What do presidents hope to accomplish with executive orders quizlet?

● The American public has rewarded presidents who "provided", or at least presided over, periods of peace and prosperity, and who displayed courage and leadership
● Presidents go to great lengths to win public support for themselves and their initiatives b/c they believe that public support is a strategic resource in winning support in Congress, in the bureaucracy, in diplomatic endeavors, as well as, occasionally, the courts. (i.e. Obamacare, U.S. citizens supported it)
● Public approval of the presidents is less shaped by charisma or election results than by the times, the economy, the context of the challenges presidents have to face, and their success in dealing strategically with such challenges. (i.e. citizens rallying behind George W. Bush after 9/11)
● A president can be popular and a splendid communicator yet also ineffective. What the public thinks about presidents is not always what historians and political biographers will conclude. Thus Kennedy, Reagan, and Clinton were often popular with the public yet are viewed as average or even "overrated" presidents by many students of the presidency
● Presidential leadership involves more than slavishly following public opinion; Americans expect presidents on occasion to rise above doing what might be conventionally popular in favor of doing the right thing- that is , to lead us, to educate us, and to bring out our better more idealistic selves. Thus, we may ask a president to serve or even pander to our short-term or selfish interests, yet we define leadership as more than this.

1. Party Orientation (2/3s Americans identify themselves Republican or Democrat)
2. Public-policy preferences

In addition:
Honesty, Integrity, Leadership strength, Consistency, governing ability, strong and decisive leader, good moral character, effective manager, a uniter, consistent policies, foreign policy experience, will pay attention to public opinion, faithful to spouse, lots of government experience, an inspiring speaker.

Moral character, family values, intelligence, honorable, trustworthy, Christian, Can listen, be representative of the people, vision for country, consensus-builder, bring the country together
Morality matters but not as much so. "The public may want its presidents to be of the highest character, yet a look at the private lives of our great presidents reveals plenty of personal foibles." (pg. 67) i.e. Cleveland v. Blaine

1. Vision - the most important power, highlighters of important issues, focus of media and public attention (think of Ronald Reagan)
2. Skill - political capital, taking advantage of circumstances, political experience, people skills, personality skills, self-knowledge, managerial skills, personal discipline.
a) Much of this depends on "window of opportunity"
3. Political Timing - getting a good start, popularity and public opinion, relations and # of president's party in congress, media relations, control of the agenda, and coalition and consensus building

In addition, because the president is increasingly "frustrated by congressional delays and nay-saying, presidents now look for ways to achieve their policy goals without going through the difficult and cumbersome legislative arena." (i.e. the use of unilateral powers to accelerate or slow the implementation of laws).

The fact that it takes a long time for the President to fill their cabinet has had an effect on this. The want of the President to micromanage a bit more also can affect their role as more administrative. The President can also use administrative tools to get around Congress to do what they want. Things such as: executive orders, executive agreements, national security agreements, reorganizations or restructurings, new personal decisions, recess appointments or firings, signing statements attached to their veto messages, presidential memorandums to agency heads, and presidential proclamations.

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