Having read the chapter, the students should be able to do each of the following:
Trace the historical evolution of presidential powers and explain why a conception of an activist president replaced earlier theories of presidential power.
Review the strategies employed by candidates in the presidential nomination process; note the factors that influence the process; and contrast the nomination strategies with the strategies and influences characterizing the general election.
List the major organizations which make up the Executive Office of the President and explain each organization's area of policy expertise and its powers under the modern presidency.
Assess the effects of staffing on the president's control of executive authority.
Discuss and explain the factors that make for a successful presidency.
Summarize the two presidencies thesis. Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the thesis, citing historical examples where appropriate.
List the major stipulations of the War Powers Act and discuss the extent to which the legislation has accomplished its purpose.
Analyze the relationship between the executive and Congress and assess the ability of either institution to set policy independently of the other.
The presidency has become a much stronger office than the Framers envisioned. The Constitution grants the president substantial military, diplomatic, legislative, and executive powers, and in each case the president's authority has increased measurably over the nation's history. Underlying this change is the president's position as the one leader chosen by the whole nation and as the sole head of the executive branch. These features of the office have enabled presidents to claim broad authority in response to the increased demands placed on the federal government by changing world and national conditions.
During the course of American history, the presidential selection process has been altered in ways intended to make it more responsive to the preferences of ordinary people. Today, the electorate has a vote not only in the general election, but also in the selection of party nominees. To gain nomination, a presidential hopeful must gain the support of the electorate in state primaries and open caucuses. Once nominated, the candidates receive federal funds for their general election campaigns, which today are based on televised appeals.
Although the campaign tends to personalize the presidency, the responsibilities of the modern presidency far exceed any president's personal capacities. To meet their obligations, presidents have surrounded themselves with large staffs of advisers, policy experts, and managers. These staff members enable the president to extend control over the executive branch while at the same time providing the information necessary for policymaking. All recent presidents have discovered, however, that their control of staff resources is incomplete and that some things others do on their behalf can work against what they are trying to accomplish.
As sole chief executive and the nation's top elected leader, presidents can always expect that their policy and leadership efforts will receive attention. However, other institutions, particularly Congress, have the authority to make presidential leadership effective. No president has come close to winning approval of all the programs he has placed before Congress, and the presidents' records of success have varied considerably. The factors in a president's success include whether national conditions that require strong leadership from the White House are present and whether the president's party has a majority in Congress.
To hold onto an effective leadership position, the president depends on the backing of the American people. Recent presidents have made extensive use of the media to build support for their programs, yet they have had difficulty maintaining that support throughout their terms of office. A major reason is that the public expects far more from its presidents than they can deliver.
