Test2 23/03/200912:22:00
February27,2009 Congress 1. Politicsisapartofeverythingthatoccursinpolitics. 2. ThemajoritypartyincontrolofeithertheHouseoftheSenatewields enormouspowerandsetstheagendaforthelegislatures.Thisis especiallytrueintheHouse.TheSpeakeroftheHousehasenormous powertoenforcepowerandrollovertheminorities.Rightnow,the Democratsareincharge.TheSenateisdifferent.Filibustersminority partiescantalkabilltodeath.Thisforcesthehandofthemajoritypartyto compromise.Now,thefilibustercanjustbethreatened.Filibusterstakeup timeandwastetime.Thispowerissetintherulesandprocedures.Ithas beenadoptedovertimetomanagethelegislature. 3. Itisexceedinglyeasytokillbillsinthecongress.Therearemanypointsin thelegislatureinwhichabillcanbekilled.Itisverydifficultforabillto becomealawifcongressdoesnotagreetoit. Tounderstandcongressandcongressman,youneedtounderstand3things: 1. Whatmattersmorethananythingelseisthereelectionofthat congressmanespeciallytrueintheHousewheretheyrunevery2years. 2. Afterreelectionissecured,thenexthighestpriorityisinstitutionalpower andprestige.<Partychairman,partyleader>Therearetworeasonsforthis: 1. Peopleinpoliticsareaggressiveandwanttobesuccessfulatall costs.Theywillalwayspursuemorepower. 2. Ifyouarethechairmanorleader,youreelectionchancesare enhanced.Beingonapowerfulcommitteegivesyouthe opportunitytotradethingsthatcanhelpandenhanceyourdistrict orstate. 3. Mostmembersdowanttopromotegoodpublicpolicy. Moststartoutasschoolboardmembers,etc.Theywanttoget thesethingpassed.Mosthatecampaigningandwouldratherbe pursuingpolicyissues.But,iftheywanttobereelected,they havetodo.ItisalsowhyeveryHousememberwantstobea SenatetheSenategetsreelectedevery6years.
Howwascongressformed? TheGreatCompromiseVAplan.Bicameralcongress.TheHouseisbased onpopulation;theSenatehasequalrepresentation2perstate. TheframersplannedtheSenatetobethemuchmoreconsideredbody.Their 6yeartermsweredesignedtoinsulatetheSenatorsfromthebackandforth swayofpolitics.Morelongtermviewofpolicyanddirection.Theyenhanced thisideabystaggeredterms.Only1/3isreelectedevery2years.Theentire Houseiselectedevery2years.QualificationsoftheSenatearehighermust be30,citizensfor9years,resideinthestateyourunfor.IntheHousemust be25,citizenfor7years,resideinthestateyourunfor.Manyinformal requirements:money,personality,charisma.Ifyoudonthavethepackageof goodsrequired,youwillnotbesuccessful. FormalPowersofCongress Article1,section8:enumeratedpowers o Createcurrency,regulatecommerce,raisearmies. NecessaryandProperClause//ElasticClause o Tomakealllawsthatshouldbenecessaryandpropertorunthe country. o Vague.Canbasicallymakeanylawsitseesfittorunthecountry. TheSenatehastheviseontreatiesandSupremeCourtelectionsappointed bypresidents.Congresscandeclarewar.Thepresidenthastheauthorityto operate,inagrayarea,armedforceswithoutadeclarationoflaw.Congress canstopfundingtheseoperations.However,whenyoureducefunding,it comesouttolooklikeyouarenotsupportingthetroops.
