Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning THE PRESIDENT Chapter Twelve Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Learning Outcomes 1. Explain the formal and informal roles played by the president and discuss the constitutional or political origins of those roles. 2. Discuss the presidents role in the legislative process including tools to initiate or block legislation. 2 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Learning Outcomes 3. Explain the emergency powers of the president and the executive powers of the president. 4. Describe the executive offices that support the president. 5. Describe the job of the vice president and explain the circumstances under which the vice president becomes president. 3 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Introduction No democratic presidential models when founders created office Did not want a king Strong leader vs. weak executive? Goal was chief executive whose powers balanced Congress 4 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Who Can Become President? Article II, Section 1 Must be a natural born citizen Must be at least 35 years old Must be a resident within the United States for at least 14 years Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning 5 Who Can Become President? Process of becoming president Nominated by party Win a majority of electoral votes Can win without winning popular vote George W. Bush If no Electoral College majority, then selected by House of Representatives 6 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The Many Roles of the President Head of State Chief Executive Commander in Chief Chief Diplomat Chief Legislator 7 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The Many Roles of the President Head of state duties are mostly symbolic Decorating war heroes Dedications Receiving heads of state Official state visits Official representative Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning 8 The Many Roles of the President Chief executive: constitutionally bound to enforce acts of Congress, judgments of federal courts, and treaties signed by U.S. Signing statements Powers of appointment and removal Power to grant reprieves and pardons 9 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The Many Roles of the President Commander in Chief: civilian commander of U.S. armed forces Wartime powers (including nuclear strike authority) War Powers Resolution (1973) Continued expansion of powers U.S. PATRIOT Act Drone strikes 10 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The Many Roles of the President Chief Diplomat: the president dominates American foreign policy Diplomatic recognition Negotiates treaties Executive agreements Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning 11 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The Many Roles of the President Chief Legislator: presidents recommend legislation they judge necessary or expedient State of the Union message Getting legislation passed Vetoing legislation Must act on every bill Pocket veto Congressional override 12 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Presidential Success Rate by Year of Presidency 13 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The Many Roles of the President Other presidential powers Expressed powers Constitutional Statutory Inherent powers Depend on Constitutional statements: the executive Power shall be vested in a President take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed 14 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The President as Party Chief and Superpolitician The president as chief of party Power to persuade Constituencies and public approval Presidential constituencies Public approval Rally round the flag Going public for support Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning 15 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Special Uses of Presidential Power Emergency powers Lincoln and suspension of civil liberties FDR and mobilization for war Truman and nationalizing steel plants Bush and warrantless wiretaps Executive orders Have force of law Must be published in Federal Register 16 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Special Uses of Presidential Power Executive privilege Withholding information from or refusing to appear before Congress or courts Claim national security concerns Critics say improperly used to shield executive branch 17 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Special Uses of Presidential Power Limiting executive privilege United States v. Nixon Clinton affair Courts did NOT uphold these claims of privilege Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning 18 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Special Uses of Presidential Power Abuses of executive power & impeachment Articles I and II authorize House and Senate to remove president, vice president or other civil officers for committing treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors House impeaches (accuses) Senate conducts trial No president ever impeached and removed from office 19 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The Executive Organization The Cabinet Advisory group appointed by president Fifteen executive departments Kitchen cabinet may replace as major advisors Informal advisors, often friends of the president Presidential use of cabinets is discretionary 20 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The Executive Organization Executive Office of the President Established during FDR administration Includes: White House Office (headed by chief of staff) Office of Management and Budget National Security Council Office of the Vice President Policy tsars: issue specialists 21 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The Vice Presidency Little constitutional power Only formal duty is presiding over Senate 22 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The Vice Presidency The vice presidents job Strengthening the ticket Supporting the president Presidential succession Eight vice presidents have become president upon presidents death Presidential incapacity not addressed in original Constitution 23 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning The Vice Presidency The Twenty-fifth Amendment Establishes procedures for filling presidential and vice presidential vacancies Provisions for presidential disability When the vice presidency becomes vacant President nominates, Congress confirms Nixon Gerald Ford to replace Spiro Agnew Ford Nelson Rockefeller Succession Act of 1947 (if both president and vice president die) 24 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Line of Succession to the Presidency of the United States 25 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning You Can Make a Difference: Watching the White House Citizens should monitor the presidents performance and policies. You can maintain a connection to the White House and keep informed on the president's initiatives by logging onto You can sign up forfrom the White House or political campaigns to receive constant updates on policy initiatives or appointments. 26 Copyright 2014 Cengage Learning Public Popularity of Modern Presidents 27