Sources and Avenues for Presidential Power
Power of the President

Sources

Articles of Confederation
Goal protect freedom from central power, but provide some order
a weak central power for protection,
with strong regional (state) powers
Governors were as powerful as the President
Constitution
Goal stronger central gov't for order while preserving liberty
Article II
"to give necessary power to the President but limit unnecessary power"
Article II
Qualifications:
U.S. Born Citizen
35+
Lived in U.S. min. of 14 years
Powers Given:
1. "to serve as administrative head of the nation"  "vested in power", "Head" "take care of the laws and faithfully execute"
2. act as commander in chief "military" "highest officer"
3. Convene Congress "extraordinary" "state of union from time to time"
4. Veto "joint resolutions on const'l amendment", 2/3 joint override by chambers
Article II
Powers Given:
5. Appoint "fed judges, ambassadors, cabinet" "senate approval"
6. Treaties "with 2/3 consent of Senators then voting" "
7. Pardons "offenses against the U.S." "except impeachment"
(Expansive) Formal Powers

Creative use of formal powers
"Veto" leads to power over the Chambers and other agencies.  "Threat" causes others to seek to appease the president"
"Commander in Chief" as senior in command he can order military responses without congress.
"state of the union" has been used as a forum to present new policy and secure public assent
all of these give the President power over the Chambers.
Necessary and Proper (Implied) Powers

Inherent = power inferred from the constitution in order to do the job
a push or 'test' of power
Forces congress to oppose or acquiesce
if no opposition the power is gained
trial procedure (George Bush)
use of navy to blockaid Americans (Abraham Lincoln)
Executive Orders
Pres. creates law or policy through "directive" w/o approval of Congress
Little Rock (Dwight Eisenhower)
Troop Desegregation (Harry Truman)
Executive Agreements
Congress can Delegate Power
temporary, permanent.
given by Congress for special needs and events
FDR and "necessary steps to solve the economic depression"
Nixon and solving inflation.
Congress may "reassert" power.
The Executive Branch

1. The Executive Office
2. The Vice President
3. The President's Cabinet
The Executive Office of the President

over 1700 people
Aides
Staff
chief of staff (whip)
national security adviser (briefings and analysis of issues)
council of economic advisers (state of the economy and best practices toward health, education, and social services.)

The E.O. must be a "team" "not to think the same or a 'right way', but to think strategically"  "to consider all the alternatives (not group think)" "advise the President if they think he/she is wrong.
group think = reaching consensus without thinking of all alternatives.
Vice President and Cabinet

V.P. is primarily a fundraiser and campaigner
take over if the President is not available (death, sick, impeached, resigns)
may be selected for strategy in elections
may be able to work with both parties.
may help the president if weak in one area of office (Carter/Mondale in policymaking)

Cabinet has grown weaker over the years.
heads and advisors
large, limited areas of expertise
Qualities of a President

Personal Qualities
good leader
personality
believability
ethical?
fears?
Johnson had a "cowboy" immage"  "wouldn't run from the North Vietnamese"
Nixon felt people "enemies" were out to get him.  "Watergate"

Voter Poles:  People claim to care about personal traits of competence, integrity and empathy
Power to Persuade

Pres. must be able to persuade people

Neustadt Theory:  Presidential Power is the power to persuade.
Presidents: 
depend on others "must cooperate"
must bargain
must deal with adversaries
must make good choices and prioritize
must pay attention to the margins of society
must be careful not to push when stakes of losing are too high

Presidential Popularity

Popular Presidents have better success at persuasion
support of the people is a bargaining tool 
Popular Presidents can go over the head of congress by making public appeal
television, internet, speaking with reporters
Honeymoon = period after first elected; approval is the highest
Low ratings at end of first term indicate low reelection odds.
Factors of Fluctuation in Approval
economic conditions
major events
war, especially  heavy losses
public promises that do not then materialize
ability to form bipartisan coalitions and interst groups
Predictors of Successful Presidency

Partisans = the more partisans in Congress the more likely the President gets his way

Divided Government = One party controls the White House and one party holds the Chambers
may result in Gridlock (encapacity to conduct business)

Bipartisanship can overcome problems of a divided government.
Leadership

Domestic and International

Changes in the International Relm
cold war --> post cold war
International Relations

From WWII until the 1980s
focus communism
China, USSR, North Korea
Asia and Eastern Europe
Later Central America, Cuba
overt and covert operations
Nixon = inroads with China
Reagan = inroads with USSR
Post Cold War

Three Fundamental Objectives
1. National Security:
direct protection of US from external threat,
2. Fostering international peace:
involving NGOs and agencies (U.N., NATO, Carter Center, USIP)
mediating conflict, facilitating bargaining, Crisis Management
multinational military peacekeeping forces, trade sanctions, human rights issues
3. Protection of U.S. economic interests:
Source References:

Janda, Kenneth, Jeffrey Berry, and Jerry Goldman. 2009. The Challenge of Democracy.  Boston, MA: WadsworthCengage Learning.
Shea, Daniel, Joanne Green, and Christopher Smith.  2007.  Living Democracy.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Schmidt, Steffan, Mack Shelley, and Barabara Bardes.  2008.  American Government and Politics Today.  Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
Miroff, Bruce, Raymond Seidelman, and Todd Swanstrom.  2007.  The Democratic Debate.  Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Gitelson, Alan, Robert L. Dudley, and Melvin Dubnick. 2008. American Government.  Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Dreslang, Dennis, James Gosling.  2008.  Politics and Policy in American States and Communities.  New York, NY: Pearson Longman.