Presentation by Dr. Kevin Lasher. Presidential Powers 1)Constitutional powers --- Article II, Sections 2 and 3 --- commander-in-chief, receive ambassadors,

Presentation by Dr. Kevin Lasher Presidential Powers 1)Constitutional powers --- Article II, Sections 2 and commander-in-chief, receive ambassadors, make appointments, sign treaties, pardons, state of union, pardons, etc. --- fairly modest list of powers 2)Modern powers --- expanded powers without constitutional change Presidential Powers: Modern Powers 1)Power over foreign policy 2)Power through bureaucracy 3)Power over legislation 4)Power through leadership/persuasion 5)Power through party Power over Foreign Policy Commander-in-chief Power over Foreign Policy Deploy Troops Anywhere No Declaration of War Power over Foreign Policy Nuclear Weapons Power over Foreign Policy Chief Diplomat Power over Foreign Policy Intelligence and Covert Actions Presidential Powers: Modern Powers Power over foreign policy Power through bureaucracy Chief Executive Power through bureaucracy Federal spending is 20-25% of US GDP Power through bureaucracy Fifteen cabinet departments, more than 100 Independent Agencies, Govt. Corps, Boards, etc. Executive branch bureaucracy IMPLEMENTS laws Power through bureaucracy President appoints top leadership of executive branch agencies Presidential control is diluted as one moves down the bureaucratic chain Presidential Powers: Modern Powers Power over foreign policy Power through bureaucracy Power over legislation Power over Legislation Much more than signing or vetoing laws Power over Legislation State of Union speech and other means to set legislative agenda Power over Legislation Win public support for his legislative goals Power over Legislation President can lobby for congressional votes Presidential Powers: Modern Powers Power over foreign policy Power through bureaucracy Power over legislation Power through leadership/persuasion Power through Leadership President as comforter in chief Power through Leadership President can use television and other media to rally the country to his issues Power through Leadership President can turn popularity into power Power through Leadership How does a President respond to a crisis? Presidential Powers: Modern Powers Power over foreign policy Power through bureaucracy Power over legislation Power through leadership/persuasion Power through party Power through Party President is leader of his particular political party Power through Party Fund-raiser-in-chief for self and others Power through Party Help his party win more congressional seats in order to help him meet his legislative goals Three Models of Presidential Behavior 1)Sorensons theory of limitations 2)Neustadts theory of presidential power 3)Barbers theory of presidential character