presidency

March 24th: Presidency

Executive power

• Article II powers

• Pardon

• Appointments

• Treaty-making

• Commander-in-chief

• President is “boss” of millions 

Inherent powers

• Executive powers

• Executive agreements

• Executive privilege

• Signing statements

• Unitary executive theory 

President as chief executive

• Hierarchy leads to president

• Executive office of the president

  • White house chief of staff plays a vital role

  • More than 30 offices and councils

  • Office of vice president

  • OMB NSC and CEA

  • Institutional presidency 

The vice president

• Formal roes

  • President of the senate

  • Successor

• Informal rules

  • Advisor

  • Protector

• Selecting a running mate

  • Lots of thoughts and decisions go into this

The cabinet

• Vice president

• 15 departnemnt herads

• Cabinet-level positions

• Seniority after VP based on order of creation 

• Sub-cabinet

• Line of succession

Impeachment

• Impeachment is a check on presidential power

  • Impeachable offenses: treason bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors

• House can impeach with a simple majority

• Senate holds a trial based on articles of impeachment

  • Chief justice presides in senate trial

  • ⅔ vote to convict and remove the president 

Presidential advantages

• President has many advantages over congress 

• Can act unilaterally

• Always in session

• Access to intelligence and advice

• Quick action may be required

• National constituency

• Party leader

• Bully pulpit 

Unified vs divided control

• Divided and quasi-divided govt become more common 

• How do presidents deal with divided power?

  • Center decision making in which house

  • Exercise more control over bureaucracy

  • Use the veto

  • Go public