The West WingThe West Wing

The president’s office – nerve center of the The president’s office – nerve center of the Executive BranchExecutive Branch

Importance of other offices often determined by Importance of other offices often determined by how close they are to the Oval Office [propinquity]how close they are to the Oval Office [propinquity]

Situation room is below ground levelSituation room is below ground level

Jacob Lew

Jay Carney

Thomas Donilon

Denis McDonough

The Basics [quickly] – qualifications and term of office, etc. Constitutional qualifications:

35 years of age Natural-born citizen Residence of 14 years

Term of office: 4 years Limited to two terms by 22nd

Only FDR has had more

Election Elected by Electoral College [not directly by the people] total

votes = 538 # of electoral votes per state is = # of House seats + 2 for Senate

[e.g. NC gets 15 electoral votes, CA gets 55, WY gets 3; DC gets 3] 270 TO WIN !

Head of Executive Branch – the Administration 15 Secretary level Departments Many other offices and agencies [more later]

Has many roles to play [all at once]

All the President’s Hats [several at a time]

The President’s job approval The President’s job approval ratingsratings

He gets a lot of help!

More about that later….

Powers of the PresidentPowers of the President In Article II of the Constitution

Expressed, but fairly general in language

Furthered and extended by force of leadership and inherent powers

Executive powers Appointment power

Cabinet and agency chairs* Federal judges* Executive Office of President

Enforcement powers Executive agencies [FCC, FBI, etc.] Executive orders [force of law]

E.g. no fed. funding for abortions in new health care law

*= requires Senate approval

Diplomatic and Military Powers The two powers are often tied together

U.S. military might can be a help or a threat E.g. Gulf Wars 1 & 2; relations with Taiwan

Cmdr-in-Chief is a civilian Danger of too close association w/military

establishment [look at South & Central America] Aided by Dept. of Defense and NSC Fuzzy line between Pres. And Congress’ war

powers – resulted in War Powers Act of 1973 [no declarations since 1941]

Time of war/emergency usually expands president’s power

Chief Diplomat Main shaper of Main shaper of foreign policy [define]foreign policy [define] Aided by the Aided by the State DeptState Dept. and it’s system of . and it’s system of

embassiesembassies and and ambassadorsambassadors NSC, CIA, NSC, CIA, DIA [and rest of intelligence community]DIA [and rest of intelligence community] Historically isolationist, U.S. now globally engagedHistorically isolationist, U.S. now globally engaged

Chief Diplomat [continued] Chief Diplomat [continued] goals of foreign policy include:goals of foreign policy include:

  national securitynational security   world peaceworld peace promote democracypromote democracy  international trade

Think about how international trade is related to the other goals

President can make/propose treaties or executive agreements with other nations

Framers a bit anxious about treaties [Geo. Wash’s warning]

requires 2/3 majority approval of the Senate Executive agreement doesn’t require Senate

approval, but expires at end of president’s term Tools include: trade sanctions, MFN status,

embargo [U.S. is a huge market], military power Sanctions/embargo – to punish or coerceSanctions/embargo – to punish or coerce MFN – ease of trade as a rewardMFN – ease of trade as a reward

North American Free Trade Agreement

NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] President Clinton signs NAFTA

Treaty

Legislative and economic role What is/are Constitutional legislative power[s]?

Sign or veto bills Lots of non-constitutional influence – such as?

Head of party – works w/party in congress to set agenda and pass/defeat bills [note: president cannot introduce or vote on bills]

Appeal to American people [w/ VP, only nationally elected official]

Use federal $$ as an incentive in states/districts Proposes the nation’s budget

Not just a budget – a set of priorities Hammered out by the OMB [Office of Management and Budget]

Requires congressional approval

Judicial powers Appoints federal judges [subject to Senate approval]

Grants pardons, amnesty [define these]

Federal Bureaucracy Federal Bureaucracy – president’s – president’s administrationadministration Remember that incredible, insane organizational chart on slide Remember that incredible, insane organizational chart on slide

#5? Here’s the simple version#5? Here’s the simple version:

The Cabinet – the 15 Executive DepartmentsThe Cabinet – the 15 Executive Departments 7 since 1953 – growth of government due to 7 since 1953 – growth of government due to

growth in size and people’s expectations of growth in size and people’s expectations of gov’t servicesgov’t services

Dept. chairs called Dept. chairs called SecretariesSecretaries – except DOJ – except DOJ headed by the headed by the Attorney GeneralAttorney General

Secretaries powerful as heads of dept., but Secretaries powerful as heads of dept., but limited role in advising president [most limited role in advising president [most advisement is within the dept.’s area of advisement is within the dept.’s area of specialty]specialty]

Many Many agenciesagencies and offices within the and offices within the departments set and enforce departments set and enforce policy policy [e.g. [e.g. next slides]next slides] E.g. DOD and DHS on next slidesE.g. DOD and DHS on next slides Safety standards, ethical practices, etc.Safety standards, ethical practices, etc.

Independent Agencies Hundreds of them – do the bulk of the

work of the executive branch [e.g. NASA, the Fed]

3 types: Regulatory commissions – regulate or control

something – e.g. the FED controls the money supply e.g. SEC oversees stock market activity

Executive agencies – set and enforce policy e.g. EPA supervises toxic waste cleanup;

enforces clean water standards e.g. NASA runs America’s space program

Executive corporations – federal agency that’s run like a business – e.g. the U.S. Postal Service [USPS started out as a cabinet-level department]

Working for the Working for the governmentgovernment Over 3 million civilians + 100,000s in Over 3 million civilians + 100,000s in

uniform work for the Exec. Branchuniform work for the Exec. Branch These are the people who really make These are the people who really make

the government work on a day-to-day the government work on a day-to-day basisbasis

Top positions are political appointments Top positions are political appointments – proven ability and/or key supporter– proven ability and/or key supporter

90% of gov’t workers hired via a merit 90% of gov’t workers hired via a merit system – the Civil Servicesystem – the Civil Service System of open competition for jobs based System of open competition for jobs based

upon tests and applicationupon tests and application Created by the Pendleton Act 1883 to stop Created by the Pendleton Act 1883 to stop

unfair patronage – i.e. putting unqualified unfair patronage – i.e. putting unqualified people in position as personal favors [the people in position as personal favors [the “spoils system”]

Overseen and managed by the Office of Overseen and managed by the Office of Personnel Management [OPM]Personnel Management [OPM]