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The [[President of the United States of America|president]] always, however, has enormous political influence.  He is the leader of his own political party, which nominates him..  Everything he does affects the positions and fortunes of his party.  If his party is in control of [[Congress]], then he exerts enormous influence over [[Congress]].  If the opposing political party controls [[Congress]], then it devotes its time to opposing his policies as much as possible.  Either way, the [[President of the United States of America|president]] controls the political agenda.

The [[President of the United States of America|president]] always, however, has enormous political influence.  He is the leader of his own political party, which nominates him..  Everything he does affects the positions and fortunes of his party.  If his party is in control of [[Congress]], then he exerts enormous influence over [[Congress]].  If the opposing political party controls [[Congress]], then it devotes its time to opposing his policies as much as possible.  Either way, the [[President of the United States of America|president]] controls the political agenda.

Beyond politics, historians debate how much influence a [[President of the United States of America|president]] really has over the country.  But the [[President of the United States of America|president]] is held responsible regardless of whether he is at fault.  When Iranian students captured the U.S. Embassy in 1979 and held American diplomats hostage for a year, [[President of the United States of America|President]] Jimmy Carter was held responsible.  Was it his fault?  Probably not.  But voters are going to hold him accountable.

Beyond politics, historians debate how much influence a [[President of the United States of America|president]] really has over the country.  But the [[President of the United States of America|president]] is held responsible regardless of whether he is at fault.  When Iranian students captured the U.S. Embassy in 1979 and held American diplomats hostage for a year, [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Jimmy Carter]] was held responsible.  Was it his fault?  Probably not.  But voters are going to hold him accountable.

Economists say that the outcome of every presidential election can be predicted by how well the economy is doing on Election Day.  Can the [[President of the United States of America|president]] control the economy?  Not completely, but he can have an influence.  Voters will reelect him if the economy is doing well, and elect someone else if it is doing poorly.

Economists say that the outcome of every presidential election can be predicted by how well the economy is doing on Election Day.  Can the [[President of the United States of America|president]] control the economy?  Not completely, but he can have an influence.  Voters will reelect him if the economy is doing well, and elect someone else if it is doing poorly.

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 years, but a [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] justice can serve 35 years 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 years, but a [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] justice can serve 35 years or more.

But a vacancy on the [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] must occur before the [[President of the United States of America|president]] can nominate a new justice.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] Carter did not see a single [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] vacancy during his four-year term.  He thus made no appointments.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan]] saw three vacancies, and he appointed Justices O’Connor, Scalia and Kennedy.  Instead of Justice Kennedy, [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan]] initially appointed Robert Bork, who was defeated by the [[United States Senate|Senate]].  A majority vote in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] is necessary to confirm a [[federal]] judge to the [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] or lower court.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan]] also elevated Justice Rehnquist to become Chief Justice when Chief Justice Warren Burger retired, and that promotion was approved by the [[United States Senate|Senate]] after some heated debate.

But a vacancy on the [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] must occur before the [[President of the United States of America|president]] can nominate a new justice.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Jimmy Carter |Carter]] did not see a single [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] vacancy during his four-year term.  He thus made no appointments.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan]] saw three vacancies, and he appointed Justices O’Connor, Scalia and Kennedy.  Instead of Justice Kennedy, [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan]] initially appointed Robert Bork, who was defeated by the [[United States Senate|Senate]].  A majority vote in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] is necessary to confirm a [[federal]] judge to the [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] or lower court.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan]] also elevated Justice Rehnquist to become Chief Justice when Chief Justice Warren Burger retired, and that promotion was approved by the [[United States Senate|Senate]] after some heated debate.

The [[United States Senate|Senate’s]] defeat of [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan’s]] nomination of Robert Bork to the [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] in 1987 was a watershed, because it was purely political.  A majority of senators felt Bork was too conservative, and the attacks and ultimate rejection of his nomination became known as “Borking” a presidential pick.  He later wrote a popular book describing the politicization of the judiciary.

The [[United States Senate|Senate’s]] defeat of [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan’s]] nomination of Robert Bork to the [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] in 1987 was a watershed, because it was purely political.  A majority of senators felt Bork was too conservative, and the attacks and ultimate rejection of his nomination became known as “Borking” a presidential pick.  He later wrote a popular book describing the politicization of the judiciary.

[[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] will likely complete his current term without picking a single [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] justice.  This is surprising because several vacancies were expected.  Chief Justice Rehnquist in particular, nearly 80 years old, was expected to step down so that a [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[President of the United States of America|president]] could choose his replacement.  It is possible that [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] talked him out of retiring in the hopes that [[Republican Party|Republican]]s will have greater [[power]] in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] after the 2004 elections, and that [[George W. Bush|Bush]] will still be in [[power]].  This is risky: [[liberal]] Justices Brennan and Marshall decided against retiring during [[President of the United States of America|President]] Carter’s term, but then faced 12 long years of [[Republican Party|Republican]] control of the [[White House]].  Old age forced Justices Brennan and Marshall reluctantly to retire in the meantime, during the first [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush’s]] term, and their spots were filled by Justices Souter and Thomas.

[[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] will likely complete his current term without picking a single [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] justice.  This is surprising because several vacancies were expected.  Chief Justice Rehnquist in particular, nearly 80 years old, was expected to step down so that a [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[President of the United States of America|president]] could choose his replacement.  It is possible that [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] talked him out of retiring in the hopes that [[Republican Party|Republican]]s will have greater [[power]] in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] after the 2004 elections, and that [[George W. Bush|Bush]] will still be in [[power]].  This is risky: [[liberal]] Justices Brennan and Marshall decided against retiring during [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Jimmy Carter|Carter’s]] term, but then faced 12 long years of [[Republican Party|Republican]] control of the [[White House]].  Old age forced Justices Brennan and Marshall reluctantly to retire in the meantime, during the first [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush’s]] term, and their spots were filled by Justices Souter and Thomas.