US Presidency
,3.1 and 3.2
Formal vs. Informal Powers
What the Constitution says the President can do versus what they actually do to get things
done.
Formal Powers (Article II): These are constitutional "hard" powers.
- Head of State: Ceremonial roles, pardons, and receiving ambassadors.
- Head of Government: Veto power, Commander-in-Chief, and making
appointments.
Informal Powers: This is where the modern presidency "lives."
- The Electoral Mandate: Claiming a right to govern based on the size of their
election win.
- Executive Orders: Bypassing Congress to direct the bureaucracy (e.g., Biden’s
climate orders).
- Powers of Persuasion: Richard Neustadt’s theory that a President’s real power is
the ability to bargain and convince others to cooperate.
- EXOP: Understanding how the "West Wing" (NSC, OMB, WHO) supports the
President and often clashes with the wider Cabinet.
3.3
Relationships and Limitations
The President does not rule in a vacuum. Their power fluctuates based on the political
climate.
- Checks and Balances: How Congress (via the "power of the purse" and
impeachment) and the Supreme Court (via judicial review, e.g., Trump v. Vance)
limit the executive.
- Divided Government: Power is significantly curtailed when the opposition party
controls the House or Senate.
- The "Lame Duck" Period: How presidential influence fades as they approach
the end of their final term.
, 3.4
Interpretations and Debates
Imperial Imperilled
Arthur Schlesinger wrote in 1973 that the The contrasting idea that the president
office of the president was out of control doesn't have enough power to do the job
and had exceeded the limits set by the effectively
constitution:
- Creation of the Government
- Many more staff in presidents Accountability Office and
office now, hired by president Congressional Budget Office
- New executive agencies that have - Passage of the Case Act 1972,
been created alongside the main mandating the President to declare
Cabinet Departments can imply the all executive agreements
declining influence of Cabinet and - War Powers Resolution 1973 that
the rise of a Presidential court, restricted the commitment of armed
whereby the President is personnel in combat situations
increasingly reliant on advisors in - Impoundment Control Act 1974
areas where he has Cabinet preventing the President from
Departments impounding appropriations that
- Many appointments to the didn’t fit with their own agenda
Executive Office are not subject to - Congressional assertiveness on
confirmation from the Senate, thus ground of impeachment.
removing a key area of
accountability in the Office.
- The powers that the President
possesses over Foreign Policy is
huge, and as a result has often been
questioned. Commentators point to
the lack of a constitutional basis for
such powers.
- The severe lack of accountability in
a Presidency. Presidents are only
ever accountable at election time or
through impeachment. This can be
referred to as a plebiscitary
Presidency.
,3.1 and 3.2
Formal vs. Informal Powers
What the Constitution says the President can do versus what they actually do to get things
done.
Formal Powers (Article II): These are constitutional "hard" powers.
- Head of State: Ceremonial roles, pardons, and receiving ambassadors.
- Head of Government: Veto power, Commander-in-Chief, and making
appointments.
Informal Powers: This is where the modern presidency "lives."
- The Electoral Mandate: Claiming a right to govern based on the size of their
election win.
- Executive Orders: Bypassing Congress to direct the bureaucracy (e.g., Biden’s
climate orders).
- Powers of Persuasion: Richard Neustadt’s theory that a President’s real power is
the ability to bargain and convince others to cooperate.
- EXOP: Understanding how the "West Wing" (NSC, OMB, WHO) supports the
President and often clashes with the wider Cabinet.
3.3
Relationships and Limitations
The President does not rule in a vacuum. Their power fluctuates based on the political
climate.
- Checks and Balances: How Congress (via the "power of the purse" and
impeachment) and the Supreme Court (via judicial review, e.g., Trump v. Vance)
limit the executive.
- Divided Government: Power is significantly curtailed when the opposition party
controls the House or Senate.
- The "Lame Duck" Period: How presidential influence fades as they approach
the end of their final term.
, 3.4
Interpretations and Debates
Imperial Imperilled
Arthur Schlesinger wrote in 1973 that the The contrasting idea that the president
office of the president was out of control doesn't have enough power to do the job
and had exceeded the limits set by the effectively
constitution:
- Creation of the Government
- Many more staff in presidents Accountability Office and
office now, hired by president Congressional Budget Office
- New executive agencies that have - Passage of the Case Act 1972,
been created alongside the main mandating the President to declare
Cabinet Departments can imply the all executive agreements
declining influence of Cabinet and - War Powers Resolution 1973 that
the rise of a Presidential court, restricted the commitment of armed
whereby the President is personnel in combat situations
increasingly reliant on advisors in - Impoundment Control Act 1974
areas where he has Cabinet preventing the President from
Departments impounding appropriations that
- Many appointments to the didn’t fit with their own agenda
Executive Office are not subject to - Congressional assertiveness on
confirmation from the Senate, thus ground of impeachment.
removing a key area of
accountability in the Office.
- The powers that the President
possesses over Foreign Policy is
huge, and as a result has often been
questioned. Commentators point to
the lack of a constitutional basis for
such powers.
- The severe lack of accountability in
a Presidency. Presidents are only
ever accountable at election time or
through impeachment. This can be
referred to as a plebiscitary
Presidency.
