The Office of the President

The Office of the The Office of the PresidentPresident

Chapter 13Chapter 13

Constitutional Constitutional RequirementsRequirements

• ““natural-born citizen”natural-born citizen”• 35 years of age35 years of age• Has lived in the U.S. for 14 yearsHas lived in the U.S. for 14 years

Bonus Question #1: Who was the youngest president to be ELECTED to office?

John F. Kennedy (43 years-old)

Bonus Question #2: Who was the oldest president to be elected to office?

Ronald Reagan (69, reelected at 73)

Term of Office• Four years• Maximum of two elected terms (if VP serves

less than half of President’s term can be elected twice, If VP serves more than half can only be elected once)

• LBJ- succeeded JFK in 1963- could have been elected twice

• Ford- succeeded Nixon in 1974- eligible to be elected only once.

• Washington set precedent of only 2 terms but no official until 22nd amendment- due to FDR

• VP takes over if impeachment, death, resignation, disabled, removal- 25th Amendment

• Presidential Act of 1947- set up the way the succession line- Speaker, Senate President Pro tem, Sec of State, Sec of Treasury, Sec of Defense…then the other Cabinet secretaries in order of creation.

SalarySalary Fun Fact: Fun Fact:

The President’s salary is determined by The President’s salary is determined by Congress and CANNOT be changed Congress and CANNOT be changed

during the same term.during the same term.

$400,000$400,000Bonus Question #3: Who were the only two presidents to refuse their presidential salary?

George Washington and John F. Kennedy

Presidential Perks!Presidential Perks!• Salary• Travel and expense accounts• White House Residency• Staff of nearly 100!• Camp David vacation estate• The best doctors, dentists, & other

health care providers• Jets, helicopters, Air Force One• Retirement package (salary and

Secret Service protection for life)• Speaking Fees- Clinton charges up to

$300,000 per speech• Memoirs- Clinton received $12 million

advance• Can serve on Corporate Board of

Directors- Gerald Ford• Taft- Chief Justice of Supreme Court

after Presidency

• http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/just-explain-it/just-explain-pays-presidential-perks-203926005.html

President’s Roles and checks- President’s Roles and checks- according to Constitutionaccording to Constitution

1. Chief legislator- 1. Chief legislator- powers- proposes powers- proposes legislation, vetoes legislation, legislation, vetoes legislation, calls special calls special sessions of Congresssessions of Congress, Makes State of the , Makes State of the Union Address to Congress Union Address to Congress

- checks = - checks = congress need not pass legislation andcongress need not pass legislation and can override veto 2/3 majority in both can override veto 2/3 majority in both houseshouses

2. Chief Executive- powers= 2. Chief Executive- powers= enforces laws, enforces laws, treaties, court decisions, appoints officials to treaties, court decisions, appoints officials to office (and fires), issues office (and fires), issues executive orders- do executive orders- do not need congressional approval not need congressional approval

- checks= - checks= Congress passes laws, power of the Congress passes laws, power of the purse, Senate can reject treaties/appointments, purse, Senate can reject treaties/appointments, House impeaches, Senate removes, House impeaches, Senate removes, Supreme Court can strike down Executive Supreme Court can strike down Executive ordersorders

• 3. Commander in Chief- power head of the armed forces (a civilian in charge)-

• checks= Congress appropriates military funding, Congress declares war, War Powers Act of 1973 (cannot wage war over 60 days without Congressional approval)

• 4. Chief diplomat- sets overall foreign policy, appoints and receives ambassadors, negotiates treaties and executive agreements (agreements between heads of states- nuclear warheads, economic help), give diplomatic recognition to foreign governments

• checks= Congress appropriates funds for foreign affairs, Senate can reject ambassadors and treaties

• 5. Chief of State- the ceremonial head of our nation- tosses out the first ball of the baseball season, bestows medal of honor, visits areas struck by natural disaster.

• 6. Chief Jurist- powers- appoints federal judges, issues pardons and amnesty.

• Checks= senate can reject judicial appointments, senators can place holds on appointments

Non-constitutional roles

• A. Head of Political Party- selects the party’s chairman of the national committee and VP nominee, political patronage

• B. Chief Economist- responsible for overall health of economy, proposes federal budget (though Congress can alter it)

• Analyze this: “The greatest source of presidential power is not to be found in the Constitution, but in politics and public opinion.”

