Study Notes on American Politics: The Presidency and Party Dynamics

The Party as an Organization

  • Definition of the party as an organization

    • Includes various apparatuses such as:

    • Democratic National Committee (DNC)

    • Republican National Committee (RNC)

    • State parties and local parties

    • Door knockers and grassroots volunteers

    • The donor base

The Relationship Between the Party and its Electorate

  • Distinction between the party as an organization and the party in the electorate

  • Resistance of the party organization to support progressive movements

    • Example: Progressive Democrats have expressed frustration with the party's reluctance to challenge incumbents

    • Progressive leaders like AOC have actively supported primary challenges to incumbents

Challenges Faced by Progressives in the Party

  • The reluctance of Democratic and Republican establishments to oppose incumbents, unless they are egregiously out of favor with voters

    • Incumbents arching too far away from their bases can lead to challenges

  • Political calculation of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC) to support incumbents

Split Within the Democratic Caucus

  • Notable fractures within the Democratic caucus, notably concerns about Senate Majority Leader Schumer's effectiveness

  • Growth of dissatisfaction among progressive bases due to the lack of cohesive messaging from the party

  • The significance of differences in member receptiveness to progressive challenges based on their constituencies

Transition to Discussion on the Modern Presidency

  • Overview of the evolution of presidential powers

  • Focus on domestic policy influence and executive powers

The Power to Persuade

  • Richard Neustadt's seminal piece on the power of the presidency

    • Contention that the president's domestic policy authority stems primarily from their persuasive capability

    • Example: Lyndon B. Johnson's use of persuasive techniques, known as the "Johnson treatment"

Rise of the President and the United States' Political Landscape

  • Historical context prior to 1972 where nominations did not depend on winning primaries

    • Primaries merely served as demonstrations of support

  • Current state of presidential power intricately tied to past relationships and negotiations with party establishments

The Role of Veto Power in Presidential Influence

  • The Veto as an active element rather than a passive tool in congressional negotiations

  • Statistical analysis of veto usage from George H.W. Bush to Donald Trump

    • Rise of veto usage often correlating with divided versus unified government contexts

Unified and Divided Government Dynamics

  • Definition of unified government as a situation where the same party controls the presidency and both chambers of congress

  • Historical changes in the prevalence of unified vs. divided government

    • Analysis suggests a shift toward more frequent divided government post-1970s

Significance of Political Polarization in Contemporary Politics

  • The competitive nature of modern elections causing heightened partisanship and political strategy evolution

  • The phenomenon known as midterm loss and its implications for congressional control

  • The zero-sum nature of current political dynamics leading to increased likelihood of government shutdowns and stunted negotiations

The Evolving Role of Presidents in Domestic Policy

  • Discussion of current presidential strategies when negotiating with a polarized congress

    • Influence of partisan affiliation on negotiation dynamics

Going Public as an Strategy of Presidential Influence

  • Definition and example of 'going public' as a strategy presidents utilize to exert influence on Congress

    • Example: Ronald Reagan's effective use of 'going public'

  • Acknowledgment of limitations, such as public disengagement and information overload

Executive Power and the Role of Executive Orders

  • Overview of executive orders and their historical significance in presidential policy implementation

    • Distinction between executive orders and memoranda

  • Challenges to the legitimacy of executive orders, notably in the realm of national security and where congressional action is required

Youngstown Steel v. Sawyer Case

  • Overview of the Youngstown Steel case, setting a pivotal precedent regarding executive power

    • Emphasis on the boundaries of presidential authority in controlling private industry

    • Analysis of Justice Jackson's opinion regarding zones of presidential power

Legislative Examples and the Impact on Presidential Actions

  • Discussion about the implications of the Taft-Hartley Act and its impact on presidential powers

    • Includes limits the veto power and the impact on the separation of powers principle as enshrined in law

Conclusion

  • Summary of the evolving relationship between presidential power and congressional dynamics in modern day politics

  • Observations on the implications of executive power expansion and public perception of executive actions

Additional Examples from Modern Politics

  • Discussion of examples within the Obama and Trump administrations regarding how executive actions were taken and the public's response to these actions

  • Importance of the court's authority and public engagement in shaping executive actions and their implementation.