Chapter 10: The Presidency

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Chapter 10 The Presidency

• East Georgia College
• POLS 1101, American Government
• Instructor Mr. Mancill

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Introduction

• The American presidency is a very demanding and
  complex office.
• The president is expected to be honest and
  trustworthy, yet tough.
• The president is expected to be a moral leader
  who is above politics as well as someone who can
  achieve results.
• The president is expected to control spending,
  while providing extensive government services.

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The President and Symbolic Leadership

• We do not separate the ceremonial chief of state
  and the actual head of government.
• Chief of State-the role the president plays as
  the ceremonial head of the nation.
• Head of Government-the chief executive officer of
  a government.
• The presidency has both symbolic and substantive
  power.

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The Ceremonial Presidency

• As the head of state, the president in a single
  week may meet with school children, honor the
  teacher of the year, or bestow medals upon
  citizens.
• Why is the ceremonial role of the president
  important?
• In times of national crisis the public will rally
  behind the president.
• The president is the symbol of unity.

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The Ceremonial Presidency

• Why is the ceremonial role of the president
  important?
• In times of national crisis the public will rally
  behind the president.
• The president is the symbol of unity.
• Before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks,
  President Bush's approval rating was around 51.
  After, his rating was 90.
• We support the president during times of crisis.

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The Ceremonial Presidency

• Just as people will rally behind the president
  during times of crisis, the people will blame the
  president when things go bad.
• The public may both credit and blame a president
  for events over which he/she has little control.

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The President and the Constitution.

• Powers of the President
• Executive Power
• Powers of Appointment
• Removal Power
• Power to Pardon
• The powers of the president are found in Article
  II of the U.S. Constitution.

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The President and the Constitution

• Executive Power
• "The executive power shall be vested in a
  President of the United States".
• Presidents have interpreted this phrase
  differently.
• Two theories of executive power
• Stewardship Theory
• Constitutional Theory

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The President and the Constitution

• Two theories of executive power
• Stewardship Theory
• Expansive theory of power
• The president can undertake any act as long as it
  is not prohibited by the Constitution
• Theodore Roosevelt
• Constitutional Theory
• The president cannot exercise any power unless it
  is based on a specific constitutional provision

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The President and the Constitution

• The Power of Appointment
• Article II, Section 2 states the president "shall
  nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent
  of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other
  public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the
  Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the
  United States".

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The President and the Constitution

• The Power of Removal
• The president can remove officers from "purely
  executive" agencies.
• Presidents cannot dismiss career civil servants
  except for cause (misconduct, inefficiency,
  incompetence, or criminal conduct).
• Presidents can also reduce funding to eliminate
  jobs.

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The President and the Constitution

• The Power to Pardon
• Right to grant full pardon
• Conditional pardon
• Clemency
• Commutation or reduction in sentence
• Remission of fines
• Only applies to violations of federal laws, not
  state laws.