Transcript Presidential Powers

Presentation by Dr. Kevin Lasher
Presidential Powers
1) Constitutional powers
--- Article II, Sections 2 and 3
--- commander-in-chief, receive ambassadors,
make appointments, sign treaties, pardons,
state of union, pardons, etc.
--- fairly modest list of powers
2) Modern powers
--- expanded powers without constitutional change
Presidential Powers: Modern Powers
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2)
3)
4)
5)
Power over foreign policy x
Power through bureaucracy x
Power over legislation
x
Power through leadership/persuasion
Power through party
Power over Foreign Policy
Commander-in-chief
Power over Foreign Policy
Deploy Troops Anywhere
No Declaration of War
Power over Foreign Policy
Nuclear Weapons
Power over Foreign Policy
Chief Diplomat
Power over Foreign Policy
Intelligence and Covert Actions
Presidential Powers: Modern Powers
• Power over foreign policy
• Power through bureaucracy
Power through bureaucracy
Chief Executive
Power through bureaucracy
Federal spending is 20-25% of US GDP
Power through bureaucracy
• Fifteen cabinet departments, more than 100
Independent Agencies, Govt. Corps, Boards, etc.
• Executive branch bureaucracy IMPLEMENTS
laws
Power through bureaucracy
• President appoints top leadership of executive
branch agencies
• Presidential control is diluted as one moves
“down” the bureaucratic chain
Presidential Powers: Modern Powers
• Power over foreign policy
• Power through bureaucracy
• Power over legislation
Power over Legislation
Much more than signing or
vetoing laws
Power over Legislation
State of Union speech and other means to set
“legislative agenda”
Power over Legislation
Win public support for his
legislative goals
Power over Legislation
President can lobby for congressional votes
Presidential Powers: Modern Powers
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Power over foreign policy
Power through bureaucracy
Power over legislation
Power through leadership/persuasion
Power through Leadership
President as “comforter in chief”
Power through Leadership
President can use television and other media to rally the
country to his issues
Power through Leadership
President can turn popularity into power
Power through Leadership
How does a President respond to a crisis?
Presidential Powers: Modern Powers
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Power over foreign policy
Power through bureaucracy
Power over legislation
Power through leadership/persuasion
Power through party
Power through Party
President is leader of his particular political party
Power through Party
Fund-raiser-in-chief for self and others
Power through Party
Help his party win more congressional seats in
order to help him meet his legislative goals
Three Models of Presidential Behavior
1) Sorenson’s theory of limitations
2) Neustadt’s theory of presidential power
3) Barber’s theory of presidential character