1

Since1789,theUnitedStateshasoperatedasademocracy,meaningthatitabidesbya
systemofgovernmentinwhichpeoplevoteinfairandfrequentelectionsthatresultina
deliberateruleoflaw.Inorderforademocracytoworkeffectivelyandsuccessfully,the
Americanfoundingfathersbelievedintheideathatwhileahierarchicalstructureofsomesort
wouldhavetobemaintainedinordertooperateatefficientlevels,noindividualorgroupcould
possesstoomuchpower.So,thisnation,whichhasusedtheAmericanConstitutionforthepast
226years,operateswithasystemthatseparateshubsofpowerandpromoteschecksand
balances,throughadivisionofgovernmentintothreebranches:theExecutiveBranch,the
LegislativeBranch,whichisalsoreferredtoasCongress,andtheJudicialBranch.The
ExecutiveBranchcontainsthePresidentandtheBureaucracy.TheBureaucracyessentially
workstoenforcelawsCongresscreates.ThePresidenthastoapproveallthelawsbeforetheyare
formallypassed.ThePresidenthasawidevarietyofdutiesasthisnationsleaderandthe
ExecutiveBranchasawholehaspowerscrucialtothisnationssuccess,butstill,however,
struggleswithlimitationsofpower.ItisessentialforAmericancitizenstopossessknowledge
regardingtheExecutiveBranchasawhole.
ThePresidentoftheUnitedStatesisgranteduniqueleadershipabilitiesupontakingoath
intooffice.SoonafterWorldWarII,ClintonRossiter,aprofessorofpoliticalscienceatCornell
University,discussedthevarietyofleadershiprolestheAmericanPresidentisgiven.For
example,accordingtoRossiter,thePresidenthastheabilitytobethenationsleaderintheforces
ofpeaceandwar.Hewrote,Secrecy,dispatch,unity,continuity,andaccesstoinformationthe
ingredientsofsuccessfuldiplomacyarepropertiesofhisoffice,andCongress,needlesstoadd,
possessesnoneofthem.LeadershipinforeignaffairsflowstodayfromthePresident,oritdoes

notflowatall1 .ThismeansthatifthePresidentwantstomakeacertaintreatywithor
investigateanothernation,heisfreetodosowiththispowerastheleaderofforcesofpeaceand
war.WhileonlyCongresshastheabilitytoofficiallydeclarewaronothernations,thePresident
istheonewhotakesactionandmakesthedecisiononwhetherbattleisneeded,andifitis,how
itwillbeexecuted.Inlinewiththis,thePresident,asgrantedbytheUnitedStatesConstitution,
servesastheCommanderinChiefoftheArmyandNavyoftheUnitedStates2.
Furthermore,thePresident,accordingtoRossiter,istheleaderofCongress.The
complexityofproblemsit(Congress)isaskedtosolvebyapeoplewhostillassumeallproblems
hasmadeexternalleadershiparequisiteofeffectiveoperation.ThePresidentaloneisina
political,constitutional,andpracticalpositiontoprovidesuchleadership,andheistherefore
expected,withinthelimitsofpropriety,toguideCongressinmuchofitslawmakingactivity3.
AsaguideleadingCongress,thePresidentessentiallyhastheabilitytodecidewhatshould
andshouldnotbeupforavote.
AstheChiefDemocrat4,currentPresident,BarackObama,hasthejobofleadinghis
partytoacceptcertaindealsandtreatieshecommitsto.RossiteralsoarguedthatthePresidentof
theUnitedStatesistheleaderofpublicopinion,meaningthathehastherighttoleadandshape
thepublicsviewandperspective.

ClintonRossiter,ThePresidencyFocusofLeadershipin
AmericanGovernmentReadings
andCases
,ed.PeterWoll(Glenview:PearsonEducation,Inc.,2008),268.

PeterWoll,editor,TheUnitedStatesConstitutionin
AmericanGovernmentReadingsand
Cases
,(Glenview:PearsonEducation,Inc.,2008),407425.
3

ClintonRossiter,ThePresidencyFocusofLeadershipin
AmericanGovernmentReadings
andCases
,ed.PeterWoll(Glenview:PearsonEducation,Inc.,2008),269.