TheHouseistheonlychamberwhichmayinitiaterevenueincreases.The Presidenthasnoabilitytocreateabudgetforthecountry.Hecanrecommendlawsthat maybenecessarytothecongress.Anyonecansuggestlaws;thepresidentisthe electedofficialofthecountry,sowhenhestandsinfrontofcongressitismuchmore influential.Thecongresswilltakedirectionfromtheexecutivebranch.Itwillallowthe executivebranchtoguidetheprocess.Itisalsoeasierforsomeoneelsetodirectthem ratherthantryingtogeteveryonetoagreeonsomething.Hisabilitytorecommendlaws isbasedonhiscapitalpower,popularity. Thepresidentalsohasavetopowertolimitcongressionalpower.
Thewayinwhichtheelectionsystemisdesigned,goesalongwaytogivingus thepoliticswehaveincongress. 1.Weelectourcongressandpresidentseparatelythroughdifferentdistinct elections.ThatiswhydividedgovernmentexistsRepublicanpresidents,Democratic congresses.InaParlimentarysystem,onepartycontrolsboth.Thishasrapid introductionofpolicyandchange.Thishasmoreaccountabilityitsomethingdoesnt work,itisobviouswhoistoblame.However,everyoneisntheard.Ourdivided governmentmakesithardertogetthingsdone.Allegedlyitshouldpromote compromise.. March4,2009 Wehaveapluralityelectionsystemthismeanswhoevergetsthemostvotes wins.Proportionatemeansthatwhoevergetsthemostvotesinrelationtothesizewins (9%ofthevotes=9%oftheseats).Thepluralitysysteminflatesthewinsandlosses;it wastesvotes.However,itcreatesgoverningmajorities.Theclosesthingtoalawthat existsinpoliticsisthatapluralitysystemgivesyoutwoparties.Asuccessfulthirdparty doesntexist. WehavealowvotingparticipationrateintheUS. IntheHouse,every2years,435newmembersareelected.Thisisthenumber thattheystartedwithanddidntwantittogetanylarger,sothisistheamountthat remained. Every10yearsacensusistaking.Basedontheseresults,thenumberofseats perstatesarereproportioned.(Louisianaisduetoloseoneseatmostlydueto Katrina.) Withinstates,redistrictinghappens.Redistrictingistheredrawingofthe boundariesofeachdistrict. Therearetwokindsoflimitingcriteriawhencongressionaldistrictsare redistricted: 1. Equalityofpopulation
o Thisdidnthappenuntil1964.Ittooksolongbecausetheboundaries thatexistedweretradition.Stateswerehesitanttorepositionthe counties/parishes.Duringtherural,agrariansocieties,farmersheldall thepower.Therewasabalanceofpopulationbetweenurbanandrural population.Duringindustrialization,everyonemovedtotheurban areas.Thepopulationbecomesunbalanced.Statelegislatures,who werestillrunbyfarmers,didntwanttogiveuptheirpowers.Suitsare filed,eventuallyonereachestheSupremeCourt.Itisruledthatan equalityofpopulationisneededineachdistrict.Italsoneeded mathematicalequalitypeopleandlandproportionate.Thissplits traditionalareas,boundaries,andneighborhoods. 2. Createmajorityminoritydistricts o Afterthevotingandcivilrightacts,thegovernmentdecideditwastime thatthediscriminatorypracticesbestoppedatalllevelsof governments.Alsothesepracticeswereformedtorightthepast.After somanyyearsofdiscriminatorypracticestoAfricanAmericans,it neededtoberighted.So,ifAfricanAmericanscanpickcandidatesto representthem,itiseasiertobuyintothesystem.Itisalsotheonly waytoalleviateracialprejudiceinvoting.nolongercould congressionaldistrictsbedrawnwhereracewasthepredominant decidingfactor. o Thornbergvs.Gingles: o 3prongtestwhendrawingthesedistricts:1.Youmustbeabletodraw alargegeographicallycompactgroup2.Youmustdemonstratethat thisgroupispoliticallycohesive.3.Youmustprovethatblockvotingby whitesisabletodefeatminoritypreferredcandidates. o *withblocking,theattempttogiveAfricanAmericansmoreofavoice, overallendsupgivingthemless.Unintendedconsequence. March6,2009
