Saturday, March 21, 2020

Presidential Powers Essays - Commanders In Chief,

Presidential Powers In every government there is a ceremonial head of the government who is the symbol of all the people in the nation. As Howard Taft put it, "The personal embodiment and representative of their dignity and majesty" (McClenaghan, pg. 316). That person is the Chief of State or more commonly known as the President. One of the main factors that cause the presidents to be viewed as a symbol of the American community is the president's ceremonial duties which are named in the Constitution. The Constitution states several ceremonial duties that the presidents are "obliged" to perform. They are required to take an oath of office, periodically inform Congress of the State of Union, negotiate with foreign powers, and receive "Ambassadors and other Public Ministers". "These Constitutional ceremonial duties supported the assumption of the Chief of State role by George Washington and his successors because they made the president appear as the leader of the entire nation"(The Presidents A-Z, Pg. 68). Castro 2 Both, the Oath of Office ceremony, the Inauguration, and the State of Union address physically place the President out in front of other government officials. Also, the President's duty to receive Ambassadors shows that foreign governments view and regard the president as the official representative of the United States, and since the rest of the world sees our president as being the Chief of State, then the "domestic responsibilities of the Chief of State could not be assumed more gracefully than anyone but the President" (The Presidents A-Z, pg. 69). In the 18th century, when the Framers designed the U.S. president's job, monarchy was the style of government throughout most of the world. But, since they wanted to avoid any suggestion of a monarchy, the Framers of the constitution made the Chief of State the Chief Executive as well. They called this person the President. But, like monarchs, the U.S. Presidents are the living symbol of the nation. They symbolize the country's history, liberty and strength. The President can appoint ceremonial representatives, but while they are still in office they cannot escape their role as Chief of State. At every moment they represent the United States at home and overseas. Castro 3 When the President, or shall I say "the Chief of state, is not occupied with functions that pertain to government he would attend and participate in such as lighting the national Christmas tree, deliver a patriotic address during the Fourth of July, lay a wreath on the graves of soldiers that died for their country (such as the Tomb of the Unknowns) on Memorial day, lead us special holidays (such as Thanksgiving, bless fund raising drives, and on numerous occasions in the past he would throw the first ball to open the baseball season in the Spring. Many of these functions mean something and are significant especially when the President is involved. "But consequently, the duties of the Chief of State are seldom described as a power and are sometimes denounced as a waste of the President's time." (The Presidency, Pg. 69) Although the President's right to dedicate a monument or congratulate an astronaut may mean little, The symbolism that the action portrays clearly "enhances presidential authority, legitimizes and maximizes other presidential powers, and secures his position as Chief of State." (The Presidency, Pg. 69) " "As political scientist Clinton Castro 4 Rossiter explained "No president can fail to realize that all his powers are invigorated, indeed are given a new dimension of authority, because he is the symbol of our sovereignty, continuity, and grandeur." The presidency is therefore elevated above other offices and institutions not just by its legal authority, but also by its symbolic and historic mystique." (The Presidency, Pg.69) The position of the President as the Chief of State is defined by the Constitutional provisions which are the source of some of the most important power the President can use. The parts covered by these provisions are classified as Military, Judicial, and Diplomatic. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, provides for the power as "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States and of the Militia of the several states, when called into actual Service of the United States". (U.S. Constitution) The position of the Commander in Chief makes the President the highest Military officer in the United States, with control over the entire Military establishment. Although, that does not mean that he is always doing something involving Military or Naval actions every minute. He leaves the smaller jobs up to the generals Castro 5 of the Army

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Make your job less annoying tips from Googles former head of HR

Make your job less annoying tips from Googles former head of HR Those of us who have been in the workforce for a while have all come to one inevitable, unavoidable conclusion- no job is perfect. No matter how much- or how little- we like our current positions and workplaces, there are undoubtedly a few things (or many things) that we simply wish were different, and somehow less aggravating and frustrating. And the more time we spend at a job, the more every little minor issue or hassle begins to feel like a monumentally annoying pain that we just can’t seem to avoid or escape. Does all of this mean that each of us is doomed to have to endure every single exasperating and irksome thing about our jobs and simply accept that fact that they suck? Not exactly. In fact, there are some real strategies that you can deploy to make your job more bearable. In fact, Google’s former SVP of People Operations, Laszlo Bock, recently acknowledged at an SHRM Conference that although work can sometimes be a drag no matter what job or industry you†™re employed in, there are ways to effect positive and lasting change.Consider using the following strategies in an effort to make your work life a little less lame.Try to ensure your job has meaning for you.Sure, your job already means a paycheck and a place to keep you busy and occupied during your work shifts, but if you want your job not to suck (and better still, if you want to actually look forward to the idea of working) you should try to find new and improved meaning in your work. Step back and think about your job from a fresh perspective.Ask yourself the following questions: Are there elements of your job that you’re particularly proud of, no matter how small? Do you do anything that helps others? Do you contribute to your greater community? Try to find new meaning and purpose in your work, and it’ll help refresh and renew your attitude and enthusiasm for your job.Seek out fulfilling work relationships.For most of us, we interact with the people we work wit h, as much as- or even more than- our friends and family, so it’s hard to ignore the fact that these folks are a significant part of our lives. Therefore, your attitude toward your workplace can be greatly affected by your relationships with your colleagues. If you have satisfying and enjoyable connections with your professional peers, chances are you’ll look forward to coming into work and interacting with them each day- whether on projects or at the water cooler.Conversely, if your relationships with your colleagues is nonexistent, lackluster, or worse, you’ll likely dread having to come into work to interact with them all day. The truth is, very few of us work completely alone, so make an effort to get along with your coworkers and you’ll help ensure that you’ll have an enjoyable and pleasant workplace to go to every day.Plan for the future.No one likes to feel that they’re facing a dead end- in life or in work. We should always approach our professional lives as a never-ending journey, not a single destination. If you make it a point to always have a plan for career growth, learning new skills, and expanding your professional horizons, you’ll be able to avoid burnout and resist the static and stuck feelings that make most of us begin to hate our jobs over time.Consider developing short-term (one year) and long-term (five years) plans for professional growth, and it will provide you with a roadmap for exciting personal exploration, confronting new challenges, and reaching new levels of success.If your work life is less than satisfying, use the strategies provided here to turn things around and discover new meaning and purpose in your work. It’s important to both you and your organization that you stay engaged in the long run. The key is to make the best of the situation you’re in- create an environment in which you can thrive and hold on to the skills you’re acquiring to make you a produc tive member of your chosen field.