Ch 13 U.S. Presidency Flashcards
The Fickle American Public
what do the ppl want in a president? def?
We want the right balance of SOCRATIC & decisive (leadership)
-socratic: don’t believe they all have the right answers & seek answers from the right ppl
The Fickle American Public
American Ideal President (8 characteristics)
American Ideal President: Straight, God-fearing, highly educated, good-looking, personable, experienced, white*, middle-aged family man
The office of the President
Qualifications (3)?
Qualifications: -natural born citizen of U.S.
- 35 yrs old
- resident of U.S. for at least 14 yrs
The office of the President
term of office is how long? what amendment established this?
term of office: 4yrs ; 2x (2 terms a piece)
-22nd amendment (established can only be elected 2 terms)
Presidential Power (book) types? (3)
Formal: Constitutional (anybody who becomes pres is given certain powers)
Professional Reputation (pres. ability to persuade ppl within Washington)
Prestige (how well pres brought message to American ppl & got them to sign on & follow/support them)
Powers of President (6)
Commander-in-chief (prosecute war, not declare it) Veto Appointment Convene Congress Make treaties Pardon
Constraints on Pres (6)
Constitution: balance of power/federalism (share power w/ states, checks and balances)
Elections
Global events
Public opinion (if pres=not popular, less likely)
Bureaucracy
(First lady?)(say leave personal life out of presidency, cant)
Constraints on Pres: Elections
each year?
(reelection also important like Congress)
-cycles (forgiving & popular during 1st term usually)
(2nd yr, Congress runs reelection (midterm) & loses seats)
(4th, need to demonstrate for reelection)
(5th, ego)
(6th, Congress midterm)
(7th & 8th, “lame duck” running out term, no leverage)
Constraints on Pres: Global Events
Exs?
ex: hostage taking ‘79 Carter held accountable
ex: Bush made presidency 9/11
Constraints on Pres: Bureaucracy
what is it? ex?
category of gov that works for exec. branch
ex: Congress works for pres
Development of Presidential Power ppl involved (6)
Washington: defining powers (set the stage)
Jackson: national leader, spoils system (kicked everyone out, brought in own ppl)
Lincoln: war/emergency actions (illegal to preserve union (war power))(Civil War)
T. Roosevelt & Wilson: budgeting&bureaucratic (increased domestic interest)
(FDR->high turn about for zero sum equation)
Power executives
who? what do they have in common? thus, this means..?
lincoln, wilson, fdr, nixon, bush41&43
all prosecuted a war
thus, presidency gains power most during times of national crisis (natural to go to exec., 0 sum equation)
War Powers Act, 1973 (how pres. would be constrained during possibility of war)
days?
30 days to respond to hot-spot (w/o Congress)
30 days for Congress to debate & approve or disapprove
30 days to withdraw troops (if disapproved)
War Powers Act, 1973: reality?
president has 90 days to conduct a war
(act=don’t know if constitutional bc it’s not really an amendment but dealing w/ constitution & hasn’t been used yet)
More power? in what forms (4)?
signing statements
executive orders
Czars
Trickery
