The President/ People Connection

"A Troubled Alliance?"

The key to this connection is the presidential selection process

Buchanan makes three observations:

1) citizens exercise real power in a democracy

2) to use this power requires real effort

3) not everyone is willing to make the effort

"The major reason for citizens to invest time and effort in upgrading their ability to evaluate candidates and presidents is obligation: an internalized commitment citizens have to participate effectively in the affairs of the political system of which they are members and with which they identify. This obligation stems from the theory of democracy which requires that ordinary citizens exert a relatively high degree of control over leaders. The electoral process is the primary mechanism by which this control is exerted". (Dahl)

The State of the Presidency

left to itself the presidency is weak, its constitutional powers inadequate to carry out its responsibility for giving energy and direction to government

it is the relationship which develops between the president and the people which energizes what is otherwise a gridlock situation

"The people drawn to politics are uniquely sensitive to the opinions others hold of them....are drawn to politics by an inner craving for the personal affirmation of favorable public response

(AP and AN especially?)

"The emotional responses of presidents to public opinion can influence their behavior, and thus the quality of their performance in office"

"The 'living president' and the institutional presidency function more effectively with mass approval, and disapproval invites human malfunction and paralysis of the institutional machinery"

there are five key areas in which the president is vitally affected by public support:

1) relations with Congress

2) foreign policy

3) relations with the media

4) relations with 'professional Washington'

5) within the person of the president

"strongly supported presidents find Congress and professional Washington responsive, foreign allies and adversaries respectful, the media generous, and themselves resourceful and vital"

presidents get support from meeting public expectations

the president/public relationship is thus built on an implicit agreement that imposes obligations on both the people (support in return for services) and the president (services in return for support)

over the long-term diminished support has occurred

is it a structural or individual problem?

1) If it (diminished support) is a function of flawed, incompetent and otherwise inadequate presidents what we need is:

better presidential candidates

2) if it is the public's fault because of unrealistic expectations what we need is:

a better informed public

a less self-interested public

3) if it is a structural problem we need to:

change the structures (pres/cong relationship or

method of selection/ election)