This document summarizes key aspects of the U.S. presidency, including the selection process, qualifications, powers, roles, and relationships with other branches of government. It also examines presidential character, leadership styles, and challenges of the job. The presidency is one of the most powerful elected offices in the world, but presidents must work with Congress and navigate political pressures and public expectations to accomplish their agendas.

1. POL 140
Fall 2014

7. Presidential Selection
 Chosen by Electoral College to serve 4 years
Basic Qualifications
 Natural-born citizen of the United States
 At least 35 years old
 U.S. resident for 14 years
Presidential Succession
Presidential Oath of Office

10. GeorgeWashington Wins!

11. THOMAS JEFFERSON AARON BURR
RESULT: TWELFTH AMENDMENT
Separated out balloting for President andVice President

12. Presidential nominations began to be
controlled by Congress
Ended after 1824 Election

13. Adams Jackson Crawford Clay
84 EV
113,122 PV
99 EV
151,271 PV
41 EV
40,856 PV
37 EV
47, 531 PV

14. Adams Jackson Crawford

15. Adams CLAY Jackson

16. ADAMS

17. 2012 RNC
Tampa, Florida
The “Smoke-Filled Room”

19. Formal Powers
Informal Powers
Unilateral Powers

21. Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces
Granting Reprieves and Pardons
MakingTreaties
Nominations and Appointments
 Ambassadors
 Supreme Court Justices
 Cabinet Members

22. “Give to Congress information on the state of
the union…”
Receive “ambassadors and other public
ministers”
“Take care” that the laws are faithfully
executed”
Article II, Section 3

24. “Presidential
power is the
power to
persuade.”

26. Executive Orders
National Security Directives
Signing Statements

28. Described president
as “tribune of the
people.”
President supposed
to guard public
against outside
influences.

29. Andrew Jackson
The “Tribune of the
People”

30. Used the “bully pulpit”
to gain support
for his agenda.

31. Breaking precedent,
Wilson personally delivered
his 1913 State of the Union
message to Congress.

32. Roosevelt used his famous
“Fireside Chats” to explain
policy decisions to the public.

33. JFK’s personality and
humor helped form a
close bond with public.
Presidents now judged by how
telegenic they are AND on whether
they can give an effective speech.

35. Gallup Poll Question:
 Do you approve or disapprove of the way
__________ is handling his job as president?
High approval (60-70%)
 POTUS is strong and effective
Low approval (20-30%)
 POTUS is weak and ineffective

38. Cycle Effect and “Honeymoon Period”
 “President’s Party Loses Seats”
 Impact / Influence of Divided Government
 The “Expectations Gap”
State of Economy
National Events

40. Clinton Rossiter

41. GEORGEW. BUSHTHROWING
OUT FIRST PITCH AT GAME
HARRYTRUMAN PARDONING
THANKSGIVINGTURKEY
This role involves ceremonial functions.

42. LYNDON JOHNSON SIGNING
MEDICARE INTO LAW, 1965
GERALD R. FORD
This role includes faithfully executing laws passed by Congress.

43. BARACK OBAMA GEORGE H. W. BUSH
The president serves as head of all
branches of the military.

44. JIMMY CARTER,
CAMP DAVID ACCORDS
BETWEEN ISRAELAND EGYPT
BILL CLINTON NEGOTIATING
WITH ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
This job centers around negotiations with foreign nations.

45. JOHN F. KENNEDY RONALD REAGAN
This role involves presidential-congressional relations.

46. Crisis Manager
Morale Builder
Recruiter
Priority Setter
Molder of Public Opinion
Party Leader
Administrator

48. Franklin D. Roosevelt
1933 Inaugural Address
Soup and bread lines were common
during the Great Depression.

49. Created Executive Office
of the President (EOP)
 White HouseOffice (WHO)
 Office of Management
and Budget (OMB)
 National Security Council
(NSC)
Charles Merriam,
Luther Gulick,
and Lewis Brownlow

50. White House Office (WHO)
 Policy, personnel, public and congressional relations
 How do presidents organize their staff?
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
 Monitors implementation of programs
 Prepares annual budget
National Security Council (NSC)
 Responsible for national security issues

51. Not in Constitution
First Depts: State,Treasury,War (Defense)
 Newest Addition: Homeland Security (DHS)
Inner vs. Outer Cabinet
Cabinet selection
President Obama leading a cabinet
meeting during his administration.

53. Geographic Balance
Ideological Balance
Experience
Age
Gender

54. Kennedy was from Massachusetts
and Johnson was fromTexas

55. Reagan was a strong
conservative, whereas
Bush was more
moderate in his views.

56. Obama had little foreign policy
experience. Biden had been the
Chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee.

57. McCain = 72 years old. Born in 1936.
Palin = 44 years old. Born in 1964.

58. Walter Mondale and
Geraldine Ferraro, 1984

59. John Adams: “The most insignificant
office that ever the invention of man
contrived or his imagination
conceived.”
John Nance Garner: “A bucket of
warm spit.”

60. President Jimmy Carter
Vice President Walter Mondale

63. Public Communication
Organizational Capacity
Political Skill
Vision
Cognitive Style
Emotional Intelligence

64. James David Barber

65. ACTIVE-PASSIVE
How much energy does
the president invest in
their job?
POSITIVE-NEGATIVE
How much does the
president enjoy their job?

66. Barber argues that the first four presidents fit nicely
into the four categories of the typology…
Active-Positive
Thomas Jefferson
Active-Negative
John Adams
James Madison
Passive-Positive
GeorgeWashington
Passive-Negative
Presidential
Character
Credit given to Dr. James M. Curry, GVPT 475, University of Maryland

67. Can we categorize recent presidents?
George W. Bush? Barack Obama?
Active-Positive
Thomas Jefferson
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt
JFK
Active-Negative
JohnAdams
LBJ
WoodrowWilson
Richard Nixon
James Madison
Ronald Reagan
William H.Taft
Passive-Positive
G GeorgeWashington
Calvin Coolidge
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Ulysses S. Grant
Passive-Negative
Presidential
Character
Credit given to Dr. James M. Curry, GVPT 475, University of Maryland