D and Z 
Chapter 10
The President

power paradigm


Theoretically   What do each of the theories say about the chief executive?

Empirically  How have social scientists explored the presidency?

Comparatively  How do other countries develop the executive function?


Theoretically
Elite Theory:

The president is the focal point of the elite system for the people. He facilitates elite rule
Plural Theory:

The president is a component of the plural political system whose major responsibility is to facilitate the process of bargaining accomodation and compromise
Democratic Theory:

The president exemplifies democracy and encourages democratic participation and action.

 
 
Empirically
 
Approaches to the Study of the Presidency


Over time, political scientists have changed their approach to the study of the presidency.
Different eras have concentrated on different approaches to the presidency
These changes reflect changes in the nature of the discipline of Political Science (especially paradigmatic changes).


The Basic Approaches to the Study of the Presidency:
The Constitutional Approach
The Historical Approach
The Structural Approach
The Behavioral Approach
The Power Approach
 


 
Timeline of Approaches to the Study of the Presidency

Beginning-early 1900s:

Constitutional/ Historical

1900s-1940s

Structural

1940s-present

Behavioral

1980s-present

Power


Beginning-early 1900s


Constitutional and Historical Approaches
reflect the historical and legalist roots of Political Science


The Constitutional Approach
An approach which looks at the Presidency from the perspective
of its "place in the constitutional order"


Often mingled with the historical approach as it explores
how presidential actions, court decisions and congressional
reactions have either been affected by constitutional
prescription or have altered constitutional prescription
(through silences, constitutional changes, etc.)


Primary source of exploration:

-- event analysis
-- judicial decisions
-- presidential/congressional "turf" battles
-- historical analysis of precedent setting actions by the President



The Historical Approach
An approach (often commingled with the constitutional approach)
which explores how the office has developed over time.


It explores all types of actions which have altered how the
presidency operates, especially historical events which have
had a dramatic impact upon the operation of the presidency:

-- growth of the country (nationalization
or "popularization" of the office)
-- the Civil War (war powers)
-- the Depression (economic powers)
-- the Nixon era (curtailing economic and war powers)



1900s-1940s


The Structural Approach
reflects the growth of the Office of the President
and the public administration roots of Political Science


The Structural Approach


influenced by the school of "scientific management"
and the administrative approach.


The Brownlow Com. and the subsequent expansion of
the Executive Office of the President reinforce this
approach during the early decades of the century.


This approach concentrates on the role which various
organization or structures within the Executive branch
play in the study of the presidency.


Of particular importance is the executive Office of the
Presidency, the Cabinet and executive agencies
and the role of bureaucratic behavior in
understanding the presidency.


It also has a decision-making focus.



1940s-present


The Behavioral Approach
reflects the growth of the use of psychological theories
in studying behavior and the personalization of the office


The Behavioral Approach


An approach which utilizes psychological factors to explore
the behavior of the Chief Executive.


Many studies utilize typologies derivative of
McCllelland 's theories of motivation.


Foremost among these authors is James David Barber
and his book Presidential Character.


Other authors utilize "offshoots" of this approach to emphasize
the "popular connection" between the people
and the President. Of particular importance are studies which tie
"public expectations" to presidential behavior.
 



1980s-present


The Power Approach
reflects an attempt to integrate the various
approaches together and a concern for the ability of
the President to wield power.


The Power Approach


A new, systematic approach which tries to tie all of these
other approaches together.


The focus is upon the exercise of power and the factors which
either expand or contract a president's ability to exert power.



 
In this class, we will use as our base for analysis:


The Presidential Power Paradigm