Gerrymanderingismanipulatinggeographytogetanintendedracialpercentage outcome. Thecreationofmajorityandminoritydistrictsisatypeofracialdiscrimination. Thereare3othertypesofGerrymandering:
Politicalpoliticiansmanipulatethegeographytogettheirintendedoutcome. Morerisksareassumedfortheparty.Tomaximizethenumberofvotesfor yourparty,yourisklosingvotesIncumbents(officialswhoalreadybeen electedonce;areinpower)hatethis. Packingcreatesoverwhelmingmajoritiesinthestate Incumbentprotectionofalreadyelectedincumbents
ElectoralPolitics
Candidatecenteredvs.Partycentered Intheearlypartofthe20thcentury,thecountrywasgovernedundertheparty centeredgovernment.Individualswhoranfortheparty,triedtorununderthebigideas ofthoseparties.Inthelast30or40years,wehavemovedtoamuchmorecandidate centeredpolitics.Thecandidatesaresellingthemselves,notjusttheiradherencetobig partiedconcepts.Theyarecalledindependentpoliticalentrepreneurs. Whydidwemovetoacandidatecenteredpolitics? 1.Partieshavebeenveryweaktopicktheircandidates.Thepartyapparatusin stateshaveadifficulttimecontrollingwhorunsundertheirbanner. 2.Candidateshavealsoorganizedtheirowncampaigns. 3.Raisingmoney. 4.Campaignsarewonandlostonlocalissues,generally. 5.Themodernmediaenvironmentallowedtheswitchtocandidatecentered elections.Individualscangettheirmessageoutmoreeasily;theycanmaketheirown ties,andgettheirideasoutwithoutthehindranceofaparty. Thisswitchalsomayhaveoccurredbecauseoftheredistrictingstuff,Gerry mandering.Ithascreatedreallysafedistrictsforeachparty.Indoingso,ithas depletedthemoderationinourpolitics. Ifyourunina45/50district,youaremorelikelytomoderateyouragendato gain/securethevote. Ifyouhave75%ofthevote,thereisnoneedtomoderateyouagendato appeasebothsides.
Sinceeachdistrict,roughly,hasamajority,thereisnoneedformoderation.Safe districtstendtopusheachpartytotheextreme,whichmeanstheyhavetoholdtrueto thepartyideas. Ifyouareina75%district,andyouleantowardstheotherside,youwilllose inthenextelectionbecausesomeoneelsefromyourpartywillstepup. Candidatecenteredallowsformoremoderation. March13,2009 PresidentialCoattailsthepresidentdragsintocongress,onhiscoattails, congressmanwhohavethesamebeliefsashedoesDemocrat//Republican. Atthemidtermelection,thepresidentspartyusuallylosesseats.Thereare2 theoriesastowhycongressmanofthepresidentssamepartystartoutlarge andfallatthemidterm. Theories: 1.ReferendumTheory Ex.In2008,Obamacameinandmanydemocratsalsocomein.Intwoyears, ifthistheoryisright,hispartywillstarttofalloutofofficeusuallyduetothe waythepresidencyisshapingout. 2.SurgeandDeclineTheory Duringpresidentialelections,therearemuchhigherturnouts.(50%ina presidentialelection;30%inamidtermelection).Alotofthe50%havebeen suckedintotheelectionandbandwagonwiththewinner.Thisbringsinthe congressionalcandidatesofthatparty.Atthemidtermelection,thereislittle fanfare.Allthatsleftisthehardcorevoters.Thevotesfallbacktothe medium.Thatiswhythereisafallbackoncongressmanofthesamepolitical partyofthepresident.
Representation: Membersofcongressarepulledintwodirections.Onedirectionisparty centered.Theotherisveryindividuallycentered,candidatecenteredpoliticsoftheir district.