Ibid.,90.

AccordingtoRossiter,Heservesasthemoralspokesmanforall5.Asthemoral
spokesman,thePresidentisgiventherighttodecidewhatbills,treaties,andotherforeigndeals
areappropriateforthenationssuccess.Forexample,intheUnitedStatesrecentdealwithIran,
whichsparkedhugeamountofcontroversyacrossthenation,PresidentObama,whopushedthe
deal,hadtheabilitytodecideifthedealwasmoral,andifso,whetherornottopushit.
AnotherexampleofwhenthePresidenthastoactasthemoralspokesmanofthenationiswhen
heofferspresidentialpardons.Hehasthesoleabilitytodoso,becausehehastheabilityto
decideifaconvictedcriminalactedwithenoughmoralitytobeofficiallypardoned.
Finally,becauseofAmericaspowerasaglobalnation,thePresidentistheleaderoffree
nations.Hehastheabilitytoguideandshapetheviewsandactionsofdemocraciesaroundthe
world.BecausetheUnitedStatesistheworldsoldestconstitutionaldemocracy,andtoday
undoubtedlyremainsthemostpowerful,AmericascounterpartsinEurope,Asia,South
America,andAfricafrequentlylookuponitasaguidefortheiractionsbothdomesticallyand
internationally.InthecaseofIran,Obamawas,astheleaderoffreenations,giventherightto
decidewhetherornotliftingthetraderestrictionsonIranandcreatingapeacefultreatywith
themwasacceptableornot.
Oftentimes,thePresidentmakesunwarrantedandundesireddecisions,asonlyhehasthe
powertodo,asstatedbyRichardNeustadt,theSpecialAssistanttotheWhiteHouseunder
PresidentHarryTruman.NeustadtdiscussedhowtheactionsofthePresidentcanstirareaction
outofthemajorityofthespectatingandpoliticallyinvolvedcitizensalike.Forexample,
NeustadtbelievesthatthePresidentisrequiredtoattempttoimprovethefuture,andoftenhasto

Ibid.

dosoinwaysthemajorityofsocietymaycriticizeandfailtocomprehend.Whilemanymaybe
againstacertainactionofthePresident,heonlyemployswhathethinksisthebestforthe
nation.Furthermore,NeustadtarguedthatPresidentintheUnitedStatesisthefinaldecision
maker.Executiveofficialsneeddecisions,andpoliticalprotection,andarefereeforfights6 .
Also,whileCongresshastheabilitytomakelaws,thePresidentcanvetothemasfrequentlyas
hesodesires,givinghimtheabilitytodecidewhetherabillisactuallyconvertedintoalaw.
WhilepeoplemayarguethatCongresscanoverridesuchvetoes,thechanceofsuchanevent
actuallyhappeningisslim,becauseitrequirestwothirdsofCongresstoagreeagainstthe
President,whichishardtodoamongafairlydisunifiedgroupofpoliticians.ThePresidentofthe
UnitedStates,withalltheleadershiproles,abilities,andresponsibilitiesheisprovidedupon
takingovergiveshimlargeamountsofpower.
KnowledgeaboutthePresidentisessentialforordinaryAmericancitizens.
UnderstandingthespecificitiesofpresidentialdutieswillmakeAmericanscomprehendthe
seriousnessofthejobandallittakes.Thisknowledgecanpermitthisnationscitizenstohave
respectfortheirleaderasaresultofadeeperunderstandingofwhyhedoeswhathedoes.
Comprehensionofpresidentialdutieswillalsoincreasevoterparticipationifmoreindividuals
areawareofallthatthePresidentdoes,manywouldfeelmorecomfortabletobeabletomakean
informedandeducateddecisionaboutwhomtheyshouldvotefor.Notonlydoessuch
knowledgehavetheabilitytoincreaseparticipationforthosewhodontparticipatealready,it
canalsoallowindividualswhovote,butareuncertainofwhytheysupportacertaincandidate,to

