The Role of the President and the Executive Branch

1
The Role of the President andthe Executive Branch
2
Overview

• Constitutional Powers in Foreign Policy
• Growth of Executive Dominance
• Influence of the President on Defense policy

3
Samples of Behavior

• Explain how the Presidents constitutional and
  political powers influence the foreign policy
  process
• Summarize the growth of executive dominance in
  foreign affairs
• Describe the extent of influence the President
  exerts on defense policy and spending
• ID selected Presidential administrations defense
  policies

4
Constitutional Powers (President)

• Foreign Policy Powers
• Chief Executive
• Chief Negotiator and Diplomat
• Authority to Appoint Remove Officials

5
Foreign Policy Powers

• Chief Executive
• First sentence in Article II The Executive
  Power shall be vested in a President of the
  United States
• He shall take care that the laws be faithfully
  executed
• Commander-In-Chief
• Does the President have final authority to commit
  troops abroad?

6
Presidential Constitutional Powers

• Chief Negotiator and Diplomat
• Executive Agreements
• Formal Obligations between US and foreign
  governments
• Do Not require Senate approval
• Example Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)
• Authority to appoint and remove officials

7
Presidential Political Powers

• (Not subject to Congressional checks
  balances)
• Only nationally elected official
• Entire federal bureaucracy works for President
• Mantle of office
• Unparalleled access to media
• Presidential power in national security arena

8
Congress Foreign Policy Constitutional Powers

• Power to make and modify any laws
• Appropriate funds for implementing laws
• Authorized to provide for the natl defense
• Declare war
• To raise and support armies
• Regulate international commerce
• Make all laws which shall be necessary and proper
  for carrying out its other responsibilities
• Elastic Clause

9
Growth of Executive Dominance

• Historical Precedents
• Represent US abroad
• Negotiate international agreements
• Recognize other states
• Initiate conduct of foreign policy

10
Growth of Executive Dominance

• Supreme Court Decisions
• Generally supported Presidents in foreign policy
• Curtiss-Wright case (1936)
• Congressional Deference Delegation
• Delegates foreign policy prerogatives to President

11
Executive Institutions and Policy
Influences
Public Press
Congress
Government Account Office Congressional
Budget Office
Executive Departments and Agencies
Senate Committees Armed Services
House Committees Armed Services
Arms Control Agency
DOE
International Relations
Executive Departments
Foreign Relations
Interior
White House Office
Treasury
Domestic Council
Radio/ Television
Budget
Close
Interest Group
Budget
FBI
CIA
President
Rules
NSC OMB
Council of Econ Advisors
Advisors
Energy and National Resources
Science and Technology
State
Justice
Office of Science and Technology Policy
National Security Agency
Commerce
Defense OSD, JCS, Army Navy, Air Force,
DIA
Appropriations
Appropriations
Governmental Affairs
Governmental Operations
Interested Individuals
12
Growth of Executive Dominance

• Growth of Executive Institutions
• Foreign policy machinery of President grew
  considerably since WWII
• National Security Act of 1947
• Created NSC, CIA, and DoD
• Gave President an intelligence advisor (CIA) and
  military advisor (JCS), and national security
  advisor (Sec of Def)

13
Defense Policy

• TRUMAN (Containment)
• EISENHOWER (Massive Retaliation)
• KENNEDY (Flexible Response)
• JOHNSON (Mutual Assured Destruction)
• NIXON (Sufficient Deterrence)
• FORD
• CARTER (Minimum Deterrence)
• REAGAN (Peace Through Strength)
• BUSH (Peace Through Disarmament)
• CLINTON (Engagement)
• BUSH, G.W. (Pre-emptive Strike)

14
Summary

• Constitutional Powers in Foreign Policy
• Growth of Executive Dominance
• Influence of the President on Defense policy