Earmarksanegotiatedtraditionofmembersofcongressinsertingpetprojects intothebill.Earmarksarethecandidatecenteredpushes.Itgivesmoneytoyour district. Whatkindofadministrationdowewant? Trusteeordelegate?Thesetwothingsarealwaysadifficultdecisionfor congressman.Howshouldtheyoperate? Trusteetheargumentforthistypeofadministrationisthatwedontknow everythingaboutpolitics.WeneedatrusteetogotoWashingtonwithavarietyof resources.Thetrusteemodelsaystrustthem,sendthemtocongress,letthemdo theirjobs.Partiedcentered. Delegateweelectyoutobeourvoiceincongress,thereforeyoumustdoas yourdistrictwants.Thisisthemoretraditionaldemocracyidea.Candidatecentered. Onthingsthatareimportanttheyusuallyactasadelegate.Itiseasiertoget thevote.Theyaskwhatarethebiggestproblemsfacingthenation//district, etc. Trusteesgotheirownways;focusonthethingsthatarelessfocusedoninthe nationalnews. Membersofcongress: Thesenate:16%women,3%Hispanic,1%black. Thecongressisarich,whitemansfraternity. Howcansuchanunrepresented,demographically,bodyrepresentthecountry? Orcanit? Thereisenoughdiversityandideologies,evenamongrichwhitemen,to representthecountryandthepeople. Collectivevs.Dyadic
DyadicHowamIrepresentedbymycongressman?1to1relationship.Ifthisis allwehad,peoplewouldbeupsetallthetime.
CollectiveevenifyouarethemostleftwingliberalintheheartofTexas, somewhere,incongress,someonedoesbelieveasyoudo.Collectively,everyonein congressrepresentsthecountry.Dyadicallyyoumaybeonheard,butcollectivelyyou areheard. March16,2009 Onemainproblemwithcongressisgetting535peopletogetalong.The foundersofthecountryandtheelectedofficialsthathavecomethroughcongresshave notedthatitisdifficult.Noonepersoncandevelopalltheexpertisenecessarytomake thedecisions. Howdoyoucoordinateactivity?810thousandsbillsareproposedateach sessionofcongress.Itisimpossibletoresolvethemall. Howdoyouresolveconflicts?Whosideasdoyoulistenedto.Howdoyoureach asolution. Howdoyougetthemajoritytopursuenationalpolicieswhilemeetingthe demandsoftheirconstituents? Congresshasemployedtomainthingstoreachthegoals: 1.Partysystem 2.Committeesystem BothareattemptstoorganizetheHouseandtheSenate. *Partiesdevelopedduringthefirstsessionofthefirstcongress,totheshockof thepeoplesittinginthere.Themainissuestrongfederalgovernmentorstrongstate governments. Whatdopartiesmeantoday? Thepowerofthepartysystemincongresshasadirectrelationshiptothe parties.Conditionalpartygovernment. Whentherearenationalissuesitwillleadustoastrongerpartygovernment.