RichardE.Neustadt,PresidentialPowerin
AmericanGovernmentReadingsandCases
,ed.
PeterWoll(Glenview:PearsonEducation,Inc.,2008),274.

havetheabilitytojustifytheirchoice.Itcanpermitthemtoknowthatthecandidatetheyelect
willbeableto,intheiropinion,fulfilltheroleofthePresidentbetterthanallofhisorher
opponents.Withoutsuchessentialknowledge,itwouldbenearlyimpossibleforcitizenstomake
educateddecisionsaboutwhotoelect.Notonlywouldthispreventvoterparticipation,butit
wouldresultincitizensmakingpoordecisionsaboutcandidates,whichwouldleadtoaPresident
beinginofficeforthewrongreasons.
InadditiontothePresident,therestoftheExecutiveBranchpossessesaconsiderable
amountpower,especiallywithoutthelimitationswithwhichtheLegislativeBranchstruggles.
WhiletheLegislativeBranchstruggleswiththefactthatitisdisjointedanditsmembers
disagree,aredisunitedintheiractionsandgoals,andcannotfollowthroughontheirlegislation,
theExecutiveBranch,andnamelytheBureaucracy,ismuchmoreefficient.Forexample,the
Bureaucracyisnotelected,andmorespecifically,Cabinetmembersarehandpickedbythe
President.ThePresidentsCabinetfunctionsasagroupofadvisorstothePresidentitsmembers
canrangefromknownprofessionalpoliticianstoexecutivestomiddleclasscitizens.Thislackof
electionsgrants,tothebureaucrats,powerandabilitythatismissingintheCongress,becauseits
membersarenotrequiredtodevotealargeportionoftheirtimeandeffortstoattempttoremain
inoffice,meaningcaseworkandporkbarrelling,alongwithreelectioncampaigns,donot
havetoexistintheirdaytodayjobstheycanfocusexclusivelyonspecifictasksandgoals,and
ensurenothingstandsinthewayofgettingthoseaccomplished.
Additionally,bureaucratsaremorefocusedthanmembersoftheLegislativeBranch.
WhileSenatorsandCongresspeopleareinvolvedintheirownstatesanddistricts,workon
nationallawandpolicy,andparticipateinavarietyofacommitteessimultaneously,most

bureaucratsworkwithasingleagencyordepartment,anddevotealloftheirtimetothat
organizationsmission.Forexample,ifacertainbureaucratworksfortheEnvironmental
ProtectionAgency(EPA),heorshewillonlyworktowardthecausesandgoalsoftheEPA,and
notbedistractedbyseveralothercommitments.ThissortofsystempermitstheBureaucracyto
accomplishmorethantheCongressdoes,becauseissuescanberesolvedinamuchfasterand
moreefficientmanner,whichthusprovidestheExecutiveBranchasawholewithmorepowerto
succeed.Furthermore,theBureaucracy,asseenthroughtheIronTriangle,enforcesthelawsthat
Congresscreates,givingthemtheultimatepowerastohowthelawsactuallyconnecttothe
people.Forexample,ifCongresscreatesalawthatmaybepassed,theBureaucracywould
enforceitthewayitseesfitandnotinthemannerthatCongressmayhaveintendedittobe
enforced,givingthemgreaterpoweroverlaws.TheBureaucracyisgivenafurtherboostof
powerwhenprovidedwithfundsbytheLegislativeBranchtoenforcelaws.
KnowledgeabouttheBureaucracyisalsocriticaltotheAmericanpeople.Oftentimes,people
confusetheBureaucracyandtheCongressasoneinthesame,andknowingthedistinction
betweenthetwowillallowcitizenstoparticipateinthegovernmenttoafurtherdegree.Ifpeople
understandthattheBureaucracyissomethingtheycannotchange,andthatitsindividualswill
enforcelawsinthemannertheyseefit,they,withsuchinformation,willknowtoapproach
Congressaboutrepealingorenactingcertainlawsiftheyarediscontent.Theywillknowthatin
orderfortheExecutiveBranchasawholetochange,theywouldhavetoelectadifferent
President.KnowingthattheBureaucracyrunsinstitutionsliketheEnvironmentalProtection
AgencyandtheDrugEnforcementAgencywillpermitindividualstoknowthatthese
organizationsareruninaccordancewiththebeliefsofthePresident.Thisisvaluableknowledge,

