Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Presidents - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Presidents

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Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Presidents 100% male 100% Caucasian 97% Protestant 82% of British ancestry 77% college educated 69% politicians – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Presidents


1
Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Presidents
  • 100 male
  • 100 Caucasian
  • 97 Protestant
  • 82 of British ancestry
  • 77 college educated
  • 69 politicians
  • 62 lawyers
  • gt50 from the top 3 wealth and social class
  • 0.5 born into poverty
  • 69 elected from large states

2
Constitutional Qualifications
  • Must be at least 35 years old
  • Must have lived in the United States for 14 years
  • Must be a natural born citizen

3
Presidential Benefits
  • 400,000 tax-free salary
  • 50,000/year expense account
  • 100,000/year travel expenses
  • The White House
  • Secret Service protection
  • Camp David country estate
  • Air Force One personal airplane
  • Staff of 400-500

4
Head of State
5
Chief Executive
6
Commander-in-Chief
7
Chief Legislator
8
Chief Diplomat
9
Political Party Leader
10
Presidential Power
  • Difference between legal powers and power (which
    is the exercise of influence).
  • Powers include the constitutional and legal
    authority of the president
  • National Security Powers Commander in Chief,
    make treaties executive agreements, nominate
    ambassadors.
  • Legislative Powers State of the
    Union--recommend legislation, convene/adjourn
    Congress, veto.
  • Executive Powers to faithfully execute the law
    nominate executive officials (and fire them).
  • Judicial Powers reprieves and pardons for
    federal offenses appoint federal judges and
    S.C. justices.

11
Presidential Power
  • How much power (not powers) do presidents have?
    Depends on the political context in which they
    govern something which they have little control
    over.
  • Presidential power is the power to persuade--
    presidents must often bargain in order to
    persuade. Few things can be done alone.
  • Examples FDR, GW Bush.
  • Viewed this way, power (influence) fluctuates
    from president to president, and within
    presidencies.

12
The Constituencies of Modern Presidency
  • The American People
  • Their Party
  • Executive Branch (the bureaucracy)
  • Congress
  • Foreign Leaders.
  • All of these look to the president for
    leadership.
  • May see things differently, however.
  • A Presidents ability to persuade relates more to
    things he cannot control (e.g. partisan division
    of Congress), rather than things they can control.

13
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14
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15
The President the Public
  • Public approval is an important resource for
    presidential leadership. Where is Bush now?
  • Approval fluctuates with time.
  • The honeymoon Approval generally highest early
    during the term.
  • Generally declines over time.
  • Approval levels typically reflect public
    evaluation of the handling of important issues
    (economy, war, etc.).
  • They are not a reflection of their feelings
    regarding the presidents personality.

16
The natural decline of approval over time
17
Average approval during terms (1st term Bush)
18
The President the Public
  • The salient issues tend to be most important in
    determining public approval. Priming.
  • Rally events help explain sudden upsurges in
    approval as a result of a foreign policy event
    involving the US.
  • Most approval rallies are short-lived, however.
  • 9/11 would be an example of an enduring rally,
    one that is not typical.

19
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20
Presidential Effects on Opinion
  • Presidents try to persuade the public to gain
    support, generally, and for specific proposals.
  • How successful are they?
  • It depends. Popular presidents are more likely
    to be successful.
  • For a speech to work, the public must react
    favorably, and then make it clear to Congress
    what they want.
  • Presidential speeches designed to influence the
    public have generally been unimpressive.
  • They rarely persuade the public.

21
Presidents the Executive Branch
  • As chief executive, President is charged with
    overseeing vast federal bureaucracy.
  • Size of executive branch has increased
    drastically since the 1930s.
  • Before 1939, presidents had little help in this
    task. 1939- creation of the Executive Office of
    the Presidency (EOP). Has 11 offices, incl
  • National Security Council
  • The Council of Economic Advisors
  • The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-- most
    important.

22
Presidents, White House Staff Cabinet
  • The Cabinet includes department secretaries.
  • Modern presidents rely less on their cabinet for
    advice.
  • Cabinet secretaries have mixed loyalties.
  • Must satisfy Congress interests.
  • Hence, modern presidents have relied on EOP to
    manage bureaucracy and their White House staff
    for political and policy advice.
  • White House staff work directly for President.
  • This might limit diversity of advice.

23
Managing/Leading the Bureaucracy
  • Despite their role as chief executive, modern
    presidents have been frustrated leading the
    bureaucracy.
  • Agencies often resist presidential leadership.
  • Modern presidents have tools to help in task
  • The appointment power. Changing agency
    leadership can influence what agencies do.
  • Budgetary control. Using the carrot and stick of
    agency resources, presidents request budgets.
  • Centralized management, through the OMB.

24
Presidential Leadership of Congress
  • Myth of strong presidents dominating Congress.
  • Evidence suggests otherwise. Presidents are weak
    relative to Congress, must bargain to persuade.
  • Presidents greatest influence what goes into
    the legislative funnel (legislative agenda
    setting).
  • 40 of legislative agenda are presidential
    initiatives.
  • Rises to 50 during unified govt Only 25
    during divided government.

25
Presidential Leadership of Congress
  • Most powerful legislative tool the Veto.
  • Requires 2/3rds majority in both chambers of
    Congress to pass bill over a veto.
  • Very difficult to override. Only 12 of vetoes
    (since Eisenhower) have been overridden.
  • Even fewer overrides recently (see table).
  • The Veto is a tool of minority presidents
    (presidents during divided government).
  • Threat of veto important as well.
  • Presidents can help shape legislation through
    veto threats.

26
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27
3 Essential Leadership Resources
  • 1. Political Party. Members of his party are
    predisposed to support the president.
  • On average a member of the presidents party
    supports the president about 70 of the time.
  • Has increased during polarized era.
  • Much lower among the opposing party.
  • Presidents have little impact on the number of
    their partisans in Congress.
  • Presidential coattails-- uncommon, and disappears
    by the midterm election.

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29
2006 GW Bush -30
-6
30
3 Essential Leadership Resources
  • 2. Public Support can help the president persuade
    Congress.
  • A necessary, but insufficient resource for
    leadership.
  • Results are mixed, but most research suggests
    only a marginal relationship between approval and
    legislative support.
  • 3. Legislative skills. Some presidents are more
    skilled than others.
  • Bargaining takes skill, understanding of process.
  • Skilled presidents generally best at determining
    an effective strategy.

31
Presidential Legislative Strategies for Success
  • Move quickly once elected.
  • Take advantage of the honeymoon that follows
    inauguration.
  • Legislative success usually comes early.
  • Focus the agenda by setting clear priorities on a
    few important items.
  • Understand the strategic situation. Many
    presidents attempt too much, given context.
  • Consult with Congress, dont alienate them.
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