PartyUnityorPartyLoyaltyScoringyoulookateveryrollcallvoteincongress. Whendoes50%ofonepartyoppose50%oftheotherpartywhenthemajorities opposeoneanother.Thislaxandwaneswiththestrengthofeachparty.Today,the partyunityscoresarewayabove60%. PartyCohesionistheactualmeasurementofeachmemberofcongress;how oftentheyaresupportingtheirparty.Today,thisnumberisaround85%.Thisshowsus thatthereisastrongpartysystem. TheSenateoperatesundertheUnanimousConsentAgreement.Everybillgoes throughthis.Thisisanagreementreached,firstbytheleadershipoftheparties,under whichthecriteriaofabillwillbeheardlengthofthedebate,numberandtypeof amendments.All100Senatorsagreethatthesearetherulesbywhichthisbillwillbe passed.Bydoingso,theygiveuptherightstotalkforever,thiswaythebillcanmove March18,2009 throughthesenate. HowaBillBecomesaLaw: 1.Introduction Onlymembersofthelegislaturemayintroduceabill.Thisdoesntmeanthat onlylegislaturescomeupwiththeideas.Thereareamultipleofentitiesthat aremorethanhappytowritethetextofthebillsthatwillbeintroduced.These entitiescanbepoliticalparties,interestgroups,constituents,oronbehalfof thepresidentorexecutivebranch. OnetermneededtoforintroductionistheOmnibusBill.Thisisafairlynew term.Itisacollectionofmanysmallerbillsrolledintoone,foranupordown passage.Whywouldyouwanttodothis?Itallowsmembershiptoavoidhard, difficultuncomfortablevotes. 2.Referralorassignmenttoacommittee
Abillwillbesenttothecommitteethatisrelevanttoit.TheSpeakerofthe HouseortheleaderoftheSenatereferbills.Thereissuchathingasa multiplereferralwhichmeansbitsandpiecesofareferralcangotomultiple committees.Thisisdoneformanyreasons:complexityofsomebillsandto divideuptheprestigeandpoweronimportantlegislation.Onlyabout5%of billsthatarereferredtoacommitteegetoutofthecommittee.Theother95% dies.Thelucky5%willbereportedoutofthecommitteeeitherfavorable, unfavorable,orwithoutcomment.Onceitisreported,itgoesbacktothe SpeakerorleaderoftheSenatewhereitisputonthecalendar.TheHouse has3calendars: o 1.Unioncalendarallbillsdealingwithmoneygo o 2.Housecalendarallmajorpiecesoflegislaturego o 3.Consentcalendarnoncontroversialmatters;verysmallpersonal calendar. Mostbillsgoontheconsentcalendar.Thereareshortcutstogetthroughthe consentcalendar.OneistheSuspensionsoftheRules. 3.Scheduling IntheHouse,theSpeakerdeterminestheif,when,andinwhatorderabill willbescheduledtobeheard.TheHousehascreated1.TheSuspensionsof theRules. o Thismeansthemajorityvoteofthehousesuspendstherules.There areseveralcriteriawhenyoususpendtherulestogetsomethingoff theconsentcalendar.Theagreementisthattherewillbe40minutesof debates,noamendments,anditwillrequirea2/3voteforpassage. o HowdoestheSpeakercontrolthis?TheSpeakercanjustignoreyou. o ThereareotherunwrittencriteriafortheSuspensionsoftheRules. o 1.Themajoritypartyhastoagreetoit. o 2.Itcannotbeopposedbythecommitteechairmanwhohas jurisdictionoverthebill. o 3.Tosuspendtherule,itcannothaveacostestimateofmorethan 100,000milliondollars. 2otherwaystogetthroughtheconsentcalendar. 2.Specialdays. 3.Unanimousconsent
Onceyouscheduleabillunderregularrules,itisassignedtotherulecommittee. Therulecommitteesetsthecriteriatowhichthebillswillbeheardorconsideredonthe flooroftheHouse.Therulescommitteeisasupermajorityofthemajority.Rightnow, forexample,asupermajorityofdemocratssitonthecommittee.Thecommitteewillset forthrulesthatwillmakethepassageofthebilleasier.Theycansetrulesondebates andamendments.Itisatoolofthespeakerinthemajoritypeople.Itistheretolimitthe obstructiontacticsoftheminorityparty. Thetwomostusefulamendmentrules:(seebook) 1.KingoftheHillRule thisrulestatesthatthelastamendmentpassed,willbetheonlyamendment passed. 2.QueenoftheHillRule Essentiallyworksthesameway,excepttheonethatgetsthemostvotesis theonlyonethatgetsonthebill. Thesesrulesmakeiteasierforthemajoritypartytopassitslegislation. 4.FloorProcedure. TheHousemustvoteontherulesthatthebillwillbeheardon.TheHouse votesonwhatbillwillbeheardontheCommitteeofthewhole.Thismeansit canworkonabillwithlessthan50%.Thememberswilldebatethebill.Then, ifpossible,theywillamendthebill.Amendmentshavetobegermanetothe bill.Itmustbethesamesubject.Thenmemberscanvoteonthebill.Must haveatleast218membersvoting.ThenitgoestotheSenate. March20,2009
Sometimesthevotecanberecommitted.Theloserwillasktohavethebillsent backtothecommittee.Thisusuallyresultsinakilledbill. WhatmakestheSenatedifferent? Itisthesamewithintroductionandthecommitteeprocess.Whatisdifferentis whenthebillgetstoscheduling.TheSenateonlyhasonecalendar:thecalendarof business.
