POLS 206 1st Edition Lecture 12 Outline of Last Lecture I Current events a Shutdown looms on no end in sight b Debt Ceiling II Founding Fathers a How did they conceive of the presidency III Formal Presidential Powers a Constitutionally enumerated powers b Limited powers IV 19th Century Presidents V 20 21st century presidents a Why has this power grown VI Public expectations i Unlike congress the president is held accountable for large diffuse issues ii National constituency Outline of Current Lecture I In the news a Boehner proposes to extend debt ceiling for 6 weeks b Obama would sign a clean debt ceiling increase but only if Republicans reopen government c Public expectations II Congressional delegation of authority a Congress has given away some of its power away to the executive branch but why 1 Financial crisis 2 Line item veto III Imperial presidency IV Inside the beltway bargaining a Bargaining with WDC insiders b Negotiation and compromise i Good IBBs ii Poor IBBs I In the news a Boehner proposes to extend debt ceiling for 6 weeks b The president wanted it to be extended for over a year but he got a short term compromise i Only if president agrees to negotiate on spending cuts ii The proposal would keep the government shut down iii Establishment republicans feel that shutdown isn t too painful but don t want to risk default by not raising the debt ceiling c Obama would sign a clean debt ceiling increase but only if Republicans reopen government i Some House republicans are at odds with the strategy 1 Established republicans prefer that the debt limit and CR be handled together and feel the Obamacare defund delay strategy is hopeless 2 Tea partiers some were elected because they promised they would not raise the debt ceiling unless there were spending cuts d Public expectations i Media personifies the press ii TV allows the president to communicate directly to people iii Press are held accountable for managing big problems contrast with congress II Congressional delegation of authority a Congress has given away some of its power away to the executive branch but why i Controversial issue loathe to make unpopular decisions ii Technical issue lack policy expertise iii Diffuse policy benefits to constituents are low 1 Delegate to the executive branch bureaucracies because they know the devil is in the details a EPA citizens have the right to clean air water b OSHA all workers are entitled to a safe work place c FDA food and drugs should be safe b Whenever congress delegates authority to the executive branch they are increasing the president s power beyond what s prescribed by the constitution because agencies are run my presidential nominees he can influence what the agency does i Examples on congressional delegation of authority 1 Financial crisis a Troubled Asset Relief Program 2008 b Authorizes treasury secretary to purchase toxic assets 2 Line item veto a Allowed the president to strike out provisions in the law that he didn t like without vetoing the entire legislation 3 Subsequently declared unconstitutional by SC Creation of executive bureaucracies increases power of the ex branch a Run by president appointees b Budget and accounting act i Gave the president proposal power created OMB and gave president increased bureaucratic resources III Imperial presidency a Has the presidency become too powerful It depends if you agree with his polices b What are some paradoxes of the presidents i High expectation but few formal resources ordinary but extraordinary listen but lead listen to publican opinion or lead public opinion non partisan but wants him to reflect the party 1 Some scholars of the presidency think the paradoxes associated with the office set the president up for failure IV Inside the beltway bargaining a Bargaining with WDC insiders b Negotiation and compromise c Mutual accommodation and reciprocity d Don t use force i Common among president in 19th century and 20th century ii Good IBBs 1 The Johnson treatment 2 Reagan the great communicator built personal relationship with key Dems in congress iii Poor IBBs 1 Carter failure despite unified government 2 IBBs are less common than 30 yrs Ago 3 Divided government