6 The Executive

1. 6The Executive

2. Institutions • What are institutions? • Specific, enduring political structures • What makes something an institution and not just an office? • Institutions, in part, become institutions by lasting over time. • They are larger than the people who occupy an office at a particular time. • Is the U.S. Presidency an institution? • Yes, the institution of the presidency, like all governmental institutions, includes all formal and informal powers, the offices, the staffs, and the historical precedents that define the institution.

3. El Grande Loco Casa Blanca • The U.S. presidency provides a perfect example to contrast the reality versus the ideal of the executive • Since the New Deal and World War II, the nation has expected a great deal out of its presidents, • Far more than is realistically possible • Although officeholders are bound to disappoint, • Americans remain faithful to the institution of the presidency

4. Institutions • Because Americans have tremendous respect for the office of the presidency, presidents begin their terms with a great deal of public support • How long does this honeymoon period last? • The reality of everyday politics eventually takes its inevitable toll. • Like what? Think of some examples • The world is complex, peoples demands vary, disappointment is inevitable • partisan decisions • state of the economy • world events • Even as individual presidents disappoint, Americans keep faith in the institution of the presidency.

5. Oh Captain, My Captain • The executive is the implementer • It is the part of government that acts • There are two types of executives: • The head of state is the person who symbolically embodies or represents the state • The head of government is the person who carries out the day-to-day responsibilities of governing • In England, the Queen is the former and the Prime Minister is the latter • The U.S. President is both

6. Because God Said So • Kings used to justify their rule based on the claim “I am God” • With the advent of Christian monotheism and the Roman empire, the justification changed to “Because God said I’m in charge” • This is the antecedent of the divine right of kings

7. Because God Said So • St. Augustine’s City of God (413-427) was a crucial text in the development of western political thought • He argued for a distinction between the heavenly kingdom • And the earthly kingdom, which God appointed men to rule on his behalf • This allowed for the imperfection of governments and rulers on earth

8. Kings and Presidents • Modern executives can be categorized as authoritarian or democratic • Authoritarian executives are mostly unconstrained by other branches of government • They can be either individuals (monarchies or dictators) or oligarchies

9. Kings and Presidents • Democratic executives are significantly and intentionally constrained in the independence of their actions • Usually by the threat of future elections • They can be either presidential or parliamentary

10. Authoritarian Oligarchy • Modern authoritarian oligarchies are often descendents of revolutionary dictators • These are usually carefully and extensively structured • Can you think of any examples? • The Communist Party of China or Cuba • These are not just dictators by committee

11. Authoritarian Oligarchy • Other authoritarian oligarchies can be the informal product of a dominant cultural, economic, or religious power base • These may result from single-party dominance in a democratic context • Such as? • Utah, Mexico, Japan

12. The Democratic Executive • Elections can be problematic as a democratic criterion • Think of a democratic executive as the servant of a significant portion of the public • In a presidential system, the legislative and executive institutions are separate (the yolk is separated from the whites) • In a parliamentary system there is a fusion of legislative and executive (scrambled eggs).

13. The Democratic Executive • In a presidential system, the executive is separately elected and does not have to answer to the legislature • The president has an independent base of support (the electorate) • In a parliamentary system, the prime minister is drawn from among the members of parliament (MPs) and remains responsible to both the parliament and the electorate

14. The Democratic Executive • In a parliamentary system, the prime minister serves until the next elections are scheduled or until a majority of (MPs) vote him out • In a presidential system, the president serves a fixed term unless removed through impeachment

15. Sí, El Presidente • The modern democratic presidency originated with the U.S. Constitution • They wanted to prevent the development of a king that would lead them to war • The power to declare war was left to Congress • But the duty of commander in chief was left to the president

16. Sí, El Presidente • The powers of the legislative and executive are separated but they have checks on each other • The president can check legislation with a veto • While the legislature can confirm appointments and treaties and budgets • This makes it very hard to make significant changes in the law

17. Yes, Minister • Prime ministers are leaders of the winning party or coalition in the parliament • This makes it far easier to shepherd legislation through the system • Members of parliamentary political parties are far more likely to vote cohesively • They are dependent on the party for their seat after an election • This reinforced party loyalty makes it much easier to define and enact policy