AP Gov. Chapter 14 - The Presidency Part 1

Term "bully pulpit"comes from Teddy Roosevelt's reference to the White House as a "bully pulpit" meaning that he could use it as a platform to promote his agenda.
President uses his bully pulpit as a means of communicating with the American people through the media coverage of presidential events.
Using power of the office to exert pressure.
Examples of how a President uses a bully pulpit:
-Reagan began the practice of Saturday morning radio broadcast to speak about specific policies.
-Bill Clinton and George W. Bush held town meetings to advocate their positions on policies they policies.
-Presidents spoke to special-interest groups that support the policies the president has announced.

Two types of vetoes that the president can exercise:
-Regular veto
-Pocket veto
Regular veto:
-Used by the president when he does not like either an entire piece of legislation or part of a law that is passed.
-Must veto an entire bill even if he does not approve a part of it
-If the president uses a regular veto, Congress must override it by a 2/3 vote of each house.
-If Congress does not override the veto, then the veto is sustained by Congress because either one or both houses did not have a 2/3 majority vote.
-Legislation is dead unless it is brought up in the future as a new bill.
Pocket Veto:
-Occurs if the president does not sign a bill within 10 days after Congress adjourns.

Exercising greater presidential power than the Constitution allows.
Article II of the Constitution outlines the powers of the president
- checks and balances of the other branches of government limit them
After the 60s and 70s, Arthur Schlesinger Jr. argued that the presidency had become so powerful that an "imperial Presidency" existed, applying the term to Richard Nixon and his administration.
From 2002 and 2008 President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney argued for greatly expanded powers for the presidency in both domestic and foreign affairs.

Article II of the Constitution gives the president the authority as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and gives the president the authority to appoint:
-Ambassadors
-Cabinet heads of agencies related to foreign policy such as
*Secretary of state, secretary of defense, secretary of homeland security with the consent of the Senate
-National Security Advisor
-Head of Central Intelligence Agency
-National Security Council
The right to make treaties
President also acts as chief of state. receives ambassadors from foreign countries, travels to foreign countries, and can issue executive orders that can impact foreign policy.

Made by the president at the time the president signs a bill into law.
These statements give explanatory views about the legislation
-Critics claim that the effect of the statement is to change the intent of the law
Example:
-President George W. Bush added a signing statement to a bill passed by Congress that outlawed torture, stating that the president has the power to define torture.
Supporters of presidential signing statements claim that these statements are justified because the president has the constitutional authority to carry out legislation.

Three people are appointed to the council by the president who have economic expertise and must be confirmed by the Senate.
Council advises the president in the preparation of economic reports.
Council gathers information concerning economic developments and trends and submits to the president reports related to their findings.
Council recommends to the President national economic policies that promote free enterprise and further national employment.
Council recommends economic legislation that would achieve the economic goals of the administration.

Part of the "unwritten Constitution" that is based on practice, precedent, and tradition.
-Constitution does make reference to "executive departments"
Washington established the practice of appointing cabinet officials.
There are currently 15 cabinet level positions and 6 cabinet rank positions.
After the appropriate committee holds confirmation hearings, cabinet appointees must get Senate confirmation.
Congress must approve the creation or abolition of cabinet level positions.

Executive Office of the President consists of key White House staff members who are the President's closest advisors.
Executive Office has the following components:
-Office of the President (White House staff)
-Office of the Vice-President
-Office of Management and Budget
-Office of Administration
-U.S. Trade Representative
Policy development offices including the National Security Council, National Economic Council, Domestic Policy Council, Office of Science, Technology, and Space, the office of Environmental Policy, and the National Drug Council.

Must be 35 years old.
Must be a natural-born citizen.
Must be a resident of the United States for 14 years.
Must take an oath of office swearing or affirming to carry out the responsibilities of the Presidency and pledging to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States"

Executive Order
-Presidential Statements that have the force of law and do not need congressional approval unless appropriations are needed to carry out the order.
-Examples:
*Harry Truman's integration of the military
*JFK's order to create the Peace Corps
*Bill Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Military Policy
Executive Agreement
-Made with foreign countries and do not require Senate approval.

Power assumed by the President to protect the privacy interests of the executive branch.
First invoked by George Washington and used by President in the area of foreign policy.
Nixon attempted to use executive privilege to protect conversations with aides related to the Watergate scandal and to protect tapes that revealed discussion about Watergate. The Supreme Court in U.S. v. Nixon ruled unanimously that the tapes were not protected by executive privilege.
President Clinton attempted to use executive privilege to protect himself from appearing before a grand jury and allowing himself from appearing before a grand jury and allowing aides to testify about the Monic Lewinsky affair. Clinton ultimately compromised and the claim of executive privilege was dropped.

Powers that exist for the national government because it is sovereign.
Inherent power of the president expands the power of the president.
Derived from the delegated authority of the president as the chief executive and commander-in-chief.
Explained through presidential signing statements that are attached to legislation.
Expanded by the use of executive privilege, executive orders, and precedent.
Examples:
-President committing troops to foreign countries without seeking a declaration of war, the president establishing an electronic warrantees surveillance system without congressional approval.

Powers that exist for the national government because it is sovereign.
Inherent power of the president expands the power of the president.
Derived from the delegated authority of the president as the chief executive and commander-in-chief.
Explained through presidential signing statements that are attached to legislation.
Expanded by the use of executive privilege, executive orders, and precedent.
Examples:
-President committing troops to foreign countries without seeking a declaration of war, the president establishing an electronic warrantees surveillance system without congressional approval.

Refusal of the President to spend money Congress has appropriated.
Since the Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, Congress has the power to prevent the president from taking that action.

Established congressional budget committees and the Congressional Budget Office
-Gave Congress the power to prevent the President from refusing to fund congressional initiatives (impoundment)