Itisgovernedbyindividualprerogative.TheSenateismorereservedinhowit addresspolicy.Ittakeslongertopassbills.Thesenatewouldarguethatthisisthe protectionofminorityrights.Becauseitisthelastplacethatapieceoflegislationcanbe stopped,theytaketheirtimeandgivealotofleewaytoindividualsenatorsandthe minorities.BillalsodonthavetobeonthesamesubjectintheSenate. TheSenatealsodabblesinallpolicymatters. Thefilibusteralsoallowsthemtostopabillbytalkingexcessivelyaboutitunless atleast60senatorsvotetocutitoff. Unanimousconsentagreementtheyagreeaspartiesandgetthevoteofall senatorsregardingtherulesinwhichthebillmaybearguedfor. SenatorscanalsousetheHold.Itmeansasenatorcanplaceaholdonabill. Itusuallyhastodowithsomethingthateffectstheirhomestate.Itisdoneprivately.The billwillbeheldonthecalendarandnotbroughttotheflooruntiltheissueoftheholdis addressed.ItisgroundedwiththethreatofafilibusterifyoudontholdthisbilluntilI amsatisfied,IwilldrivetheSenatetoahaltwithafilibuster. Filibustercertainthingsdeterminethesuccessofit 1.Length Thelongitgoeson,themorefinitetimeiteatsup.Thelongestfilibusterwas over24hoursbyasenatorfromSouthCarolina. 2.Whenitisused Ifyoutryandfilibusterattheendofasession,itismuchmoreeffective becausepeoplearepressured. 3.Publicity Thenewsmediacanpickuponit.Itcanworkbothwaysthepublicitycan helpturnthetideinyourfavorornot,dependingontheissue.
Whyisitallowed? 1.Itisthelastattemptattheprotectionofminorityrights.Lastchangetoblock majoritylegislation.Also,itshowstheyarewillingtouseanytactictogetheard.
2.Someargueitensuresacompleteexaminationoftheissue.Youcanreadthe phonebookifyouwantto,oryoucanreadthedetailsofthebills,andhopefullychange someminds. 3.Ithighlightsimportantissuesordisagreements. Criticism: Timewaster Opponentswillsayitsextortionbyaminority Threateningtosabotagetheprocessofgovernmenttoextortthemajority Minorityattempttostopabill Thethreatofthefilibusterisusedmuchmorecommonlytodaythaninthepast. Manyarguethatthebarkisworstthanthebite.Itisarguedthattheleadershouldnot panicandcavewhensomeonethreatenstofilibustersomething.Somesay,youneed toletthemfilibusterbecauseitcanmakethemlookbad.Manyarguethattheydontlike togotowardsthefilibusterbecauseofthecollegianbond.TheSenateisnotlikethe HousewhereDemocratsandRepublicansareeachothersthroats.TheSenateismuch morerelaxed;manyarefriends.Protectoneanother.TheangerintheSenateisoften contributedtothefactthatmoreandmoreHousemembersbecomeSenatorsandbring theirproblems. WhentheSenatepassessomethingsimilartothewhattheHousepassesthere isaconferencewherethetwogroupsgettogethertoironouttheproblems.The conferencecommitteeiscalledtheThirdHouseofCongressbecauseitcanrewritethe bill.Thislikelihoodislessonedbecausetheywereappointedbytheirparty.Oncethe committeeisdone,thefinalreportissenttotheHouseandtheSenate.Neitherthe HouseorSenatecanmesswiththefinalreport.Itiseitheryesorno. Onlyabout30%ofbillsgetthistreatment.The30%thatdoesarethemajor piecesoflegislations. ThefinalstepisbeingsenttothePresidentwherehecanapproveit,vetoit,or letitsitonhisdesk.Ifthesessionendsbeforehetakesactiononit,itbecomesa pocketvetoanddies. March23,2009