Unwritten TraditionsUnwritten Traditions All have been white (Obama is

½ white) All have been Christian Most have been from well-to-do

families Most are highly educated Most have military experience Most have been married

Bonus Question #4: Who was the only Catholic president?

John F. KennedyJohn F. Kennedy

Bonus Question #5: Who is the only president since 1900 to never attend college?

Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman

Test Your Knowledge!Test Your Knowledge!How many presidents have been Army Generals?

10

How many presidents total have we had throughout history?

44Who is the first president to have been divorced?

Reagan

How many presidents were assassinated in office? 4 (Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy)

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The Evolution of the Presidency

• Constitutional Convention- how do we choose a leader– Monarch- president for life (Alexander Hamilton)– Plural Executive (voted in by all people)– Compromise- single, elected President with fixed

term in office

Concerns

• Fear of a strong President- would become a monarchy

• No term limits (how long can one serve)- fixed with 22nd amendment (Washington set precedent two terms)

• Weak President (fear of being a tool of Senate- b/c of ratification and confirmation powers

How do we elect a President?

• First ideas• Congress elects president- but too much

congressional dominance• Direct election- too much weight on

large states, vote on passions, illiteracy was common and communication poor

• Compromise – electoral College (activity)

• People would have some input, both small and large state influence election, House can elect

The First Presidents• • Washington• 1789 -1797• • Adams• 1797 - 1801

• Jefferson• 1801 - 1809• • Madison• 1809 - 1817• • Monroe• 1817 - 1825

Washington - Monroe

• Modest Presidency- assumed Congress would take the leading role in new gov’t

• All Active in Independence movement• All but Adams served two terms• All but Adams- Virginians• Development of Political Parties

(Washington warned)• Only well respected men received

appointments

Growth of the presidency1829-1837

• What president would expand the power of the Presidency?

• Andrew Jackson• Use of Spoils System• Vetoed 12 Acts of Congress- most up to that point• Ignored Supreme Court- removal of Cherokee (evoked

eminent domain)

Re-emergence of Congress1837-1932

• Congress re-established control• Of next eight Presidents after Jackson

none served more than one term• Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow

Wilson- only powerful presidents• During this time Presidency was seen

as negative force = Cleveland’s 414 vetoes

• Up until 1930’s = Strong personalities and crisis is what made president the central figure of government

Modern Day Presidency

• FDR- creates powerful presidency• Foreign policies after WW 2- leads to increase• Cold War- Truman, JFK, LBJ, Nixon• 70’s after Nixon- Congress had some re-emergence of power• 80’s- Reagan restores power and prestige• 90’s- Bush-Clinton-economic bubbles, emergence in foreign

policy, domestic policy changes• 2000’s- W. Bush, Jr- Global War on terrorism, broader control of

foreign policy, economic crisis

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White House Staff

•

The White House Office Staff

• In the past• Up until 1857- no personal secretary• Lincoln often answered his own mail• Cleveland answered the White House

phone• 1901- Finally given Secret Service after

McKinley assassinated• Now more than 500 people work in the

White house Staff

The Executive Office of the President

• White House Office/Staff- West wing of White house (immediate)- where the power is wielded

• Always jockeying for influence- the closer to Oval office the better

• President organizes his staff• 1. Circular (FDR, Carter)- Prez is the hub and

assistants are the spokes• 2. Pyramid (Ike, Nixon, Reagan)- assistants

report to Chief of Staff who then reports to Prez• Review organizational method in reading

• Appointments to White House staff do not require Senate consent (example Chief of Staff)

• Have a better degree of executive privilege protection

• Presidents seek people who will be loyal- fewer divided loyalties as compared to Cabinet positions

Other Offices of Executive

• OMB- prepares the annual budget and reviews federal programs

• NSC- coordinates foreign/military policy

• CEA- council of economic advisers (3 people)

The Cabinet• Heads of the Cabinet Depts and 6 others (OMB

director, CIA director, White House Counselor, UN Ambassador, US Trade Rep, Director of Homeland Security)

• Appointed with Senate Consent• Meet only at call of President (do not meet regularly)• Members of Congress cannot also be part of Cabinet

(unconstitutional)

Divided Loyalties to President

• Most are interested in enlarging or defending their cabinet

• Who are they really loyal to?• President (who gives them their job)• Congress who funds their department• Client Groups- who depend on the department• To their employees in that department• Cabinet goals- make it larger more important but

must fight for funding• President can only fire appointees but has little control

of civil service employees- so has limited influence on Cabinet

Federal Positions

Who gets in?

