Article II Establishes the Executive branch, qualifications,
succession, etc. Also vaguely defines the presidents powers
Remember separation of powers - division of government authority
across political institutions
Slide 3
Article II Section 1 Term of office (4 years) 22 nd amendment
Qualifications 35, natural born citizen, 14 year resident of U.S.
Succession Pres., VP, Speaker, Pro tem, Sec. State, Sec. Treasury,
Sec. Defense. ..cabinet in creation. 25 Amendment Compensation
Currently $400,000 per year in salary Oath
Slide 4
Article II Section 2 Commander in chief (War Powers Act)
Commissioning new officers Grants reprieves and pardons (public
opinion) Treaties (Ratified by 2/3 of Senate) Receive ambassadors
(public opinion) Appointment power (Confirmed by Senate) Ex:
Appointments to the Supreme Court Delays in Confirmation can occur
during divided government State of the Union (public opinion,
opposition party, interest groups) Adjourn Congress/Call special
sessions take care clause Impeachment and trial- House votes for
impeachment, and the Senate conducts a trial and reaches a guilty
verdict
Slide 5
Roles of the President What exactly does the president do? What
are the hats that he wears? Presidential Daily Diary
Assignment
Slide 6
Roles of the President 1. Chief legislator 2. Chief party
leader 3. Chief diplomat 4. Commander in chief 5. Chief of state 6.
Chief executive 7. Chief jurist 8. Chief administrator 9. Chief
citizen
Slide 7
What is the imperial presidency? Power of the office of
President has grown over the years to extend power beyond what the
Constitution allows FDR-New Deal and subsequent growth of
government involvement in the policies of the states (and
families), Escalation of troops in foreign wars without a
declaration of war Role of the president in implementing a policy
agenda
Slide 8
What has caused the growth of presidential power in the past 50
years? Personal strengths One person office Need for bigger
government- increase in public expectations for services from the
federal government Action in time of crisis (ex: tensions between
the United States and the Soviet Union during Cold War period)
Slide 9
What has caused the growth of presidential power in the past 50
years? Roles of legislator, party leader and citizen have expanded
Ex: Executive Orders: Since 1970s Presidents have made use of
executive orders at an increasing rate because they do not need to
be passed by Congress Staff support is larger Media use to
communicate with constituents Economic and domestic problems such
as inflation, unemployment, and civil rights Increasing United
States involvement in international affairs A Presidents popularity
tens to fall during his term in office (after the honeymoon
period
Slide 10
Abuse of Powers Executive Privilege The issue of executive
privilege was not directly addressed by the Supreme Court until
Nixons attempt to withhold tapes in the Watergate Scandal
Slide 11
Presidential Powers President have the power to veto- most
successful in times of unified government (at least 2/3 of
representatives and senators are the same party as the President)
Pocket Veto- occurs when the President takes no action on a bill
for ten days during which Congress is adjourned Legislative Veto-
Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional on the grounds that such
vetoes violated the principle of separation of powers Presidents DO
NOT currently have the power of line-item veto
Slide 12
Limitations on Presidential Powers Line-item veto- Presidents
do not have this power. Supreme Court ruled in Clinton v. New York
City, (1998), they considered it to be a violation of Article I,
Section 7 of the Constitution. The Constitution vests Congress with
the power to craft legislation; the President can sign, or refuse
to sign, only the entire packaged bill. (violation of separation of
powers) * Many state governors still use line-item veto
Slide 13
War Powers Act President must consult with Congress re:
military use (notify within 48 hrs.) Withdrawal of forces (within
60-90 days) unless extension granted by Congress Congress may end
commitment at any time
Slide 14
Budget Impoundment Act Created the CBO Est. a fixed budget
calendar Budget committee in each house Dealt with impoundment
issues Move by Congress to regain power previously lost to the
executive branch President cant impound funds appropriated by
Congress
Slide 15
The Bureaucracy
Slide 16
Set of complex hierarchy of departments, agencies and
commissions mandated with helping the president enforce law. Fourth
Branch of government Fundamental source of power for the federal
bureaucracy lies in its ability to set specific guidelines after
receiving a general mandate from Congress
Slide 17
Bureaucratic Involvement Iron triangles (sub- governments)
Networks of Congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and
interest groups that strongly influence the policy process
Slide 18
What is REGO? Reinventing Government Plan to reduce the size of
government under Clinton (National Performance Review) Mend it but
dont end it Changes? Cuts in education and agriculture
Privatization Customer friendly measures adopted Regulations
rewritten Efficiency awards Success? Privatization and state
services increased Overall considered successful Occurred under a
divided government
Slide 19
Cabinet Members President does not have constitutional power to
form new cabinet-level departments Presidential goals often
conflict with the institutional goals of individual cabinet level
agencies Established in Article II, Section 2- the Cabinet's role
is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating
to the duties of each member's respective office.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet
Slide 20
Cabinet Departments Fifteen (see handout) BROAD areas of
responsibility Secretaries and the Attorney General EX: Attorney
General- primary role is to head the Department of Justice 60
percent of the federal workforce Can be fired by President without
Senate approval Largest Department? Newest Department?
Slide 21
Independent Regulatory Agencies FCC, SEC, FTC, OHSA, EPA, FRB,
etc. Consumer and citizen protections and economic regulation
Commissioners served fixed terms Separate from President, exist
outside cabinet Designed for objectivity, non-partisanship
Slide 22
Government Corporations Businesses est. by Congress that
provide a private sector good or service TVA, USPS, FDIC, Amtrak
Funded through operations profits, NOT Congress
Slide 23
Executive Agencies Fully responsible to the President Loyal to
the President Most executive agencies are more service related than
regulatory General Services Administration
Slide 24
Executive Office of the President Can be created by President
or by Congress NSC CEA OMB
Slide 25
White House Staff Presidents people: In recent administrations,
the principal staff for the president has been made of members of
the White House Office 600 + Aides: Chief of Staff (Emmanuel),
Press Secretary (Gibbs), Speechwriters, etc. Confirmation NOT
required http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/staff
Slide 26
What are the similarities? Each is part of the executive branch
Authorized by Congress Most are appropriated by Congress Internal
bureaucracy Civil servants and appointees Services to the public
Divided loyalties
Slide 27
What are the criticisms of the bureaucracy? red tape
Procedures, policies, forms, lines, etc. Inefficient Lack of
incentive, no profit motive Duplication of services Overlapping
responsibilities (USDA/FDA) Federalism Bureaucrats are making law
regulations Too big Need privatization Corruption Iron triangles or
subgovernments
Slide 28
Federal Employees
Slide 29
Spoils System v. Merit System Spoils system-to the victor
belong the spoils Merit system-jobs awarded based on merit
Pendleton Act set up merit system. (Garfields assassination) OPM is
the human resources office of the federal government
USAjobs.gov
Slide 30
What is the Hatch Act? Act which limited the political
activities of federal employees Why? Prevent corruption, political
advantages Cant Run for partisan office Fundraise at work Can Vote
and assist Donate money Campaign off duty Hold elected position in
a political party
Slide 31
What is the Pendleton Act? The Pendleton Civil Service Reform
Act is a 19th century law that changed the hiring practices for
federal jobs. The law was designed to remove politics from the
hiring process and install a merit-based system.
Slide 32
What is the Freedom of Information Act? Act which makes public
records available to citizens Cost is a concern for government
Slide 33
The Whistleblower Act? Bureaucrat can report wrongdoing on
superiors without job being in jeopardy Special Counsel can get
involved and lengthy investigation could follow Controversies
involving FBI labs and IRS promotions are examples of Whistleblower
results