Chapter 11 The Presidency Section 1 The Double

Chapter 11 The Presidency Section 1 The Double Expectations Gap © EMC Publishing, LLC

Presidential Promises and the Powers of the Office Ø Since the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt, the public’s perception is that the power of the president has greatly expanded. Ø However, the president’s powers are limited by the Constitution. Ø In addition, the Twenty-second Amendment limits the president to a maximum of two terms. Ø Voters can respond to presidents who do not meet their expectations by failing to reelect them. © EMC Publishing, LLC

Length of Time in Office for the Nine Recent Presidents © EMC Publishing, LLC

The Gap between Conflicting Roles Ø The president is now viewed as more than just an administrator of Congress’s laws; therefore, he or she must act at times as an effective high-level lawmaker. Ø On the other hand, the president must appear at times to be above politics and to be a unifier. Ø If the president does not properly balance these two roles, his or her effectiveness can be diminished. © EMC Publishing, LLC

Head of State Ø Presidents serve as a symbol of the hopes and dreams of the people of the United States in their role as head of state. Ø Presidents act in ceremonial roles (greet foreign dignitaries, attend important functions, and so on) to reinforce the dignity and symbolism of the presidency. Ø Presidents symbolically represent what is best about the United States. © EMC Publishing, LLC

Head of State The President Comforts a Nation President George W. Bush made this statement after the space shuttle Columbia exploded in 2003. Listen for clues that show he was acting as head of state when he gave this speech. © EMC Publishing, LLC

Head of Government Ø As the head of government, the president performs a number of important duties: • Defining the nation’s policy agenda (the issues that Congress and the public want discussed and acted upon) • Developing political support to get the laws passed to address the issues on the policy agenda • Making sure the government works • Leading his or her political party © EMC Publishing, LLC

Your Turn Can the president avoid conflict in his or her role as head of state and head of government? Be prepared to explain your answer. a. Yes b. No © EMC Publishing, LLC