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American Government Lecture Four (view source)
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American [[Government]]
'''American [[Government]]'''
'''Fourth Lecture – [[President of the United States of America|President]]'''
'''Instructor: Andy Schlafly'''
==I. Introduction==
The [[President of the United States of America|president]] is in the news more than any other politician. This is true regardless of what he does, or how important he is. It requires only one [[reporter]] and one news camera to air a story about the [[President of the United States of America|president]]. Often, the reporter simply stands in front of the [[White House]] and merely talks into the camera.
The [[President of the United States of America|president]] is in the news more than any other politician. This is true regardless of what he does, or how important he is. It requires only one [[reporter]] and one news camera to air a story about the [[President of the United States of America|president]]. Often, the reporter simply stands in front of the [[White House]] and merely talks into the camera.
The [[President of the United States of America|president]] also has legislative authority in signing or [[veto]]ing new [[law]]s. If the [[President of the United States of America|president’s]] political party is in control of [[Congress]], then he has implicit control over its agenda too. The [[President of the United States of America|president]] typically submits a [[budget]] each year for [[Congress]] to pass in order to pay for the operations of the [[government]] and all its programs. Typically [[Congress]] will add spending to that [[budget]] and include it in one massive bill for the [[President of the United States of America|president]] to sign. An attempt to give the [[President of the United States of America|president]] “[[line-item veto]]” authority to strike out certain spending items was held to be unconstitutional for violating [[separation of powers]].
The [[President of the United States of America|president]] also has legislative authority in signing or [[veto]]ing new [[law]]s. If the [[President of the United States of America|president’s]] political party is in control of [[Congress]], then he has implicit control over its agenda too. The [[President of the United States of America|president]] typically submits a [[budget]] each year for [[Congress]] to pass in order to pay for the operations of the [[government]] and all its programs. Typically [[Congress]] will add spending to that [[budget]] and include it in one massive bill for the [[President of the United States of America|president]] to sign. An attempt to give the [[President of the United States of America|president]] “[[line-item veto]]” authority to strike out certain spending items was held to be unconstitutional for violating [[separation of powers]].
==II. Appointment [[Power]]==
Today people view the appointment [[power]] of the [[President of the United States of America|president]] as his most important authority. In particular, the [[President of the United States of America|president’s]] ability to fill [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] vacancies and lower [[federal]] [[court]] positions is the focus of political attention. The [[President of the United States of America|president]] can usually serve only eight [[year]]s, but a [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] justice can serve 35 [[year]]s or more.
Today people view the appointment [[power]] of the [[President of the United States of America|president]] as his most important authority. In particular, the [[President of the United States of America|president’s]] ability to fill [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] vacancies and lower [[federal]] [[court]] positions is the focus of political attention. The [[President of the United States of America|president]] can usually serve only eight [[year]]s, but a [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] justice can serve 35 [[year]]s or more.
But if that was the calculated gamble, it paid off. President [[George W. Bush]] was reelected, and then had the opportunity to fill two vacancies in his second term, including a vacancy resulting from the death of Chief Justice [[William Rehnquist]]. By all accounts, both of President Bush's appointments to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] were conservative: [[John Roberts]], who became the Chief Justice in replacing [[William Rehnquist]], and [[Sam Alito]], who replaced Justice [[Sandra Day O'Connor]] after she retired.
But if that was the calculated gamble, it paid off. President [[George W. Bush]] was reelected, and then had the opportunity to fill two vacancies in his second term, including a vacancy resulting from the death of Chief Justice [[William Rehnquist]]. By all accounts, both of President Bush's appointments to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] were conservative: [[John Roberts]], who became the Chief Justice in replacing [[William Rehnquist]], and [[Sam Alito]], who replaced Justice [[Sandra Day O'Connor]] after she retired.
==III. Leader of the [[Executive Branch]]==
The [[President of the United States of America|president]] has complete control over his [[executive branch]], and fills thousands of positions in the numerous [[federal]] agencies. [[United States Senate|Senate]] approval is required only for a few top positions, such as the [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] officials who directly advise the [[President of the United States of America|president]].
The [[President of the United States of America|president]] has complete control over his [[executive branch]], and fills thousands of positions in the numerous [[federal]] agencies. [[United States Senate|Senate]] approval is required only for a few top positions, such as the [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] officials who directly advise the [[President of the United States of America|president]].
How many of [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush’s]] [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] members can you name? How many departments under the [[President of the United States of America|president]] can you name?
How many of [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush’s]] [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] members can you name? How many departments under the [[President of the United States of America|president]] can you name?
==IV. Foreign Policy==
Historically, the [[State]] Department has been the most important agency in the [[Executive Branch]], and the [[Secretary of State]] has been the most important [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] official. Many of our [[President of the United States of America|president]]s first served as [[Secretary of State]] under an earlier [[President of the United States of America|president]].
Historically, the [[State]] Department has been the most important agency in the [[Executive Branch]], and the [[Secretary of State]] has been the most important [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] official. Many of our [[President of the United States of America|president]]s first served as [[Secretary of State]] under an earlier [[President of the United States of America|president]].
Agencies in the [[Executive Branch]] handle many types of disputes before they become [[lawsuit]]s. The [[Department of Education]] hears complaints about violation of [[federal]] [[law]] in [[public school]]s; the [[Department of Labor]] hears labor disputes, including alleged discrimination; the [[Department of Health and Human Services]] handles the massive [[federal]] health care spending. Each of the 15 [[federal]] agencies, including the new [[Department of Homeland Security]], have responsibilities that grow over time.
