EXOP Flashcards
exop meaning
EXOP mostly contains expert advisers and other direct
assistants, in some ways similar to the UK Prime
Minister’s special advisers
What is the difference between the cabinet and EXOP?
- Cabinet members are (largely) heads of government
departments; their main role is to carry policies out,
make sure policies actually get implemented. EXOP’s role
is purely helping the president take decisions, by giving
advice and managing his day to day schedule. - Cabinet members are formally appointed by the President and confirmed or rejected by the Senate (advice and consent). Members of EXOP fall outside the advice and
consent powers of Congress; the President can simply
appoint whoever he wants without Congress having a
say.
how many people work in EXOP
3000
The most important is the
Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff duties:
Co-ordinates the activities of all EXOP offices
Manages the President’s schedule
Co-ordinate communication between the President and
the cabinet, and with Congress
Manage information given to the President
Act as political adviser to the President
The Chief of Staff has been described as
‘Gatekeeper’
or
‘Power behind the throne’
A number of Trump’s EXOP appointments were very
controversial. How has he been able to do so?
EXOP appointments don’t have to be
confirmed by the Senate!
The President can appoint who he wants Bolton’s most powerful impact on U.S. politics is the oldest and least-known: his role as a baby right-wing lawyer destroying post-Watergate campaign finance reforms. - John Bolton - national security adviser
What makes EXOP a significant resource for the President?
Proximity
Growth in Size
No Senate confirmations
proximity
Executive Office staff are closer to the president
Physically: work in the White House, or buildings next
door
Ideologically: Trump picked right-wing populist
hard-liners as EXOP members. Steve Bannon was a well known right wing populist, ideologically close to
Trump’s right-wing populism. Evaluation:
Chiefs of staff come and go more often than cabinet
members. Obama has had 5 Chiefs of Staff in 5 years.
Trump 4 in 4 years (and 7 communication directors!)
Growth in size
Created in 1930s under Franklin D Roosevelt
Now grown to more than 3,000 employees
Budget of $700 million (and remember, this is just for advice to the President, no delivery of public services!)
Evaluation:
This growth is combined with a reduced importance of the cabinet (fewer full cabinet meetings)
No Senate confirmations
Cabinet members need to be approved by the Senate
EXOP members don’t. That means the president can appoint who he really wants.
John Bolton was blocked as Bush cabinet appointment and would likely have been blocked by the Senate as Trump appointment, but no obstacles against appointing him as National Security Adviser
Evaluation:
This means that through EXOP the president has a rare opportunity to avoid the checks and balances that so limit his powers
personalities and views
In the end, much depends on the personalities involved
An influential cabinet member can overshadow a less experienced EXOP staff member, and vice versa
George W. Bush received much advise from both his advisers (Condoleezza Rice) and cabinet (Dick Cheney); his more dovish Secretary of State Colin Powell had little influence
Trump has ignored advice from both EXOP and cabinet on Iran deal
who is more influential
A few evaluative points:
A lot depends on specific personalities involved
There are also specific trends
Trend: cabinet vs. EXOP
Over the past decades the cabinet has become less influential on the president, and EXOP more.
Presidents want to keep control, and that is easier with EXOP than cabinet members
Increasing importance of the media, and presidents’ attempts to ‘spin’ information
eduction of cabinet meetings per year: Reagan (12-36), George W. Bush (4-9), Obama (3-4), Trump (2-3)
Increase in EXOP personnel: ca. 1,800 under George W. Bush to 3,000 under Trump
Cabinet vs. EXOP rivalry hurts President
Distrust and rivalry between Cabinet members and EXOP staff is unproductive for the President
He wants everyone to be motivated to work together
Cabinet – EXOP rivalry seems to have been a cause of the chaotic implementation of Trump’s travel ban executive order in 2017, and many of his advisers leaving
