To Accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, and Texas Editions

American Government: Roots and Reform , 10th edition

Karen O’Connor and Larry J. Sabato

Pearson Education, 2009

Chapter 8

The Presidency

Roots of the Presidency

No chief executive under Articles of Confederation.

Natural-born citizen, 35 years old.

Two four-year terms, per Twenty-Second Amendment.

Little attention to vice president.

Can be impeached by Congress.

Order of succession in Twenty-Fifth Amendment.

Constitutional Powers

More limited than Article I powers of Congress.

Appointments to executive, Cabinet, and judiciary.

Convene Congress.

Make treaties or executive agreements.

Veto legislation; no line-item veto.

Act as commander in chief of armed forces.

Pardon individuals accused of crimes.

Roles of the President

Chief law enforcer.

Leader of the party.

Commander in chief.

Shaper of domestic policy.

Player in legislative process.

Chief of state.

Establishing Presidential Power

George Washington sets precedent.

Claimed inherent powers for national government.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson follow lead.

Andrew Jackson asserts power through veto.

Abraham Lincoln uses Civil War to expand office.

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal ushers in new era.

Presidential Establishment

Growing power of the vice president.

Cabinet advisors to deal with a variety of issues.

First ladies act as informal advisors.

Executive Office of the President.

White House staff directly responsible to president.

Presidential Leadership

Leadership ability and personality can be key.

“Power to persuade.”

Bully pulpit and going public.

Approval ratings can help or hinder.

President as Policy Maker

FDR is first president to send policy to Congress.

Very difficult to get presidential policies passed.

Ability to get desired budget passed helps.

Office of Management and Budget plays key role.

Use of executive order to avoid Congress.

AV- Presidential Approval

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Table 8.1- U.S. Presidents

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Table 8.2- Presidential Succession

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Table 8.3- Women on Presidential Teams

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Table 8.4- Treaties

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Table 8.5- Presidential Vetoes

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Table 8.6- Best and Worst Presidents

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Table 8.7- U.S. Cabinet

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Table 8.8- Presidential Personalities

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