Political Science 3300, The American Presidency, March 19, 2012

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Personality, Character, and Skill 

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2. Different Backgrounds

 

 

3. Different States of health

 

 

 

4. Different Personalities

 

    "Active" versus "Passive" personalities

 

    "Negative" versus "Positive personalities

 

    Some other personality characteristics

 

    Assessing recent presidents

 

5. Differences in Character

 

    What is character?

 

    How do you know good character when you see it?

 

 

6. Different Skills

 

    Managerial Skills

 

    Political Skills

 

 

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The President and Congress

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1. Things the President Needs to Know About Congress

   

A.   Congress is essential for your success

It Controls Money & People

 

B.    Winning reelection and serving constituents is crucial for
  Congressional incumbents

 

C.    Members of Congress take a more short-term, parochial view than a president.

 

D.   Congress is hard to lead

 

    E. Congress expects the president to set the big agenda, including budgets ...
        but they'll make the final decisions themselves, thank you very much.

 

 

 

2. How Can You Get Congress to Cooperate with You?

    a. Help them win Reelection and Serve their Constituents

 

    b. Set the agenda

 

    c. Use the veto and the veto threat as needed

 

    d. Be popular

 

    e. Be from the same party the majorities represent

 

    f. Get some help from the leaders

 

 

3. Presidential Success in Congress: The Record

 

       Different ways to score presidential success