Agencies in the [[Executive Branch]] handle many types of disputes before they become [[lawsuit]]s. The [[Department of Education]] hears complaints about violation of [[federal]] [[law]] in [[public school]]s; the [[Department of Labor]] hears labor disputes, including alleged discrimination; the [[Department of Health and Human Services]] handles the massive [[federal]] health care spending. Each of the 15 [[federal]] agencies, including the new [[Department of Homeland Security]], have responsibilities that grow over time.
==V. Department of Justice==
Much attention these days is focused on the fourth oldest department: the [[Department of Justice]]. Its original head under the [[Bush Administration]], Attorney General [[John Ashcroft]], was bitterly opposed by [[liberal]]s from the beginning. The [[United States Senate|Senate]] delayed his confirmation and he won in a relatively close vote in early 2001, after [[George W. Bush|Bush]] became [[President of the United States of America|president]] and appointed him.
Much attention these days is focused on the fourth oldest department: the [[Department of Justice]]. Its original head under the [[Bush Administration]], Attorney General [[John Ashcroft]], was bitterly opposed by [[liberal]]s from the beginning. The [[United States Senate|Senate]] delayed his confirmation and he won in a relatively close vote in early 2001, after [[George W. Bush|Bush]] became [[President of the United States of America|president]] and appointed him.
The main dispute revolves around the [[Fourth Amendment]]. The Patriot Act reduced the requirements for [[federal]] investigators to seize evidence and tape-record calls of alleged [[terrorist]]s. No longer must a local [[judge]] issue a [[warrant]] based on a detailed affidavit of probable cause prior to searches of alleged [[terrorist]]s, broadly defined. Also, [[federal]] investigators can now search certain homes without leaving a copy of a warrant so that the owner knows it has been searched. This is known as “sneak and peak.” There are many newspaper articles discussing this controversy. On Sunday, a pollster said that after 9/11, people wanted to give up some freedoms in this area to stop terrorism, but now over two years later they no longer want to. What do you think?
The main dispute revolves around the [[Fourth Amendment]]. The Patriot Act reduced the requirements for [[federal]] investigators to seize evidence and tape-record calls of alleged [[terrorist]]s. No longer must a local [[judge]] issue a [[warrant]] based on a detailed affidavit of probable cause prior to searches of alleged [[terrorist]]s, broadly defined. Also, [[federal]] investigators can now search certain homes without leaving a copy of a warrant so that the owner knows it has been searched. This is known as “sneak and peak.” There are many newspaper articles discussing this controversy. On Sunday, a pollster said that after 9/11, people wanted to give up some freedoms in this area to stop terrorism, but now over two years later they no longer want to. What do you think?
==VI. Elections==
[[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Harry S Truman]] would say, “The buck stops here.” The [[President of the United States of America|president]] is accountable for all that he does, and all that the [[Executive Branch]] does while he is in charge. The reelection or defeat of the [[President of the United States of America|president]] after his first term will depend not only on what he does, but also on everything else that happens under his “watch”.
[[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Harry S Truman]] would say, “The buck stops here.” The [[President of the United States of America|president]] is accountable for all that he does, and all that the [[Executive Branch]] does while he is in charge. The reelection or defeat of the [[President of the United States of America|president]] after his first term will depend not only on what he does, but also on everything else that happens under his “watch”.
A [[President of the United States of America|president]] can be elected with less than 50% of the vote, as [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] was. But no [[President of the United States of America|president]] can be elected with less than 50% of the [[electoral college]]. If no candidate can muster a majority of electoral votes, then the election is decided by the [[House of Representatives]]. This occurred in the election of [[John Quincy Adams]], and supporters of [[Andrew Jackson]] complained bitterly about the process. Four years later, Jackson beat Adams in a landslide. Can you find the constitutional provision dictating how the [[House of Representatives]] can choose the next [[President of the United States of America|president]]?
A [[President of the United States of America|president]] can be elected with less than 50% of the vote, as [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] was. But no [[President of the United States of America|president]] can be elected with less than 50% of the [[electoral college]]. If no candidate can muster a majority of electoral votes, then the election is decided by the [[House of Representatives]]. This occurred in the election of [[John Quincy Adams]], and supporters of [[Andrew Jackson]] complained bitterly about the process. Four years later, Jackson beat Adams in a landslide. Can you find the constitutional provision dictating how the [[House of Representatives]] can choose the next [[President of the United States of America|president]]?
==VII. Issues==
1. Should we have free trade with [[China]]? [[China]] is a communist country notorious for requiring [[abortion]], persecuting citizens for religious reasons, and pouring its money into a military that threatens free Chinese on Taiwan and aims missiles at our western cities like [[Los Angeles]]. When we buy goods from Communist [[China]], some of that money funds its totalitarian [[government]]. Should our [[government]] encourage trade with [[China]] by granting it “Most Favored Nation” trade status?
1. Should we have free trade with [[China]]? [[China]] is a communist country notorious for requiring [[abortion]], persecuting citizens for religious reasons, and pouring its money into a military that threatens free Chinese on Taiwan and aims missiles at our western cities like [[Los Angeles]]. When we buy goods from Communist [[China]], some of that money funds its totalitarian [[government]]. Should our [[government]] encourage trade with [[China]] by granting it “Most Favored Nation” trade status?