Presedential Theories

Question 1

What is neustadt thesis called?

Answer 1

Personal ability

Question 2

What did Neustadt say about the presidents power?

Answer 2

“The power of a president is the power to persuade”

Question 3

What are the different ways a president can persuade?- Neustadt thesis

Answer 3

Electorate- personal charisma
Media
Congress- political bargaining
Own administration
World leaders- political bargaining

Question 4

What does Neustadt say about the qualities needed to be elected president?

Answer 4

The qualities required to be elected president are not these needed in office

Question 5

How does the state of the economy as a circumstance/ event affect presidential success?

Answer 5

State of economy is beyond preferential control, other factors create opportunities for success use of presidential power

Question 6

What other factors can affect presidential success?

Answer 6

War, terror attacks, political scandals and assassinations

Question 7

What quote describes the movement of power to a president?- circumstances/ events

Answer 7

“Power flows towards the president in times of crisis and away in times of peace”

Question 8

What was Schlesinger’s theory called?

Answer 8

The historical approach to congress/ the “imperial” presidency

Question 9

What did FDR create and what has congressional inertia allowed?- imperial presidency

Answer 9

FDR has created an era of modern presidency and different expectations of a president.
Congressional “inertia” has allowed an era of imperial presidents

Question 10

What did watergate do and create for presidents? - imperial presidency

Answer 10

Watergate exposed the constitutional dangers of this leading to congressional backlash in terms of checking executive power
Created an era of “impotent” presidents 1974- 2017

Question 11

What is Stoessinger’s theory called?

Answer 11

Presidential style

Question 12

What are the two Categories in the presedential style thesis and what do they mean?

Answer 12

Crusaders- conviction politics with reforming vision
Pragmatists- more likely to succeed and those focusing more on domestic policy

Question 13

What are some example presidents who are crusaders and pragmatists?

Answer 13

Pragmatists- JFK , Johnson, Clinton
Crusaders- Woodrow, Wilson, Nixon, Obama

Question 14

What are pragmatists?- stoessinger theory

Answer 14

Political realists who adjust to changing events

Question 15

What is the “Lowi” thesis called?

Answer 15

Interest group liberalism

Question 16

Who does the “Lowi” thesis say makes decisions at every level of the US?

Answer 16

Wealthy and powerful interest groups

Question 17

What does “Lowi” say about precedents who set themselves in opposition against those groups?

Answer 17

Likely to fail and face a hostile congress, media etc
Example- JFK, Obama, Nixon