POL 4141 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Theodore J. Lowi, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dream Act

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POL 4141
• Professor: Tyler Attwood

Document Summary

At least as portrayed by the media and some scholars, as well as expected by much of the public. The president injects new ideas into us politics. Role of individuals and ideas more than institutions. Framers wanted the executive to be a source of (cid:498)energy(cid:499) in government. Part of the problem in american history was that states were created as equals. Therefore, the president could act as an inspiration/a source of motivation (read: threatening force) to encourage action. The president has enormous powers, at least on paper. In many ways, the president(cid:495)s power is temporary/fragile. The president can make executive orders and veto the bills of others. But in this sense, the president(cid:495)s power is only in relation to others the president(cid:495)s power is a check/balance/support/opposition to other power. According to american political specialist neustadt: the formal powers of the presidency are important, but the informal powers (ideological influence, charismatic coercion, etc. ) are even more perniciously powerful.