• The President has to fill many appointments but those appointed is small >10%

• President depends on staff recommendations

• Even though President is not too sure how well they will hold up in the appointment process.

So who are they?

• Tend to come from private industry, universities, law firms, think tanks, Congress, state/local gov’ts

• Most have some federal experience

• Some alternate between jobs in the public sector and private sector (revolving door)- “in and outers”

• What about the VP?

The Vice Presidency

• Constitutional role: Pres. of Senate and Become president or acting President if office of Prez is vacant

• Helps to gain votes in an election (George H.W. Bush choosing Dan Quayle from Indiana)

• Little responsibility (given by President)

• More recently, have taken an active role (“only a heartbeat away” from presidency)

• Stepping stone to Presidency

25th Amendment (1967)• Established

procedures for dealing w/ pres. disability and filling V.P.

What else does the VP really do?

• VP is often selected to “Balance the ticket”• Attend funerals of foreign leaders• Most have taken an active role in Foreign policy• Words of other• “the vice presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm

spit”• “the most insignificant office ever conceived”-

John Adams• “I do not choose to be buried until I am really

dead”- Daniel Webster after refusing to be VP in 1848

• What role will they play now???

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Growth of Presidential Power

• Where does president get his power?

• Article II Section 2

• Other Non-Constitutional Roles

• 1. Unity of the Office- one man as opposed to 535 member Congress

• 2. Presidential Character and personality: strong leadership can have great impact.

• 3. Growing complexity of Society: with a highly industrial and technological society, people have demanded that the FED gov’t play a larger role in areas of public concern: ex. Pollution, labor issues, air travel safety, the economy- thus the Executive Branch has grown to meet those public demands

• 4. Congressional delegation of authority to Executive Branch:– Congress often writes broadly worded legislation-

executive branch “fills in the holes”– Congress bows to presidential demands in time of

economic or foreign crisis– President can proclaim necessary mandates after a

large electoral victory (Reagan’s tax cuts after 1980 election)

• 5. The Electronic Throne – “bully pulpit”- the use of the media casts the President into the public eye – special addresses, photo ops, sound bites, Saturday morning radio chats

• 6. US a great superpower- since development of Cold War- US was placed into a virtual non-stop crisis situation- only President can deal with various foreign crisis.

• 3 rules of thumb to maximize presidential power and effectiveness

• A. Presidents need to get things done early in their terms when their popularity is high- since it declines over time “Move it or lose it”

• B. “Avoid details”- don’t try too much. Concentrate on a few top priorities- (Reagan’s Tax cuts, higher defense spending)

• C. “Cabinets don’t get much done, people do”- place more trust on getting things done with White House staff than Cabinet secretaries (divided loyalties)

Making Presidency Safe and Effective

• What do we already know about the power of the office of the Prez?

• Powers of the Prez are not as clearly defined as in Congress- Congress grants broadly worded powers

• In times of emergency- power grows• In normal times has many checks and

balances- yet we expect Prez to do so much

• President has much power- and to what limit

Checks that weaken prez

• Constitutional – Congress, Courts• How else do they check?• 1. Congressional leaders• 2. Cabinet members• 3. Bureaucrats• 4. Political Parties• 5. Interest Groups• 6. Media- “gotcha journalism”

• 7. Appointment of special prosecutor- though still can be fired by President

• 8. Use of impeachment

• 9. Senators “holds” and filibusters of pres. nominations

• 10. Divided gov’t

• 11. More of a global society (must act in accordance to allies)

Can we strengthen Presidents powers?

• Will we allow it?• 1. 6 year terms- w/no re-elections• 2. 2 or 3 presidents• 3. Give president power to dissolve

Congress and call for new elections• 4. Allow members of Congress to

take positions in Executive Branch• 5. No more split tickets- unified party

tickets (President, Senator. Congressman)

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Congress vs. President

• What we know:• 1. Congress supposed to be dominant force in

gov’t• 2. Recently President more dominant• 3. Checks and Balances- supposed to be a

conflict• 4. Members of Congress more interested in

state and local, President represents more national interests- example- Yucca Mt. (NV members of Congress oppose- President supports

Where are there some other conflicts?

