presidential powers - mr. wright's...
TRANSCRIPT
Presidential Powers
EVOLUTION OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER
The Presidency was a relatively weak institution prior to the 20th
century as Congress was the dominant branch.
Presidential power has expanded due to:
Internal social and economic crises
Foreign policy crises
Expansion of federal power by Congress that necessitated an
expanded federal bureaucracy administered by the Chief Executive.
EVOLUTION OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER
•The founders wanted Congress to be the dominant branch
•The Presidency was a relatively weak institution prior to the 20th
century as the federal government was itself relatively weak
CONSTITUTIONALLY SPECIFIC POWERS (ARTICLE II)
•Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
•Commission Military Officers
•Grant reprieves & pardons
•Call special sessions of Congress
•Receive ambassadors
•Faithfully execute the laws
•Wield executive power
•Appoint officials to lesser offices
POTUS LIMITED BY:
•The Constitution
•Popular Opinion/Politics
•Public support for a President may
impact how much support he receives
from Congress for his programs.
***LAME DUCK***
A President who has either been voted
out of office after his first term or is
unpopular during the latter part of his
second term.
Congress
POTUS and Congress frequently struggle for power and
often have different agendas, even under a unified
government.
Veto override
Impeachment
Treaties require Senate confirmation
Cabinet and judicial appointments, ambassadorships
require Senate confirmation
Congressional oversight of actions taken by the
executive branch
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testifies
before the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs 2013
Attorney General
Eric Holder testifies
in the “Fast and
Furious” arms
investigation
Former IRS
employee testifies
before House
Oversight
Committee 2013
The Courts
Presidential initiatives or actions may be ruled
unconstitutional
EX: U.S. v. Nixon (1973) limited executive privilege
PERCEIVED LIMITATIONS
***DIVIDED GOVERNMENT***
-When the White House and one or both houses of
congress are controlled by different parties.
-Generally NOT a limitation as compromises benefit
both sides
-Unless POTUS has an ideological majority in both
houses, he is more likely to lose legislative battles
***GRIDLOCK***
-The inability of the federal government to act due to
divided government.
-Generally NOT a limitation as compromises benefit
both sides.
-Also an inherent safeguard as it prevents too many
radical actions by Congress and POTUS
***IMPERIAL PRESIDENTS***
•Imperial presidents will act without
consultation with the other branches in
order to move their agenda forward.
•Often done via ***executive
orders/actions***-orders have the full
force of law when that authority is
granted by the Constitution or an act of
Congress.
POTUS’ PROGRAM
Major initiatives that POTUS seeks to enact
Presidential Programs are shaped by…
Interest groups
-They generate new ideas
Aids & Advisors
-They test new ideas for political soundness (“Will we have
the backing of Congress and/or the public?”)
Federal Bureaus and Agencies
-Will know whether or not a program can even work and how
to implement it.
Outside Experts
-Provide criticisms