2305+-+Presidential+Power+and+the+Bureaucracy

Power Points



Description: The executive branch has grown tremendously over American history in both size and scope. The office of the presidency has also attained a level of power that was not generally expected when it was first written in the Constitution.In this section we try to come to terms with the nature of the that increase and the various factors that have led to it. This will include a look at the evolving nature of the bureaucracy and a close look at which institution control - or attampt to control - its actions.

Goals: After reading through the material above, you should be able to address the following questions:

- Be familiar with the original design of the executive branch as well as the impact of George Washington on the office. - How have different presidents interpreted the Constitution regarding the powers of the office? - What is the size of the executive branch now? Be able to provide numbers. - What factors explain the rise of the executive branch over history? - What are the more important executive positions - those not established in the Constitution - and what do they do? - Be familiar with the three institutions that provide advice and assistance to the president. What are their unique roles? Why did the Senate - despite the Constitution - not become a principal advisory institution to the presidency? - Which agencies contain the closest and most loyal advisers to the president? - What relationships exist between executive agencies and other institutions like the legislature and interest groups? Who controls the bureaucracy? - What relationship does the president have with the bureaucracy? What factors make it difficult for presidents to directly control the bureaucracy? - What factors grant the bureaucracy strength? What controls do the other branches have over the bureaucracy? - Be familiar with the eras of the presidency, especially the modern presidency. How has the power of the presidency been transformed in recent history? - What is the "post-modern" presidency? Is the presidency losing strength? - What factors condition the relationship between the president and the general population?