cabinet

Question 1

what does the senate have to do regarding cabinet members

Answer 1

• must confirm them with a simple majority, easy to do at start of the presidents term when they will likely also have a majority in congress
• Loretta Lynch –>Obama’s pick for AG was questioned for 165 hours

Question 2

how many meetings did Obama have in his first and second term

Answer 2

• 16 in his first term and 12 in his second

Question 3

benefits of cabinet

Answer 3

• membership + expertise in areas the president may not be familiar with
• team spirit
• helps the president appear consultative and collegial
• exchanging info
• policy debate
• president can present the big picture items
• monitering congress
• promoting action
• symbolic
• resolving disputes

Question 4

cons of cabinet

Answer 4

• no IMR or CMR conventions so can be kicked off
• do not meet frequently enough so cannot be effectively debating
• focussed on picking on people for image rather than their ability –> Trump with his loyalist picksw

Question 5

what is power of persuasion

Answer 5

the power of the president to bargain and persuade those around them in order to achieve their policy goals

Question 6

4 methods president can use to employ their powers of persuasion

Answer 6

• can appeal directly + morally to congress via the media
• using the White House as a stage/bully pulpit –> Obama and the white house as a background following San Bernardino
• using their own personal gravitas and talking with leaders directly –> Obama and the passing of Obamacare
• short election cycle so can offer indictments to congressmen