becauseitwillallowcitizenstoaccordinglyadjusttheirpresidentialvotesintohowtheydesire
theseorganizationstoberun.
WhiletheExecutiveBranchasawholeisextremelypowerful,itcertainlystruggleswith
itslimitations.Forexample,bureaucratslacktheabilitytoeasilyinteractwithcitizens.While
CongressmenandCongresswomendoahugeamountofcaseworkfortheirlocaldistricts,and
thusinteractwiththemregularly,bureaucratsandCabinetmembers,incomparison,rarely
interactwithordinarycitizensanywhere.Residentsinstatesanddistrictscanfairlyeasilyreach
theirlocalandstaterepresentativesthroughphones,letters,communitygatherings,meetings,
emails,andsocialmedia.Thisempowersthemtobeabletoprovidefeedbackandsuggest
legislationtotheCongressandSenate,whilebeingabletoengageinsuchcommunicationwith
theExecutiveBranchishighlydifficult,becauseitisonamuchlarger,nationalscale,and
cannotpossiblygetintouchwithevenafractionofthepeoplewhoattempttocommunicatewith
it.
Also,thePresidentislimitedinhispowerbecausehehastospendalargeamountofhis
timemakingsurethathisgovernmentissatisfied.Forexample,accordingtoJonathanRauchof
theBrookingsInstitute,thegovernmentcontainspoliticalrealismandbackscratchingtendencies
thatarenecessaryforthegovernmenttooperate.7ThePresident,thus,hastodevoteapartofhis
energytoensuringthatpeoplewhohaveworkedforhisinitiativesarepleasedandthatloyal

JonathanRauch,"PoliticalRealism:HowHacks,Machines,BigMoney,andBackroomDeals
CanStrengthenAmericanDemocracy."BrookingsInstitute.May1,2015.AccessedNovember12,2015.
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Reports/2015/04/politicalrealismrauch/politicalrealis
mrauch.pdf?la=en,11.

insiders8areprotected.Makingsurehispeoplewithinthegovernmentarecontentisalimitation
ofpower,becauseitreducesthePresidentsefficiencyasawhole.
ThePresidentadditionallystruggleswithbeingblamedforissuesthatarenothisfault.If
acontroversialincidenttakesplaceonalocal,oranationallevel,thePresidentfrequentlyneeds
tobearthebruntforsuchanissue.Forexample,ifaschoolshootingoccurred,thePresident
wouldoftengetattackedbyindividualsonbothsidesofthepoliticalspectrum.Therightwould
accusehimofattemptingtotightenguncontrolonindividualswhowouldneverbeinvolvedin
shootings,whiletheleftwouldaccusehimofbeingtoolenientonguncontrolpolicies,andthus
blamehimforsuchashooting.Thismaybebecauselargeportionsofsocietyfailto
acknowledgethatotherindividualsholdviewsopposingtheirown,andthatthePresidentis
requiredtotakeeveryonesviewsintoaccountbeforecomingtoadecision.IfthePresidentwere
toembracestrictergunpolicyandcontrol,alargenumberofconservativeswouldbecome
enraged.Ifheweretotakeonamoreconservativestandpointonlimitingrestrictionsand
regulationsongunpurchases,liberalswouldprotest.Thisconstant,unwarrantedblameislikely
whathasresultedin,accordingtoaGallupPoll,alowerthan50percentapprovalratingforthe
AmericanPresidentforamajorityofthisnationshistory9.Furthermore,citizensareunaware
thatthePresidentisnottheonemakingallofthesedecisions,buttheentiregovernment,
includingthebipartisanCongress,ishugelyinvolved.ThePresidentandExecutiveBranchasa
whole,whilebeingundoubtedlythemostpowerfulbranchofAmericangovernment,still
strugglewithunapproachability,politicalrealism,andchronicblame.

