America ’ s Democratic Republic

2. America’s Democratic Republic Chapter 12: The Presidency

3. In This Chapter • What role the chief executive plays in democratic and eighteenth-century republican doctrines • Why the presidency grew to be a powerful office • How presidents play many roles • Why presidents often disagree with Congress • How democratic the presidency is—whether presidents listen and respond to the public

5. The Framers’ Perception • Saw the need for a strong executive • Thought this was the branch with the most potential for abuse, so • Constrained by • Other branches • Electoral College • impeachment

6. The Expanding Presidency • Founders’ Conception • A single presidency • Chosen by the Electoral College • Fixed term of office • Eligible for more than one term • Impeachment • Veto Power • May appoint and advisory council

7. The Expanding Presidency • The Dormant Presidency • Structural Factors • Nation did not require a strong presidency prior to the 20th century • America as a world power • Corporate-dominated economy • Social consequences of both

8. The Expanding Presidency • 20th-Century Transformation • New structural conditions • Corporate monopolies • World Wars • Depression • Civil Rights

10. The Expanding Presidency • Importance of Individual Presidents? • Mixture of • Personal qualities • Personality • Character • Structural factors • Foreign policy • Economic crisis

11. The Powers and Roles of the President • Ceremonial • Domestic Policy Leader • Legislative Leader • Manager of the Economy • Chief Executive • Foreign Policy and Military Leader • Commander-in-Chief • Head of the Political Party

14. The Institutional Presidency • Definition: the number and responsibilities of presidential advisors and their functions • White House Staff • Executive Office of the President • Vice President • The Cabinet

16. The President & Congress: Perpetual Tug-of-War • Conflict By Constitutional Design • Separation of powers • Constitutional grant of authority • Shared power • Checks and balances • Separate elections • President = every four years • House = every two years • Senate = staggered; one-third during presidential election years

17. The President & Congress: Perpetual Tug-of-War • Outcomes • Different constituencies • Gridlock

18. The President & Congress: Perpetual Tug-of-War • Presidential Success With Congress? • Party and ideology • Foreign policy and national security issues • Vetoes • Popularity with American people

20. The President and the People: An Evolving Relationship • Getting Closer to the People • Framers • President as an elite leader • Electoral College • Indirect democratic control of the presidency • Woodrow Wilson • Given credit for tying the president more closely to the people

21. The President and the People: An Evolving Relationship • Leading Public Opinion • Changes in communication • Radio • Television • Internet

22. The President and the People: An Evolving Relationship • Responding to the Public • Electoral competition = presidents who share public’s policy preferences • Polling • Finding what the people want • Learning which symbols and words can sell the president’s agenda

23. The President and the People: An Evolving Relationship • Presidential Popularity • Affects the influence of the president with Congress, the executive branch and elected officials at all levels • What can impact it? • Bad economic news • War

25. The Presidency and the Democratic Republic • Framers • Did not intend for the office to be democratic • Envisioned an office detached from national policy making • The Electoral College not withstanding, presidents are elected by the people

26. Summary • Constitutional presidential powers include legislative, appointment, diplomatic, and military responsibilities • Presidents have become more powerful in times of national emergency • Initially, presidents did not make direct policy appeals to the public; this is not the case in modern times • Presidential organization and personalities affect the effectiveness of their time in office • Presidents act independently from Congress in making policy through executive orders and executive agreements

27. Question 1 • Formal directives to executive branch departments and agencies that have the force of law are called ___________. • Presidential laws • Executive directives • Executive orders • Legislation

28. Answer • Formal directives to executive branch departments and agencies that have the force of law are called ___________. • Presidential laws • Executive directives • Executive orders • Legislation

29. Question 2 • The Constitution calls for the president to address ______ in the State of the Union address. • Congress • The Supreme Court • The people • The executive branch

30. Answer • The Constitution calls for the president to address ______ in the State of the Union address. • Congress • The Supreme Court • The people • The executive branch

31. Question 3 • NAFTA was passed during the __________ administration. • Nixon • Carter • Reagan • Clinton

32. Answer • NAFTA was passed during the __________ administration. • Nixon • Carter • Reagan • Clinton

33. Question 4 • Which vice president became president due to a presidential resignation? • Washington • Ford • Carter • Biden

34. Answer • Which vice president became president due to a presidential resignation? • Washington • Ford • Carter • Biden

35. Question 5 • How has the modern presidency changed from the original intent of the framers?