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Politics paper 3 > 3 US Presidency > Flashcards

3 US Presidency Flashcards

1
Q

What are the main sources of formal presidential power?

A
  1. Head of State

2. Head of government

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2
Q

What is a ‘head of state’?

A

The chief public representative of a country

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3
Q

What duties does a head of state have?

A

Diplomatic and ceremonial duties

Eg travelling to other countries to represent the US, receiving other heads of state

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4
Q

What powers are given to the president through being head of state?

A

None BUT does allow him to have huge authority to direct US policy on national and international affairs

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5
Q

Example of a President using head of state role after a disaster:

A

2012 Sandy Hook shootings that killed 26 people
Obama gave a public address and several speeches
Obama also created a gun violence task force and sent legislative proposals to Congress about gun control – failed
Obama resorted to executive orders

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6
Q

What section of the constitution states that ‘the Executive power shall be vested in the government’?

A

Article II Section I

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7
Q

Who is the President in control of as head of the executive?

A

Cabinet, cabinet departments and the EXOP

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8
Q

How many appointments does the president make as head of the executive?

A

Around 3000 appointments to federal posts

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9
Q

What are informal powers?

A

Powers of the president not listed in the Constitution but exercised anyway

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10
Q

Name the informal sources of presidential power:

A 
Electoral mandate
Executive orders
National events
The Cabinet
EXOP
Power of persuasion
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11
Q

Electoral mandate: what is it?

A

The permission granted to a political leader or winning party to govern and act on their behalf, effective for as long as the government is in power

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12
Q

Electoral mandate: when is policy success strongest?

A

In the first two years of the presidency when the electoral mandate is fresh

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13
Q

Electoral mandate: when is policy success strongest?

A

In the first two years of the presidency when the electoral mandate is fresh

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14
Q

Electoral mandate: what aids a presidency in overcoming the limits to a mandate?

A

If the President has a majority in Congress
Eg Obama from 2008-2014 controlled Congress and was able to achieve important policy goals such as budget stimulus, healthcare reform

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15
Q

Executive orders: what is it?

A

A direction to the federal bureaucracy on how the president would like a piece of legislation to be implemented – they’re an implied power

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16
Q

Executive orders: what are the limits?

A
  • President must show that their use is directing the executive branch in a manner that does not fall under the legislative role of Congress
  • Excessive use of executive orders can damage a president’s popularity and undermine their ability to make deals with Congress
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17
Q

Executive orders: how many did Trump issue in first 100 days

A

32 (Obama averaged 35 per year)

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18
Q

National events: how was Obamas policy influenced by national events?

A

The 2008 banking crisis and economic collapse meant Obama had to prioritise an economic stimulus package instead of his major healthcare reform

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19
Q

National events: Bush after 9/11

A

Bush’ power surged dramatically as the unity of public support increased
Allowed Republicans to take control of both Chambers of Congress in 2002 mid-terms

20
Q

The Cabinet: what does this include?

A

The Vice President, heads of 15 executive departments and Cabinet level officials eg chief of staff

21
Q

The Cabinet: why does it have limited power?

A

Few meetings per year
No national mandate
No constitutional status

22
Q

The Cabinet: where does the main influence lie?

A

With a few key cabinet members eg under Obama, John Kerry was secretary of state and worked closely with President to develop foreign policy

23
Q

The Cabinet: who is arguably the most important member of cabinet?

A

The VP eg Pence, Biden, Cheney all regarded as influential on President

24
Q

The Cabinet: example of President having control

A

In 2017, Trump issued his Muslim Travel Ban which resulted in hum dismissing cabinet member AG Sally Yates

25
Q

Power of persuasion: what is it?

A

The informal power of the president to use the prestige of their job and other bargaining methods to get people to do as they wish

26
Q

The Cabinet: which book outlines power of persuasion?

A

Neustadt’s book “Presidential Power” suggests that ‘presidential power is the power to persuade’

27
Q

Executive Office of the President: what does this include?

A

National Security Council, Office of Management and Budget, White House Office

28
Q

Executive Office of the President: what is it?

A

The general term for the presidential agencies and staff that provide advice and administrative support

29
Q

Executive Office of the President: when was the EXOP introduced?

A

In 1939 when the Brownlow Committee reported the president was seriously understaffed

30
Q

Executive Office of the President: how many people involved?

A

1800

31
Q

Executive Office of the President: what are the roles of the EXOP x5?

A
  1. Policy advice – OMB provides advice on the budget whilst NSC provides advice on national security
  2. Manage the president – the Chief of Staff manages the President’s schedule and decided what policy to prioritise (currently Ron Klain)
  3. Oversee departments – the OMB oversees and reviews the spending of all federal departments and agencies
  4. Relations with Congress – the Office of Legislative Affairs develops strategies to advance the president’s policy initiatives
  5. Specialist functions – some presidents create offices with a specific mandate for their interests
32
Q

Executive Office of the President: when was the NSC established?

A

1947 – beginning of the Cold War

33
Q

Executive Office of the President: what is the NSC?

A

The principal body advising the president on national security and foreign policy

34
Q

Executive Office of the President: what suggests a close relationship between NSC and president?

A
  • Proximity of NSC office to oval

- Daily briefings to the president

35
Q

Executive Office of the President: what was controversial about trumps appointment to the NSC?

A

It was highly politicised as Steve Bannon was appointed and was eventually removed
Bannon was Trumps former senior adviser and chief strategist

36
Q

Executive Office of the President: what is special about the OMB?

A
  • Largest office with 500 employees

- The only EXOP office which needs Senate confirmation

37
Q

Executive Office of the President: what are the 2 main functions of the OMB?

A
  • To advise the President on the allocation of funds for the annual budget
  • To oversee spending in all federal departments and agencies
38
Q

Executive Office of the President: who is in the White House Office?

A

Includes the President’s closest aides and advisers

39
Q

Executive Office of the President: who is head of the WHO?

A

Chief Of Staff – the presidents most important adviser – Ron Klain

40
Q

Separation of powers: how does it limit the president x3?

A
  1. The President and Congress have separate mandates – Congresspersons and Senators will vote according to constituencies views over the wishes of the president
  2. The president lacks patronage power – cannot demote or promote Congress
  3. Divided government – ensures compromise is inevitable
41
Q

Agenda-setting: is it Congress or the President with a stronger mandate to set national policy agenda?

A

The president – enhanced by radio and television

42
Q

Agenda-setting: what term describes the president as the dominant force in the legislative process?

A

“Chief legislator” – proven through veto, signing a bill, meeting with legislative body etc

43
Q

Agenda-setting: what counterpoint is there to the president being “chief legislator”?

A

Congress is the legislative body with a mandate of its own that can develop its own policy priorities

44
Q

Agenda-setting: example of president and Congress clashing

A

In 2010 Republicans took control of House which led to the new speaker John Boehner setting an alternative political agenda to the presidents

45
Q

What is the presidents only formal source of power regarding the SC?

A

Nominations when there is a vacant seat

46
Q

Why is the president’s ability to nominate a justice important?

A

It can alter the ideological balance of the Court

Eg trumps appointment of Amy Coney Barret made the court 6-3 conservative leaning

47
Q

What 4 factors affect presidential power:

A
  • Presidential popularity
  • Mid-terms
  • Presidential election cycle
  • Events

Politics paper 3 (7 decks)

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