Chapter 10
The Presidency
The Many Roles of the President
o chief of state – the role of the president as the ceremonial
head of government
o chief executive -- the role of the president as the head of
the executive branch of the government
o commander in chief of the armed forces -- the role of the
president as the supreme commander of military forces of
the U.S,
o chief diplomat -- the role of the president in recognizing
federal governments,making treaties,and making
executive agreements
o chief legislator -- the role of the president in influencing
the making of laws
The President as Chief Legislator
* the State of the Union Address
* Proposing legislation
– typically easier to get Presidential initiatives
passed when President’s party control Congress
– typically more difficult when it does not
* Vetoing legislation
– requires a veto message
Special Uses of Presidential
Power
o Emergency Powers
o Executive Orders – have the force of law
o can be used to enforce legislative statutes
o can be used to enforce the Constitution or
treaties with foreign nations
o can be used to establish or modify rules and
practices of executive administrative agencies
o Executive Privilege
The Executive Organization
The Cabinet – comprised of the 14 cabinet secretaries and
the Attorney general,the cabinet is an advisory group
selected by the president to aid in making decisions
The Executive Office of the President (the EOP) –
consists of 10 staff agencies that assist the president in
carrying out major duties
o includes the White House Office (WHO)
o the National Security Council (NSC)
o the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
o the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)
Hot Links to Selected Internet
Resources,
? Book’s Companion Site,
http://politicalscience.wadsworth.com/schmidtbrie
f2004
? Wadsworth’s Political Science Site,
http://politicalscience.wadsworth.com
? The White House,http://www.whitehouse.gov
? Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the
United States,http://www.bartleby.com/124