• Different times of election (at one point could be united party and in 2 years divided gov’t) (Clinton 1992 Dems- and 1994 Rep

• President’s office is united while Congress has 535 members that can be divided

• Congress more cooperative in foreign policy and national security issues than domestic and economic issues (ex. Bailout plan)

So how does President get Congress to work for him?

• Use of Media- electronic throne- pleads case directly to people

• Mandate of people- especially after a large electoral win

• Patronage- asks for help from members of Congress – in turns helps them (cooperative favors- uncooperative- punishment)

• Chief of party- act in interest of party unity• Veto- threat carries weight- 93% of vetoes are never

overridden• National emergency- most power for president• President is considered that “great engine of

democracy”- but lately President seen as too imperial-

The Imperial Presidency

• 1973- Arthur Schlesinger’s The imperial Presidency- president’s power has grown too excessive (imperial like)

• How is this possible?

• Congress has given the executive strong powers..esp in foreign policy

Areas of Abuse

• War Powers• Only Congress can declare war vs.

President’s power as Commander in Chief

• President has sent in troops without declaration of war over 125 times since 1945 –communism-(Vietnam, panama, Grenada, Somalia)

• Congress often funds these but if public opinion turns then it responds (Vietnam)

• Congress does this to allow official declarations because then it would have to give more power to president- and they might not want to do that

Response by Congress• War Powers act of 1973• President can send troops overseas to an area where

hostilities are imminent without a congressional war declaration only under these circumstances.

• Rules- – Must notify Congress within 48 hours– Must withdraw the troops after 60 days (can be extended extra 30

days if safety of the troops requires it)– Must consult w/Congress if troops are to engage in combat– Congress can pass a resolution, not subject to presidential veto-

to withdraw troops• Ties the hands of the President-too inflexible• Usurps power of the President as commander in chief• Enemies just wait for 60-90 days for troop withdrawal• President has complained about it but no lawsuit to check

unconstituionality (political hot potato)

• Emergency crisis- President assumes great powers- can suspend habeas corpus, censor mail, control manufacturing, control communication and transportation, martial law

Response by Congress

• National Emergencies Act of 1976

• President must inform Congress in advance of powers to be used in emergencies

• State of emergency end automatically after 6 months

• President can declare another 6 months but subject to cong. review

• Executive agreements- deals with other heads of another nation- does not need congressional approval (oil for favors- weapons)– Between 1980-1991 more than 4100 of

these (only 200 treaties)– Most are in military commitments

• Congress and the CIA- b/c of past abuses (coups in Guatemala and Iran, 1970’s Chile)- has developed 2 congressional oversight committees

• Executive privilege- right of a president to not divulge conversations between himself and advisers– Why- b/c if not then advisers would not

be straightforward– Abused under the guise of national

security– US v Nixon (1974) Supreme court stated

that the Presidents are in fact entitled to this most of the time but not in criminal cases

Response by Congress

• Confirmation of presidential appointees• Senatorial courtesy- president will make

an appointment within a state (will ask the 2 senators of that state to get their approval)

• Closer scrutiny by Senate• Can delay appointments and the holds can

last for years (if deemed too liberal or too conservative)

Lastly• Impoundment- the refusal

of the President to spend money that has been appropriated by Congress (not spending defense budget after end of war)

• No line item veto so president must sign or veto entire bill- might not be happy where certain funding goes

• Not in the constitution (Congress can be upset but not much they can do)

• Use of the veto-mere threat can influence legislation

Response by Congress

• Passage of Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

• If president impounds funds temporarily(deferral)-either house can override

• If president impounds funds permanently (rescission)- that act is automatically voided unless both house of Congress approve within 45 days.

• Established Congressional Budget Office (CBO)• Congress given 3 additional months to consider the

President’s proposed budget• Established budget committees in each house

Other ways for Congress to control Presidency

• Legislative veto- congress authority over Executive decisions

• INS v. Chada (1983)- supreme court declares legislative veto an unconstitutional violation of separation of powers

• Use of appropriations to control foreign policy (can cut off Aid) – but recently have asked Congress for approval of US action (Gulf War, Kosovo intervention, Iraq and Afghanistan)

• Some people feel that Congress inhibits changes, excessive control of Executive, too many oversights

What will the president do in his last years of office???