ThePresidency Whatkindofpowersdoesthepresidentpossessinrelationtothecongress? Thepresidenthasverylittlelegislativepowers.Whatarethelegislative powersofthePresident?Hecanveto.Thevetoisaverybluntinstrumentfor legislation.ItsaysNOtocongress. Thepresidentcanthreatenedtovetolegislationasitmovesthrough congress.Thisinsertshisinfluenceonthecontentoflegislation. Whatstherecourseforcongressifthepresidentvetoesabill? o Thecongresscanoverridethebillwitha2/3vote;overridesarevery rare.Avetoisusuallythedeathoflegislation.
Besidestheveto,thePresidentcan,fromtimetotime,gobeforecongressand describetheStateoftheUnion.Duringthisvisit,hecanalsosuggestlegislation.The StateoftheUnioncanbeaverypowerfultoollegislativelybecauseitallowsthe Presidenttosettheagenda.Itismucheasierforonepersontospeakandsetthe agenda/priorities. Hecanalsodothingsinvolvingtreaties,foreignpolicies.* How/Whyishesoimportantthen? Hehasverypowerfulinformalpowersoverthecountryinrelationtothe congress. WhatdeterminesthePresidentspowerinrelationtocongress? ThepowerofthePresidentislargelydeterminedbyhispopularityinthe country. Itisatruismforpresidentsthatthereapprovalratewilldeclineovertime, almostwithoutexception. Theonlythingthatraisesapprovalrateistheinvolvementofanational problemwarorcrisis. IsitpossibleforthePresidenttoinfluencePresidentialapproval/popularity? Thepresidentsthinkso. ThisattemptisusuallyundertheheadingGoingPublic.
Whatadvantagedoesthepresidenthaveovercongresswithregardstothe people?Heistheunitarypoliticalfigure.Hecanspeaktoallthepeopleat once.Heistheonlypoliticianwhocanstopthepressesandinterrupt regularlyscheduledprograms.ThisiscalledtheBullyPulpit.Hecandothis asoftenashelikes.TheissuethePresidenttalksabout,becomestheissues theAmericanpeopletalkabout.Also,itcaninfluencepeopletobelievehis way,becausethatisalltheyhear.TheBullyPulpitcanusemanipulation.He cangodirectlytotheAmericanpeoplewithhisarguments. ByGoingPublicthemessageisbroughtdirectlytothepeople.Whatdoes thisaccomplish?Ifthepeopleapproveit,generallythecongresswillapprove it.Whenyougopublic,thecongressispressuredtodowhatthe people/presidentwants.Thispowerallowsthepresidenttobypasscongress.
Isthereadangerindoingthis? Ifsomethingissaidenoughtimes,peoplewillbelieveit.Peoplewithout knowledgeofthesubjectmaybelieveitandnotdoresearch. *WhatwasabigissuethatPres.Bushwentpublicon:Iraq.Therewassome hesitationandquestioningofthelogicofopeninganewfrontinIraqwhilethebusiness wasundoneinAfghanistan.ThePresidentandhisleaderssaidthatSaddamwason thevergeofnuclearweapons,mobilebiolabs.AlQaedaandIraqwereinittogether. ThesupportforterrorismcamefromIraq.Fearwasinstilledinthepeopleinorderto backuptheplan.Thisargumentsteamrolledthecongress.Atthistime,theapproval ratingofthepresidentwashigh80ish%.* Didthisattemptatgoingpublicwork,ultimately?No.Wecantgetout.People aretiredofthewar.Thetrajectoryofthatpolicycameapart,anddestroyedhisapproval rates,andeffectedhisparty. Whenthingsdontworkout,youlosesupport.Hurtyourparty. Alsowhengoingpublicgoesbad,youcanloseyourpartiesconfidence.Youcan alsoentrenchtheotherpartyagainstyou.
