of Party (or Party Leader)
Chief Citizen
Head of State (ceremonial duties)
Head of National Security

THE PRESIDENT &
NATIONAL SECURITY
Crisis Manager
A crisis is a sudden, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous event.
The role the president plays can help or hurt the presidential image.
With current technology, the president can act much faster than Congress to resolve a crisis.
Working with Congress
President has lead role in foreign affairs.
Presidents still have to work with Congress for support and funding of foreign policies

THE CHIEF
EXECUTIVE
The Vice President
Most important job is to assume the role of POTUS should something happen
Head (or President) of Senate
Recent presidents have given their VPs important jobs/issues to tackle
The Cabinet
Presidential advisors, not in Constitution
Is made up of the top executives of the Federal
Departments, confirmed by the Senate

GREAT
EXPECTATIONS
Americans want a president who is powerful and who can do good: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan
But at the same time, they don ’ t want the president to get too powerful since we are individualistic and skeptical of authority.