National leadership, statesmanship in foreign affairs, command in time of war, and enforcement of the laws were what the framers of the Constitutions wanted from the presidency. However the presidency is a more powerful office than the framers envisioned, especially the two features - national election and singular authority. The president is elected by nationwide vote and no member of Congress can fully claim to be the nation’s leader like the president.
The nineteenth-century conception of presidency was expressed in the Whig Theory, which holds that the presidency is a limited or constrained office whose occupant is empowered to act only within the confines of expressly granted constitutional authority. However, Theodore Roosevelt later embraced what is called the stewardship theory, which calls for a strong presidency that is limited not by what the Constitution allows but by what it prohibits. The stewardship theory hols that presidents are free to act as they choose, as long as they do not take actions denied by them (Open Door policy).
Up till now, there are a total of four selection systems used in the United States. The first is called the original during 1788-1828. In the system party nominees are chosen in congressional caucuses and Electoral College members act somewhat independently in their presidential voting. The second system was the party convention system during 1832-1900. Party nominees are chosen in national party conventions by delegates selected by state and local party organisations. Electoral College members cast their ballots for the popular-vote winner in their respective states. During 1904-1968 was the party convention, primary system in which the same as the party convention system except that a minority of national convention delegates are chosen through primary elections. The last system is from 1972 till now, which is the party primary, open caucus system. This system is still the same as the party convention system except that a majority of national convention delegates are chosen through primary elections.
Ever since election campaigns became increasingly intensive, candidates for nomination have no choice but to start early and run hard. The invisible primary is a period when no votes are casted and candidates try to demonstrate through their fundraising ability, poll standing, and debate performance that they are serious contenders for the nomination. Another key to success is momentum, which can be a strong showing in the early contests that contributes to voter support in subsequent ones.
The summertime national party conventions mark the end of the nominating campaign. The point of the convention is to bring together the delegates elected in the state caucuses and primaries who approve a party platform and formally nominate the party’s presidential and nice presidential candidates. The convention also serves as a time for the party to fix divisions created by nominating race and to persuade the party faithful to rally behind its presidential candidate. The vice presidential nominee is also chosen during the convention.
The most important parts of the general election campaign include money and media. The media is a good way to raise funds and organise. Television can be used to persuade undecided voters and the news can be used to make a candidate stronger in appearance.
The importance of electoral votes is magnified by the unit rule: all states except Maine and Nebraska grant all their electoral votes as a unit to the candidate who wins the state’s popular vote. For this reason, candidates will be focusing more on the populous states.
When Americans go to the polls on Election Day, they are not only voting for a president but also voting for a secretary of state, the director of the FBI, and other federal executives. Each of these is a presidential appointee and is an extension of the president’s authority. The vice president holds a separate elective office from the president but in practice is part of the presidential term. Traditionally the vice president did not have his own office, but after Jimmy Carter assumed presidency, he redefined the office by assigning important policy duties and relocating him to an office in the White House. The Executive Office of the President, created by Congress in 1939, has the duty to provide the president with the staff necessary to coordinate the activities of the executive branch. The White House Office serves the president most directly, consisting of the president’s personal assistants. The heads of the fifteen executive departments constitute the president’s cabinet. They are appointed by the president and subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Whenever the president directs attention to a particular issue, members of Congress will take notice so it is important for the two to work with each other. The president must respond to the Congress’s interests in order to get help. The president also needs a Congress filled with members of his own party to obtain majority support. Besides Congressional support, the president also needs public support. Presidential approval ratings are predictably high at the start of president’s time in office but as difficult issues and adverse developments cut away president’s public support, it is important that the president retain public backing.
The nineteenth-century conception of presidency was expressed in the Whig Theory, which holds that the presidency is a limited or constrained office whose occupant is empowered to act only within the confines of expressly granted constitutional authority. However, Theodore Roosevelt later embraced what is called the stewardship theory, which calls for a strong presidency that is limited not by what the Constitution allows but by what it prohibits. The stewardship theory hols that presidents are free to act as they choose, as long as they do not take actions denied by them (Open Door policy).
Up till now, there are a total of four selection systems used in the United States. The first is called the original during 1788-1828. In the system party nominees are chosen in congressional caucuses and Electoral College members act somewhat independently in their presidential voting. The second system was the party convention system during 1832-1900. Party nominees are chosen in national party conventions by delegates selected by state and local party organisations. Electoral College members cast their ballots for the popular-vote winner in their respective states. During 1904-1968 was the party convention, primary system in which the same as the party convention system except that a minority of national convention delegates are chosen through primary elections. The last system is from 1972 till now, which is the party primary, open caucus system. This system is still the same as the party convention system except that a majority of national convention delegates are chosen through primary elections.
Ever since election campaigns became increasingly intensive, candidates for nomination have no choice but to start early and run hard. The invisible primary is a period when no votes are casted and candidates try to demonstrate through their fundraising ability, poll standing, and debate performance that they are serious contenders for the nomination. Another key to success is momentum, which can be a strong showing in the early contests that contributes to voter support in subsequent ones.
The summertime national party conventions mark the end of the nominating campaign. The point of the convention is to bring together the delegates elected in the state caucuses and primaries who approve a party platform and formally nominate the party’s presidential and nice presidential candidates. The convention also serves as a time for the party to fix divisions created by nominating race and to persuade the party faithful to rally behind its presidential candidate. The vice presidential nominee is also chosen during the convention.
The most important parts of the general election campaign include money and media. The media is a good way to raise funds and organise. Television can be used to persuade undecided voters and the news can be used to make a candidate stronger in appearance.
The importance of electoral votes is magnified by the unit rule: all states except Maine and Nebraska grant all their electoral votes as a unit to the candidate who wins the state’s popular vote. For this reason, candidates will be focusing more on the populous states.
When Americans go to the polls on Election Day, they are not only voting for a president but also voting for a secretary of state, the director of the FBI, and other federal executives. Each of these is a presidential appointee and is an extension of the president’s authority. The vice president holds a separate elective office from the president but in practice is part of the presidential term. Traditionally the vice president did not have his own office, but after Jimmy Carter assumed presidency, he redefined the office by assigning important policy duties and relocating him to an office in the White House. The Executive Office of the President, created by Congress in 1939, has the duty to provide the president with the staff necessary to coordinate the activities of the executive branch. The White House Office serves the president most directly, consisting of the president’s personal assistants. The heads of the fifteen executive departments constitute the president’s cabinet. They are appointed by the president and subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Whenever the president directs attention to a particular issue, members of Congress will take notice so it is important for the two to work with each other. The president must respond to the Congress’s interests in order to get help. The president also needs a Congress filled with members of his own party to obtain majority support. Besides Congressional support, the president also needs public support. Presidential approval ratings are predictably high at the start of president’s time in office but as difficult issues and adverse developments cut away president’s public support, it is important that the president retain public backing.