OneofthemostsignificantreasonwhytheDemocratshatedPresidentBushso muchwasthatduringthe2002electionsite,thePresidenttalkedtotheDemocrats abouthisIraqsupportpolicy.Hesaidthatiftheysupportedhim,hewouldbewiththem inthe2002election.Onenationunitedunderonepolicy.In2002,Bushcampaigned againstthosesameDemocrats. Thebiggestdifferencebetweenthelegislativeandexecutivebranchis: Thecongresswritesthelaws;theexecutivebranchimplementsthelaw. Onethingpeoplefailtorealize,whentheytryandfigureouthowourgovernment worksisthatthereisahugedivideinwritingandimplementinglaws.Congress delegatesauthoritytotheexecutivebranchonhowtoimplementthelawhowmuch moneyisputintoit,etc.implementationhasmoreeffectthatthewritingofthelaw.The presidentspowercomesonhowheimplementsthelaw. March27,2009 ThePresidenthas5distincthatthathewearsastheexecutive. 1.CommanderinChief Directsthearmedforces.Giventhepowertoonepersonfacilitates cooperation.Gettingpeopletoagreeonsomethinginatimeofacrisis difficult.Thepresidentcancommittoaction. AlimitonthisisthatonlyCongresscandeclareawar.Warhasntbeen officiallycalledsinceWWII. TheWarPowersAct:within42hoursofcommittingthetroops,thepresident musttellcongress.Thisnegotiatedagreementisstillusedtodealwith conflict. TheonlypowerthatCongressreallyhasisthemoney.Ifyouwanttoshut downawar,cutoffthechecks.Whatsthedangerofdoingthis?Youcanbe accusedofbeingunpatriotic. Informally,thepowerofthepresidentasCommanderinChiefisunlimited. Onceyougetintoaconflict,itishardtojustpullout.ItmakestheCongress lookbadiftheyforceapullout. 2.HeadofState Symbolicroleastheleaderofourcountry,leaderofthefreewesternworld, representsourcountrydiplomaticallyinforeignrelationships. 3.ChiefExecutive
Theideathatthepresidentistheimplementerofourlaw;chiefexecutivein thebusinessofrunningourcountry. AstheChiefExecutive,heoftenusesexecutiveorders.Theseareformal instructionsfromthepresident,totheexecutivebranchagencies.Thisis essentiallyadministrativelawmaking.Thiscanbemadetomodifyactions, establishagencies,changerulemakingpolicies,andgivesubstanceand forcetostatues. Executiveordershavetheforceoflawuntiloneofthreethingshappen: o Thepresidentorhissuccessorretractsit o Congressnullifiesit o Afederalcourtrulesitunconstitutional Thisusuallydoesnthappenbecauseittakessolongforeitherofthe3things tohappen.Mostexecutiveordersareinplayforalongtime. o Ex:Allowingfederalmoneytosupportstemcellresourcewasan executiveorderthatwasretractedbyObama. Signingstatements.Itisawritten,orspoken,statementbyapresidentas theysignabillintolaw.Inthissigningstatementtheycansaywhatpartsof thelawtheywillandwillnotenforce.Inmanywaysthisistakenasan executiveorder.Thisisanenforcementoftheexecutivepower. o Ex:Ifeelprovision2isnotconstitutional,soIwillnotenforceit.Signs hissignature.
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