3 US Presidency Flashcards by Mollie Beavan

What are the main sources of formal presidential power?

Head of State

2. Head of government

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What is a ‘head of state’?

The chief public representative of a country

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What duties does a head of state have?

Diplomatic and ceremonial duties

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

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

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

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

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

Article II Section I

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

Cabinet, cabinet departments and the EXOP

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

Around 3000 appointments to federal posts

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What are informal powers?

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

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Name the informal sources of presidential power:

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

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Electoral mandate: what is it?

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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Electoral mandate: when is policy success strongest?

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

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Electoral mandate: when is policy success strongest?

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

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

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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Executive orders: what is it?

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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Executive orders: what are the limits?

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

32 (Obama averaged 35 per year)

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

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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National events: Bush after 9/11

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

The Cabinet: what does this include?

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

The Cabinet: why does it have limited power?

Few meetings per year
No national mandate
No constitutional status

The Cabinet: where does the main influence lie?

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

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

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

The Cabinet: example of President having control

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

Power of persuasion: what is it?

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

The Cabinet: which book outlines power of persuasion?

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

Executive Office of the President: what does this include?

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

Executive Office of the President: what is it?

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

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

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

Executive Office of the President: how many people involved?

1800

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

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

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

1947 – beginning of the Cold War

Executive Office of the President: what is the NSC?

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

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

- Proximity of NSC office to oval | - Daily briefings to the president

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

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

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

- Largest office with 500 employees | - The only EXOP office which needs Senate confirmation

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

- To advise the President on the allocation of funds for the annual budget - To oversee spending in all federal departments and agencies

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

Includes the President’s closest aides and advisers

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

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

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

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

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

The president – enhanced by radio and television

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

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

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

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

Agenda-setting: example of president and Congress clashing

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

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

Nominations when there is a vacant seat

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

It can alter the ideological balance of the Court | Eg trumps appointment of Amy Coney Barret made the court 6-3 conservative leaning

What 4 factors affect presidential power:

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