Study Tools for Chapter 6 The Presidency.docx
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POLS 2107
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Dec 18, 2024
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LOVS (Learning, Outline, Vocabulary, Summary)PDFLearning Objectives●Identify the expressed powers that the Constitution specifically grants to the president.○Commander-in-Chief: The president serves as the commander-in-chief of theU.S. military, with the authority to direct military operations.○Appointment Power: The president has the power to appoint federal judges,ambassadors, cabinet members, and other high-ranking officials, subject toSenate confirmation.○Veto Power: The president can veto bills passed by Congress, although a vetocan be overridden by a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate.○Pardoning Power: The president has the authority to grant pardons and reprievesfor federal offenses, excluding cases of impeachment.○Treaty Making: The president has the power to negotiate and enter into treatieswith foreign nations, subject to Senate ratification.●Explain how additional presidential powers have been delegated by Congress andclaimed by presidents.○Executive Orders: Congress has granted presidents the authority to issueexecutive orders, which have the force of law and can direct federal agencies inimplementing policy.○Emergency Powers: Congress has passed laws that grant the president certainpowers during times of national emergencies or crises, such as the ability toallocate resources or suspend certain legal requirements.○Presidents have also claimed additional powers through broad interpretations oftheir constitutional authority, executive privilege, and inherent powers. Forexample, presidents have asserted the power to initiate military actions withoutexplicit congressional authorization, engage in foreign policy initiatives [ExecutiveAgreements]], and assert executive privilege to withhold information fromCongress.●Summarize how the presidency as an institution has changed over the course ofAmerican History○a. Expansion of Executive Power: The presidency has become more powerfulrelative to Congress, particularly in the areas of foreign policy, national security,and executive decision-making. This expansion of power has been influenced byfactors such as changing societal demands, the growth of the federalgovernment, and crises faced by the nation.○b. Expansion of the Administrative State: The modern presidency is supported bya vast bureaucracy, enabling presidents to implement and enforce policies acrossa range of issues. The growth of the administrative state has enhanced thepresident's ability to govern and implement their agenda.○c. Increased Public Expectations: As the United States has become a globalpower, the expectations placed on presidents have grown. Presidents are
expected to address complex domestic and international challenges, provideleadership during crises, and play a central role in shaping national policy.○From Legislative Epoch to The New Deal and the Presidency●Describe the modern tools that presidents use to govern○Executive Orders: Presidents can issue executive orders to set policy directives,establish task forces, or modify existing regulations, bypassing the need forcongressional approval.○Presidential Memoranda: Similar to executive orders, presidential memorandaallow presidents to direct federal agencies, provide policy guidance, or signal theadministration's priorities.○Signing statements: written comments issued by the president at the time ofsigning a bill into law. In signing statements, the president provides theirinterpretation of the law, expresses concerns about specific provisions, andoutlines how they intend to enforce or implement the legislation. Signingstatements are considered a modern tool used by presidents to assert theirunderstanding of the law and shape its implementation.○White House Staff and Advisors: Presidents rely on a team of advisers, includingWhite House staff, cabinet members, and agency heads, to assist in policydevelopment, implementation, and decision-making.○Public Communication: Presidents utilize modern communication tools such asspeeches, press conferences, social media, and public events to communicatewith the American people, shape public opinion, and rally support for theiragenda●Evaluate whether a strong presidency is at odds with the representative government○The question of whether a strong presidency is at odds with representativegovernment is a matter of ongoing debate. Critics argue that an overly powerfulpresidency may undermine the principles of checks and balances, separation ofpowers, and democratic accountability. They suggest that a strong presidencycan concentrate too much power in a single individual, potentially overshadowingthe voice of the people and diminishing the role of Congress as therepresentative body. Concerns are raised about the potential for executiveoverreach, erosion of civil liberties, and a lack of transparency and accountabilityin decision-making. Critics emphasize the importance of maintaining a systemwhere power is distributed among the three branches of government to ensurethat no single entity becomes too dominant.Chapter Outline●The Constitutional Origins and Powers of the Presidency●The Rise of Presidential Government●Presidential Government●Conclusion
