PLSC 2003 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Agreement, North American Free Trade Agreement

• School: University of Arkansas
• Department: Political Science
• Course: PLSC 2003
• Professor: Hamilton

Document Summary

Great success in congress: immediately after inauguration & peak of popu- larity. Success measured by how often president wins roll call votes. President only elected official charged w. representing all the ppl. Candidate try to win votes from different groups through stand on issues. Presidents make a majoritarian interpretation of electoral process. Whether president is member of dominant party. Whether public policies and political philosophy associated w. his party have widespread support. Greater opportunity to change public policy when he is in the majority. Presidents differ greatly in views of the role of gov"t. Johnson: gov"t has responsibility to help disadvantaged. Reagan: emphasized freedom, did not acknowledge justice/ equality. President"s legislative leadership a 20c phenomenon (franklin roosevelt) presidents in tv show > stars rather than politicians. Party leader: informal duty of presidency, president & congressional leaders may have differing viewpoints, presidents focus more on party leadership than bridging difference btw parties, president: fundraiser in chief for party.