THE PRESIDENCY

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THE PRESIDENCY
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The President

• The purpose of this unit is to introduce you to
• The Constitution and the President
• Powers of the President
• Organization of the White House
• The Responsible Party Model and the President

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Ideal The Responsible Party Model and the
President

• Summary of Responsible Party System
• First Principle Presidents should have strong
  personality
• Second Principle Presidents implement the
  partys platform
• Third Principle Promote party legislation in
  messages
• Fourth Principle Organize office to pass party
  legislation

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Reality Do Presidents Have the Right Personality?

• James David Barber, The Presidential Character
• Typed Presidents two dimensions
• Active-Passive
• Positive-Negative

Active-Positive Bush II, Clinton, Bush I, Carter, Kennedy Active-Negative Nixon Johnson
Passive-Positive Reagan Passive-Negative Eisenhower
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Do Presidents Work to Implement Party Platform?
Fulfillment of Party Pledges Fulfillment of Party Pledges
1976 61
1972 51
1968 30
1964 83
1960 81
1956 32
1952 80
Divided Government
Unified Government
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Do Presidents Promote Party Legislation in
Messages?

• Budget Message
• Press Conferences

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Reality Do Presidents Promote Party Legislation
in Messages?

• State of Union Message

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Reality Do Presidents Promote Party Legislation
in Messages?

• Budget Message
• Press Conference
• Purpose
• Provide information to various audiences
• Make important announcements
• Develop support for an initiative
• Sample Press Conference

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Do Presidents Promote Party Legislation in
Messages?

• Power of the President is the power to persuade
• Who does he persuade?
• Party leaders
• Members of Congress
• Public Opinion
• Media
• International Leaders
• Sources of power
• Social Prestige
• Charisma
• Material Benefits
• Approval Rating

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Presidential Support
Obama
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Presidential Success on Major Proposals
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The End