Chapter (Vocabulary)https://tjc.instructure.com/courses/83977/modules/items/6177729Learning Summary1.Explain the difference between expressed, inherent, and delegated powers.a.Expressed Powers: Expressed powers are specifically granted to the presidentby the Constitution. These powers are explicitly stated and includeresponsibilities such as serving as commander-in-chief, appointing officials,vetoing legislation, and negotiating treaties.b.Inherent Powers: Inherent powers are derived from the president's role as thechief executive and are not explicitly stated in the Constitution. These powers areconsidered inherent to the office and are typically invoked during times of crisis oremergencies to protect the nation's interests.c.Delegated Powers: Delegated powers are those granted to the president byCongress through legislation. Congress delegates certain powers to thepresident to address specific issues or carry out specific tasks. Examples includethe power to issue executive orders, implement regulations, and administercertain policies.2.How have powers delegated by Congress to the president increased the power of thepresidency over the past 70 years?a.Over the past 70 years, Congress has delegated increasing powers to thepresident, thereby expanding the power of the presidency. This trend can beattributed to factors such as the complexities of modern governance, rapiddecision-making requirements, and the need for executive leadership duringtimes of crisis. Delegated powers, such as authority over regulatory agencies,emergency powers, and the ability to issue executive orders, have grantedpresidents greater autonomy and discretion in shaping and implementing policy.3.What are the president’s formal or official resources? How do presidents use theseresources to effectively implement their policy agendas?a.The president's formal or official resources include the executive branchagencies, the White House staff, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB),the National Security Council (NSC), and various advisory bodies. Presidents usethese resources to gather information, develop policy proposals, coordinateactions, manage budgets, and implement their policy agendas. They rely on theexpertise and support of these formal structures to ensure effective governance.b.Executive Office of the Presidentc.White House Staffd.Cabinet (Departments of the United States)e.Independent Agencies and Government Corporationsf.Independent Regulatory Commissions4.How do presidents use informal resources—including party popular mobilization, andadministration —to expand their powers?a.Party Mobilization: Presidents often leverage their party affiliation to mobilizepublic support for their policy goals. They rally party members, engage in
grassroots campaigns, and use their party's infrastructure to build coalitions andadvance their agenda.b.Public Appeals: Presidents use their public platforms to communicate directlywith the American people, shaping public opinion and generating support for theirpolicy initiatives. They employ public speeches, press conferences, social media,and other forms of public communication to rally public opinion and increase theirinfluence.c.Administrative Authority: Presidents can shape policy through their control overexecutive agencies, regulatory bodies, and federal rule-making. They appointagency heads, set policy priorities, and direct administrative actions, allowingthem to exercise significant influence over policy implementation.5.Explain how the need for signing statements, executive orders, and public appealsdemonstrate the limitations of presidential power.a.Signing Statements: While signing statements allow presidents to assert theirinterpretation of the law, they can be seen as an assertion of executive powerthat bypasses the checks and balances system. Critics argue that signingstatements can undermine congressional intent and legislative oversight,potentially expanding presidential power beyond its intended scope.b.Executive Orders: Although executive orders provide a means for presidents totake swift action, they are limited in their scope and cannot override constitutionalprovisions or existing laws. They can face legal challenges and may be subject toreversal by future administrations, highlighting the limitations of unilateralpresidential power.c.Public Appeals: While presidents can use public appeals to generate support fortheir policies, they are ultimately reliant on the cooperation and approval ofCongress to enact significant legislation. The president's agenda can beconstrained by the need to negotiate with Congress, build consensus, and securelegislative approval.During FDR's presidency and the Great Depression, the president and Congress had differentagendas primarily due to the unprecedented economic crisis that gripped the nation. The GreatDepression was an extraordinary and severe event that demanded urgent and extensivegovernment intervention. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) recognized the gravity of thesituation and sought to implement his New Deal policies, which aimed to provide relief,recovery, and reform to combat the economic downturn. FDR's agenda included measures suchas the creation of public works programs, the establishment of social welfare programs, andfinancial regulation. However, Congress, composed of members from various political partiesand representing diverse interests and ideological viewpoints, had differing approaches andpriorities for addressing the economic crisis. Some members of Congress were skeptical of theexpansion of federal power and government intervention, while others advocated for differentpolicy initiatives or emphasized alternative solutions. This divergence in agendas between thepresident and Congress during the Great Depression can be attributed to a variety of factors,
including political ideologies, regional differences, and the influence of interest groups. Thesefactors shaped the legislative process and resulted in the formulation of different policies andpriorities by the president and Congress. Therefore, despite both the president and the majority ofCongress being from the same party during FDR's presidency, the severity and complexity of theGreat Depression created a situation where their agendas did not fully align. The president'sdetermination to implement the New Deal and Congress's varied perspectives and interestscontributed to a higher number of presidential vetoes during this period.