Presidency (Unit IV)
● What are the Constitutional Powers of the President?
● What are the informal roles of the President?● Why do scholars argue that the informal
responsibilities are more important?● How has the power of the Presidency grown
over the years? ● www.potus.com
Unit IV: Institutions of Government: Congress, Presidency, Bureaucracy, Courts
(35-45%)
Power of President vs. Congress
The next 15 slides address this: Great resource on WPA:
http://loufreyinstitute.org/civicsconnection/conversations/4/16
PRESIDENT vs. CONGRESS
The Struggle for Political Power
THREE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
● NATURAL BORN CITIZEN● LIVED IN CONTINUOUSLY IN
UNITEDSTATES FOR 14 YEARS● 35 YEARS OLD
CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
● COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF● HEAD EXECUTIVE BRANCH● NEGOTIATE TREATIES● STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSES● MAKE APPOINTMENTS
INFORMAL ROLES OF PRESIDENT -
MORE IMPORTANT
CHIEF LAWMAKERPARTY LEADER
CRISIS MANAGERRECRUITER
MORALE BUILDERCHIEF DIPLOMAT
Current Events and the War Powers Resolution
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/world/africa/13powers.html?_r=1
War Powers Act?
●http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/world/africa/13powers.html?_r=2
●http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/death-of-the-war-powers-act/2011/05/17/AF3Jh35G_story.html?hpid=z5
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/162323-lawmakers-quiet-on-war-powers-authority-in-libya-
WHAT DID THE FRAMERS ENVISION ROLE OF
PRESIDENCY TO BE?
Federalist #70
Alexander Hamilton
ARTHUR SCHLESINGER WROTE “THE IMPERIAL
PRESIDENCY”
POWER OF PRESIDENCY HAS GROWN IN MODERN TIMES -
“PRESIDENT CAN RULE BY DECREE”
POWER OF PRESIDENCY
HAS DOMINATED CONGRESS IN FOUR
MAIN AREAS:
ONE: WAR POWERS● President =
Commander in Chief
● Congress declares war
● President Johnson persuades Congress to enact Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
WAR POWERS ACT
● ENACTED DURING NIXON’S ADMINISTRATION ● TROOPS ABROAD REQUIRE CONGRESSIONAL
APPROVAL (BTW 60 - 90 DAYS)
● CONGRESS REASSERTING ITS AUTHORITY● NIXON VETOED BILL● CONGRESS OVERRIDES THE VETO
TWO: LEGISLATIVE POWERS
● CHIEF LAWMAKER● VETO POWER● FEWER THAN 3% OVERRIDDEN● PRESIDENTAL SIGNING STATEMENTS –
● EXECUTIVE ORDERS(Korematsu v. US)
BUDGET MAKING
● PRESIDENT IS CENTRAL TO BUDGET MAKING PROCESS
● CONSTITUTION SAYS CONGRESS HAS POWER OF PURSE
● PRESIDENT IMPOUNDS FUNDS● CONGRESS FIGHTS BACK FOR
POWER
BUDGET IMPOUNDMENT CONTROL ACT (1974)
● CREATED THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE (CBO)
● GAVE CONGRESS THEIR OWN ECONOMIC ADVISORS
● MADE THE IMPOUNDMENT OF FUNDS MORE DIFFICULT
THREE: APPOINTEES
● CONFIRMING A CABINET USUALLY VERY EASY
● MANY WHITE HOUSE STAFF OFFICIALS (NATIONAL SECURITYADVISOR) DO NOT REQUIRE SENATE CONFIRMATION
● POLICY CZARS (OBAMA)
FOUR: FOREIGN AFFAIRS
● WITH GROWING NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTS GAINED POWER OF EXECUTIVE PRIVILEDGE
● ALLOWS THEM TO WITHHOLD INFORMATION IN COURT INQUIRIES IF INFORMATION WOULD ENDANGER NATIONAL SECURITY
● US v. Nixon
TREATY MAKING
● CONSTITUTION REQUIRES SENATE RATIFICATION OF ALL TREATIES
● PRESIDENTS CAN MAKE “EXECUTIVE AGREEMENTS” THAT HAVE THEEFFECT OF A TREATY (NO SENATE RATIFICATION REQUIRED)
CONCLUSION:
● POWER OF PRESIDENCY HAS GROWN OVER CONGRESS
● PRESIDENT CAN WAGE WAR● PRESIDENT CAN LEGISLATE● PRESIDENT CAN APPOINT● PRESIDENT CAN DOMINATE
FOREIGN AFFAIRS● ALL WITH LITTLE INTERFERENCE
FROM CONGRESS!