Ibid.

PresidentialApprovalRatingsBarackObama.
Gallup.Com
.AccessedNovember30,2015.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/116479/barackobamapresidentialjobapproval.aspx.

Knowingthatthebranchisntperfectiscrucialknowledgeforordinarycitizens.
Understandingtheflawsinthesystemalongwithitslimitationsisofimportancebecauseitwill
allowcitizenstorealizethatthispowerfulbranchofgovernment,likeeverythingelseinthe
world,isimperfect.ComprehendingthishumanlikequalityoftheExecutiveBranchwilllead
citizenstofeeladeeperconnectiontoit.Knowledgeoftheselimitationswillalsofosterin
citizenstheunderstandingthatsomeincidentsandtheirconsequencesareoutofthecontrolof
thisnationspowerhouse,whichcanreallyenablemoremeaningfulcomprehensionofthe
governmentasawholeasaresultoftheeliminationofunnecessarycynicism.Newfound
positivityregardingthegovernmentcanbeinstrumentalinfurthercivicengagementand
participation.KnowledgeaboutthePresidentslimitationswillalsoallowAmericanstostop
unnecessarilyblamingthePresidentforalltheirproblems,andallow,forthemostpart,only
constructivefeedbacktotakeplace,andthiscan,withoutadoubt,increasethePresidentslow
approvalratings.
KnowledgeabouttheExecutiveBranchcanbeprovidedtocitizensinavarietyofways.
Thenationsyoungerpopulationcanbeeducatedaboutthissectionoftheirgovernmentthrough
mandatorycivicsclassesandexaminations.Acivicssectioncouldbeaddedintoalready
establishedstatelevelstandardizedtests,toensurethatpublicschoolsareinstitutingintheir
studentsimportantknowledgeregardingtheirgovernment.Civicstestscanalsobemade
mandatoryinorderforstudentstograduatehighschool.Itisimportant,however,thatthesetests
consistofrelevantinformation,andnottrivialknowledgethatwouldnotfathomadeeper
understandingofandparticipationinthegovernment.Foradultsintodayssociety,socialmedia
couldbeinstrumentalinpassingonsuchknowledge.Peopleinthegovernmentcouldutilize

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FacebookandTwittertoconveyimportantfactsregardingtheirjobsinordertogarneradeeper
levelofawarenessamongcitizens.Also,whenpeoplegotovoteforthePresidentofthis
country,theycanbeprovidedwithpamphlets,brochures,andinfographicsthatattractively
portrayessentialknowledgeaboutthePresident,alongwiththeentireExecutiveBranch,before
theygointovotingboothsandchooseacandidatetoleadtheminaneducatedmanner.
Civicparticipationandengagementareimportantforademocracytoflourish,becausea
governmentbythepeopleandforthepeoplereallyrequirespeople.Forpeopletoeffectively
participateandseethechangetheywantinthisgovernment,knowledgeregardingitspower,
abilities,duties,andlimitationsistrulyessential.

11

WorksCited:
ClintonRossiter,ThePresidencyFocusofLeadershipin
AmericanGovernmentReadingsand
Cases
,ed.PeterWoll(Glenview:PearsonEducation,Inc.,2008),267272.
JonathanRauch,"PoliticalRealism:HowHacks,Machines,BigMoney,andBackroomDeals
CanStrengthenAmericanDemocracy."BrookingsInstitute.May1,2015.Accessed
November12,2015.
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Reports/2015/04/politicalrealismrau
ch/politicalrealismrauch.pdf?la=en.
PeterWoll,editor,TheUnitedStatesConstitutionin
AmericanGovernmentReadingsand
Cases
,(Glenview:PearsonEducation,Inc.,2008),407425.
"PresidentialApprovalRatingsBarackObama."Gallup.com.November13,2015.Accessed
November15,2015.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/116479/barackobamapresidentialjobapproval.aspx.
RichardE.Neustadt,PresidentialPowerin
AmericanGovernmentReadingsandCases
,ed.
PeterWoll(Glenview:PearsonEducation,Inc.,2008),272276.