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Chapter Seven: The Presidency
The Constitution grants comparatively few formal powers to the presidency. While allowing the commander in chief to serve as a forceful and energetic figure in foreign relations and times of crisis, the Framers established a far more modest role for the president in normal domestic politics. Indeed, for much of the history of our country, the president has been limited to serving as the government's "chief clerk" in charge of carrying out the wishes of other actors in government.
Although the powers granted to the president by the Constitution have remained about the same over time, modern presidents have been able to extend their authority and resources through other means. In addition to the formal authority vested in the office by the Constitution, presidents have asserted more "inherent" authority and, more important, have been the recipients of extensive delegated authority from Congress.
As control of government has increasingly been divided across parties, the president has taken on a more important role in the legislative process. While Congress's ability to propose (rather than veto) legislation is an advantage in this arena, modern presidents have been able to take advantage of developments in mass communication to extend their power by shaping and mobilizing public opinion. The president is now the central figure in American politics, regardless of whether his party controls Congress. Presidents, especially in periods of divided government, engage in continuous and active attempts to mobilize public support for their policies.
After reading this chapter, you should understand…
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how the role and power of the president has changed over time.
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the limitations on presidential power.
- the specific ways in which the president's veto power can affect legislative outcomes in the "veto game."
- the president's role in shaping and mobilizing public opinion.
- Why Congress would delegate power to the president, and the limitations of this delegation.
- the origin and scope of the executive branch's role in the budget process.
- the organization and role of the White House staff.
- the role of communication in presidential politics.
- why Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton faced Congress in similar strategic situations and had such different political results.
- Why did attention focus on President George W. Bush following the attacks of September 11, 2001? How did the public's and Congress's interactions with Bush early in the "war on terrorism" contrast with their earlier treatment of him in the domestic arena?
- What are the powers granted to the president in the Constitution? What are the non-constitutional sources of presidential power? When were these sources of power first tapped?
- What are executive orders? Executive agreements? What are the alternatives to using them?
- How did the presidency of the 1800s differ from that of today? In particular, how did the president's interactions with his party and his cabinet change over time?
- What are the tradeoffs between the collegial and chief-of-staff models of presidential staff organization? Which model seems to have predominated with recent presidents?
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What is "going public?" What specific tools or resources are available to the president when he chooses to use this strategy?
- How has the rise of cable television affected the president’s ability to communicate with the public?
- Why don't members of Congress go public as often as the president does? Why doesn't the president use this tactic on every issue?
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