Last set of notes for this chapter!

The Executive Office and the Vice President

The OMB assists the president in – Preparing the annual budget– Clearing and coordinating department agency budgets – Supervising the administration of the federal budget

Director makes up federal budget that will be proposed by the president to Congress

Remember, all agencies must submit their proposed budget to the OMB for approval

The Office of Management and Budget:

Is a key link between the president’s key foreign and military advisers and president

Includes the – President– Vice President– Secretaries State and Defense – Plus other informal members

The National Security Council:

The president has created positions within the Executive Office that were focused on one special policy area

Most of them have been appointments that do not require Senate confirmation – Last as long as that president

With all of the councils, cabinet departments, or agencies, why does the president need someone else to oversee government activity? – Special expertise on that area, as well as the ability to coordinate the efforts of all

other government agencies, who have some authority on that issue

Policy Tsars:

Who do agencies have to submit their budget to?

The Office of Management and Budget

Individuals named to these positions are often well-regarded experts who can bring an outsider’s point of view

Examples include health care reform, climate change, and urban initiatives

Policy Tsars:

Only formal duty is to preside over the Senate, which is rarely necessary – Break ties

Vice presidents have traditionally been chosen by presidential nominees to – Balance the ticket to attract groups or voters or appease party factions

If you are running for president, it is a good idea to pick someone who has an opposite background of you– For example, if you are from the North, it could be a good idea to pick someone

from the South

The Vice President:

Also, it is a good idea to select a vice president that shores up an weaknesses you may have – For example, George W. Bush, who was subject to criticism for his lack of federal

government experience, chose Dick Cheney, a former member of Congress – Another example is Barack Obama’s selection of Joe Biden

Add experience of foreign policy

Strengthening the Ticket:

Traditionally, what type of vice presidents have been chosen by presidential nominees?

To balance the ticket to attract more voters and to appease party factions

VP’s job not particularly demanding

Typically, spend their time supporting the president’s activities

Some have had more influence – For example, Al Gore, Clinton’s VP, did much to strengthen the position by his

aggressive support for environmental protection policies on a global basis Also, he took a special interest in areas of emerging technology and lobbied Congress to

provide more subsidies to public schools for internet use

VP’s have been elected president

Supporting the President:

Eight vice president’s have become president because of the death of the president – John Tyler was the first– He took over for William Henry Harrison, who died after one month in office– Led to a debate

Should Tyler be a caretaker until a new president is elected or should he actually be president

He acted like the president

Since Tyler, VPs that take over the position of president assume presidential power

Presidential Succession:

Many presidents enter pact with VP, where VP can determine if the president is incapable of carrying out duties

Twenty-fifth Amendment– A 1967 amendment to the Constitution that establishes procedures for filling

presidential and vice presidential vacancies and makes provisions for presidential disability

Presidential Succession:

When John Tyler became president, what was an issue of debate for people?

Should he use presidential power or be a caretaker until a new president was elected

If the president feels that he or she cannot perform his or her duties, they must inform Congress in writing

The VP then serves as acting president until the president can resume normal duties

If president cannot communicate this matter, the majority of the cabinet and the VP can declare this fact to Congress

If dispute occurs over the return of the president’s ability, a 2/3 vote of Congress is required to decide whether the VP should continue or the whether the president shall resume normal duties

George W. Bush was the first president to formally invoke the Twenty-fifth Amendment – Just for 20 minutes

The Twenty-fifth Amendment:

Twenty-fifth Amendment also addresses this issue

“Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress”

This is exactly what happened, when Richard Nixon’s VP resigned – He appointed Gerald Ford

When Nixon resigned, Ford became president and he had a appoint a new VP– First time in the nation’s history that we had a president and vice president not elected to

those positions

When the Vice Presidency Becomes Vacant:

Presidential Succession:

If there is a dispute over the return of the president, what happens?

A 2/3 vote of Congress is required to decide whether the VP should continue or the whether the president shall resume normal duties