- Within 48 hours of committing American forces into an arena of imminent conflict, the president must notify congress in writing
- 60 day limit for combat, unless congress extends 30 days for safe withdrawal
- within a 60-90 day period, congress could force the president to immediately withdraw forces by passing a simple majority (non-veto) concurrent resolution
War Powers Act (1973)
The energizing force if the American political system. Standards of the president have drifted upward in the eyes of the American people. The office has grown in stature.
President of the United States
Formal bases of power of president: Article II - Section 2
- Commander in chief of Army and Navy and of the militia of several states, when called into the actual service of the US
- power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against US
- power to make treaties
- power to nominate and power to appoint ambassadors, other public minister and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the US
- power to fill up vacancies that may happen during the recess or the senate
Formal bases of power of president: Article II - Section 3
- shall from time to time give to the congress information of the state of the union
- May convene both Houses, or either of them
- may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper (in case of disagreement between them with respect to the time of adjournment
- shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers
- shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed
- shall commission all the officers of the US
Informal powers of President
- Power of persuasion
- Power of political bargaining
3 appeal to the power of ideological conviction
Can persuade loyal congressmen, bureaucrats, or party members by offering material incentives (personal services, patronage, or government or private projects)
Power of Persuasion
Constructing larger and more powerful coalitions; a form of reciprocal control; trading of support with a multitude of smaller groups and factions
Political Bargaining
Constituencies in the bargaining process
a. Leaders of party organizations (all levels
b. Congressional committee and subcommittee chairpersons
c. Leaders of government bureaucracies
d. Leaders of lobbies
e. Opinion leaders within mass media
f. Interested public opinions
g. Leaders of the foreign constituencies
Long-term method of gaining support. Most valuable way a president can influence constituents because the respondent is “self-convinced” that a certain action is “right.” In “framing an issue” terms and facts are simplified. Traditional values become symbols to persuade an audience. The American Dream, conscience, patriotism, pride or citizen’s duty
Appeal to the power of ideological conviction
Roles of the President
- Commander in Chief
- Chief Executive
- Chief Legislator
- Chief Diplomat
- Chief of State
- Party Chief
- Chief Economist
- National Unifier
- Chief Guardian of Capitalism (according to Parenti)
Grown out if the constitution, which prescribes his power to advise congress on the state of the union. Purpose is to propose and sign legislation, and to call special session of congress. Only Presidential Practice has given the president the power and responsibility of devising a detailed legislative program. Public has come to expect presidential initiative in legislation. General veto for president, and California government 2/3 majority vote of both houses to override veto
1.power of veto 2.massage power
Chief Legislative
- Us entry into UN
- Marshall Plan
- NATO
- Truman Doctrine
- Decision to stay out of info china in ‘54 and to intervene in ’60s
- Aid to Poland and Yugoslavia
- Test-ban Treaty 1963
- SALT Treaty
- ABM Treaty 1972
- INF Trust 1986
11z NPT Treaty
Presidential “successes” in getting what they wanted from congress in foreign policy
Presidents responsible for US entry into UN
Roosevelt. Truman
$17B plan to rebuild Europe following WWII
Marshall Plan
- Military Alliance- in response Soviet Union created Warsaw Pact
NATO
Truman after WWII. US to take over from Brit the responsibility of guaranteeing Greece and Turkey of Communist expansion and invasion
Truman Doctrine
Limited war heads.
SALT Treaty
Presidents of India and Egypt. Not against or with any super power
Non-Alignment Movement
Anti Ballistic Missile; not to build a workable defense against nuclear attack
ABM Treaty 1972
Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces. Called for destruction of 5%
INF Trust 1986
MAD Doctrine
Mutual Assured Destruction. Came out of Deterrence- policy of building up military strength for the purpose of deterring the other side
Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. Those that did not yet have nuclear weapons had to promise not to acquire them. Those that did (USA, USSR, France, China, Britain) must disarm. Signed by all nations except India, Israel, and Pakistan.
NPT Treaty
Direct involvement by one country in another countries affairs
Interventionism
A systematic and general plan that guides a country’s attitudes and actions toward the rest of the world. Includes all of the economic, military, commercial, and diplomatic positions and actions that a nation takes in it’s relationships with other countries
Foreign policy
