4.2: The Executive Branch - The Presidency
Use these slides prepared by Dr. Scott as a reference for taking notes while watching the Presidency lectures.
Watch these lectures.
Read this chapter. The United States was the first nation to create the office of president as the head of state in a modern republic, and today the presidential system of government is used in several countries. As of 2015, there have been 44 presidents of the United States. From the early 20th century, the United States' superpower status has made the President one of the world's best-known public figures. During the Cold War, the President was called the "leader of the free world," and since the collapse of the Soviet Union the President is often described as "the most powerful person on Earth."
4.2.1: The Constitution and Presidential Power
Read Article II, which describes the constitutional role of the President. Click on the highlighted phrases, provide detailed explanations of each section. Why does the Constitution say so little about presidential powers as compared to the legislative branch?
Watch this presentation on the Presidency and the limits of Presidential power.
4.2.2: Evolution of the Modern Presidency and the Expansion of Presidential Power
Watch lectures, in which Dr. Woods discusses how presidential power has evolved throughout history. Most historians believe that the "modern" presidency - the ability of the president to wield his power far above and beyond what is explicitly stated in the Constitution - began with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. FDR was also one of only a few presidents to facilitate a durable coalition that realigned American politics for decades.
Watch this presentation to learn more about the roles the president plays beyond what is outlined in the Constitution.
Read this report.
Executive privilege is the power claimed by the president and other members of the executive branch to resist certain subpoenas and other interventions by the legislative and judicial branches of government. The concept of executive privilege is not mentioned explicitly in the Constitution, but the Supreme Court ruled it to be an element of the separation of powers doctrine, and/or derived from the supremacy of the executive branch in its own area of constitutional activity. Various presidents - most infamously Richard Nixon - have invoked their right to executive privilege over a litany of issues they deemed to be private communications.
4.2.3: The President and Congress
Watch this lecture, which is Dr. David Mayhew's take on the importance and effects of having a different electoral base for the presidency, senators, and members of the House of Representatives. Dr. David Mayhew is the Sterling Professor of Political Science at Yale University.
Read this short article on the President's constitutional veto power. Presidents use vetoes more often when there is divided government. As you can see from the chart, presidents have used them often or sparingly, depending on the historical and policy circumstances of the time. Franklin D. Roosevelt vetoed more legislation than any President before or after him. Why do you think this was the case?
Read this article. What are the pros and cons of both united and divided government?
4.2.4: The President and the Media
Watch this presentation to learn more about presidential politics and public perception.
Read this article on the often-complicated relationship between presidents and the news media. Why do you think they need each other so much?
4.2.5: The Executive Branch - Vice President, Executive Office of the President, and the Cabinet
Watch this presentation to learn more about the White House offices and individuals that play a major role in a President's tenure. The second topic will discuss the different management styles that modern presidents have used in the White House.
4.2.5.1: The Vice Presidency
Explore this webpage to learn about the history of the Vice Presidency. The Vice Presidency is often the least understood of all constitutional offices, but some remarkable men have held the position. The Vice President constitutionally holds the Presidency of the Senate. This article explains the origins and duties of the Vice Presidential office, as well as the evolution of the office from its founding to the modern Vice Presidency.
This report documents the evolution of the Vice Presidency that we know today, beginning with the New Deal Era.
4.2.5.2: The Executive Office of the President
Read the White House website, housing the Executive Office of the President (EOP). On this website, you can see all the offices that are considered part of the EOP. To enhance your reading, visit the individual departments' websites within the EOP by clicking on the hyperlinks on the webpage.
4.2.5.3: The Cabinet
Watch this presentation to learn more about the history and evolution of the presidential cabinet.
Checkpoint
Answer these ungraded questions to see how well you have understood the course material in this section.