POLSCI 318 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: September 11 Attacks, Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act, Peace Corps
17 May 2018
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Congress and the President – Reading Notes
DOLS Chapter 10: Congress and the President
The President as Legislator
x Article II, section 3: State of the Union and recommend considerations of necessary measures
x Legislative presidency emerged after WWII
x Two types of legislative presidency models: partnership model and independent model
o Partnership – president consults regularly with lawmakers and involve them in the policy and
political affairs of the White House
o Independent – presidents minimize their involvement with Congress and strive independently
to accomplish top priorities
Four presidetial theories: persuasio, rhetoric, adiistratie, ad the to presidecies
x 1. The Power to Persuade
o Employing constitutional, political, bureaucratic, and personal power to persuade Congress
o Ex: Reagan shortened his priorities and utilized the honeymoon period to push his agenda –
Reaganomics
▪ Focused primarily on lobbying the Democratic House since Senate had a Republican
majority
o President Obama had to cooperate with Democrats in both chambers to sustain a veto
▪ Shown less of an interest in socializing informally with congressional members
o To persuade members to support their program, president grant or withhold patronage
resources
▪ Patronage resources – federal and judicial positions, federal construction projects,
location of government installations, campaign support, etc.
x 2. Going Public: The Rhetorical President
o How and when a president strategically employs contemporary campaign techniques and the
technology of mass media to promote himself and his policies in Washington by appealing to
the American public
o Risks: may alienate lawmakers, raise expectations that cannot be met, stiffen the opposition
o Presidents are observed to rarely move public opinion because legislators are more popular in
their states/districts
o Ex: Reagan was great with mass media technology because he used to be an actor
o Ex: Bill Clinton was able to garner support for his position and opposition to GOP positions for
certain highly publicized issues
o E: George W. Bush osidered a retiet presidet for ot goig puli a lot, ut eae
more public after the 9-11 attacks
o Ex: Obama is extremely gifted in oratory skills and was the first president to appear on The
Tonight Show
▪ Wanted to broaden the audience of his intricate political policies
▪ First to utilize many social media platforms to communicate with constituency
▪ Was good at reaching large audiences, but not effective in garnering support for his
agenda (ex: Obamacare was bombarded by the GOP in news outlets)
x 3. The Administrative President
o Win policy goals by statute whenever feasible, but when such an effort fails, the president will
try to win goals through organizational and managerial techniques
o Ex: naming loyal political appointees to supervise and monitor agency activities, reorganize
executive departments, using the budget process to reduce programs and increase others,
executive orders
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