Chapter Eight:

The Executive Branch (pg 277-311)

The Royal Governors and the Articles of Confederation

Royal Governors of the states

            State legislatures

            The Early State Governors

            The Lack of an Executive in the Articles of Confederation

Debates about the President

Direct or indirect election?

                        The Electoral College

            Procedures for Removal?

Single or Multiple Executives?  

Length of Term?

            George Washington, and FDR

George Washington

Military Hero

            Nationally and Politically Esteemed

            Chair of the Constitutional Convention

The Rules of Succession

The Vice President

                        The Early Vice Presidents (until 1804, 11^th Amendment)

                        The Later Vice Presidents (Powers of the Office)

            The 25^th Amendment

                        POTUS,VP, Speaker of House, Pres. Pro Term, Cabinet Officials

                        Fear of Nukes, Fear of Terrorists

            Incapacity of the President

Powers of the President:  Appointments

Cabinet Officials (and the Kitchen Cabinets)

            Federal Judges;  Attorney Generals

            Ambassadors

            Military Officers

            Senior Executive’s throughout the Executive Branch

                        The Spoils System vs. Civil Service

            Senate’s Oversight

Power to Convene Congress

Power to Make Treaties

Senate’s role in confirming treaties

                        Executive Agreements

Changes in Treaty Role

Vetos

When a veto is possible

            Line Item Veto

Commander in Chief

Declarations of War

            Supreme Military Commander

                        State Militias vs. Federal Armed forces

            War Powers Act

                        Is it Constitutional? 

Pardoning Powers

The Clinton Pardons

Historic Development of the Executive Branch

Washington

                        Great Prestige;  retarded party system

                        Two Terms

                        Primacy in Foreign Affairs

                        Advice and Consent, not participation

            Adams

                        Accelerated the party system

                        Courts gained power

            Jefferson

                        The Public Role of the President

                        The Increase in the President’s Legislative Role

Later Presidents 1809-1933

Incremental Power increases

            Jackson and the Party System

            Lincoln and “National Emergencies”

FDR and the Modern Presidency

The “Bully Pulpit”        

The Great Depression and WWII

            The Use of Radio

            The Expansion of the Bureaucracy

The Modern Presidency

The Vice President

            The Cabinet

                        State, Treasury, War

            Now, 15 Agencies

            The First Lady

            Executive Office of the President (National Security Agency)

            White House Staff

President as Policy Maker

Proposing an Agenda (the role of the election)

            “Mandates” and the Role of Declining Popularity

            Patronage, Party Leadership

            The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Regulations

Executive Orders

Presidential Leadership

Leadership skills

            The ability to Persuade

                        The Public (Reagan)

                        The Ruling Class (Clinton)

                        The Politicians (LBJ)

Presidents as Head of the Party

Presidential Candidates