Consider: Why does the President often not rely on the Cabinet as much as people might think?

Homework: Assignment 11 for tomorrow

The Office of the President

Chapter 7 AP Government and Politics

Vice President Balancing the ticket

Why does Obama choose Biden?

Why does Romney choose Ryan?

Why does McCain choose Palin? Increasing role in modern

presidency Biden claims that he has been

given “carte blanche” in several areas on the policy area

Gates response: has integrity, but has been wrong on every policy

7.4

Presidential Staff•Has grown immensely in this century

▫Double-edged sword: The more growth, the less control

•Rule of propinquity – those who wield power are those in the room when the decision is made▫Advisors, staff, others are only influential in relation

to how close they can actually get to the president•Three main “arms” of presidential staff:

▫The Cabinet▫EoP▫WHO

•Correspond to three “degrees” of propinquity; in reverse order…

• What is “the cabinet”?

• Created by the Constitution? ▫Where does it come from?▫How did it originate? Most departments/agencies/bureaus created by Congress

• What do presidents look for when making Cabinet appointments?▫Why might some of these factors lead to a “cabinet of

strangers”?

• Who approves these nominations?▫Are they likely to approve these nominations? Why?

The President’s Cabinet

Cabinet 7.4

Reagan: 33 total secretaries in 8 years• 3 Women (all white) 1 Black Male 1 Hispanic 12% Minority rate

Bush I: 21 total in 4 years• 3 Women (all white) 2 Hispanics (one carried over from Reagan) 23% Minority rate Clinton: 29 total secretaries in 8 years• 5 Women (3 W, 2 black) 3 Black men 3 Hispanics 1 Japanese

44% Minority rate Bush II: 34 total in 8 years• 5 women (4 W, 1 black) 3 Black men 3 Hispanics • 1 Japanese (same person as Clinton)

35% minority rate

Obama: 16 total in 4 years• 4 women (1 Latino) 1 Black man 1 Latino 3 Asians

56% minority rate

Diversity in the Cabinet?

Consider: Is there another city whose major sports teams all wear the same 2 basic colors?

Homework: Assignment 11 for tomorrow; collaborize post by Monday class time.

•Have president’s relied heavily on their cabinet for advice?

•Which cabinet departments have more influence?▫Why?▫What do we call these?

•What factors might contribute to their “3rd degree” of propinquity status regardless of their importance?

The Role of the Cabinet

First Lady

Informal advisers Abigail Adams Edith Wilson Eleanor Roosevelt

Michelle Obama What has been her

main initiative since Obama took office in 2008?

7.4

The Executive Office of the President• These agencies report directly to Prez, but not

located in the WH. ▫May or may not have intimate contact with him; some

are large bucy’s. ▫The top positions are prez appointments, but must be

confirmed by Senate• Overseen by the White House Chief of Staff, the EOP

has traditionally been home to many of the President’s closest advisors.▫Most important are: OMB, CIA, CEA, OPM, Trade Rep

Perhaps most important is OMB; responsible for not just developing the budget, but also studying and improving organization of executive branch

• What factors might contribute to their “2nd degree” status?

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

National Security Council (NSC) Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Office of the Vice President Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Economic Recovery Advisory Board “Czars”

7.4

White House Office•Personal staff of president

▫Personal assistants, senior aides, Chief of Staff▫Chosen for loyalty, Hired and fired by president;

no Senate confirmation▫Located in West Wing…close proximity

•Difficult to know how many▫Number increased throughout history, (reached

a) plateau at about 500 •What factors might contribute to the WHO’s

“1st degree” status?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26iAyLLGLEs&feature=related

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop