Chapter 12: The Presidency

Question 1

electoral college

Answer 1

• consists of 538 electors
• number of house + senate (DC gets 3)
• political parties nominate elector sin sac state
• most states winner-take-all (not ME or NE; go by district)
• president needs 270 votes

Question 2

tie in electoral college

Answer 2

house: president
senate: vice president

Question 3

old system

Answer 3

majority got president, second largest would be vp

Question 4

faithless electors

Answer 4

members of one party, but vote against party’s wishes

Question 5

vesting clause

Answer 5

head of government & head of state

Question 6

head of government

Answer 6

legislative processes

Question 7

head of state

Answer 7

host foreign leaders, symbol, “mascot”

Question 8

appointments

Answer 8

president appoints around 8,000 people (senate has to approve around 1,200)

Question 9

executive orders

Answer 9

president can also issue proclamations that unilaterally change gov policy w/o subsequent congressional consent

Question 10

commander in chief

Answer 10

commander in chief of america’s military forces, but congress has the power to declare war

Question 11

treaty making

Answer 11

president can negotiate treaties w/ foreign nations, but ultimately have to be approved by the senate (2/3)

Question 12

state of the union

Answer 12

annual speech in which president addresses congress on the state of the country is often used by presidents to recommend policies

Question 13

veto

Answer 13

veto threats allow president to specify what kinds of proposals they are willing to accept

Question 14

executive privilege

Answer 14

ability of presidents to shield themselves and their subordinates form revealing white house discussions, decisions, or documents to members of the legislative and judicial branches

Question 15

power to persuade

Answer 15

most of a presidents ability to shape gov policy depends on their power to persuade

Question 16

positivity bias

Answer 16

some americans tend to expect positive relationships, so have favorable opinions of president

Question 17

things that affect public approval of president:

Answer 17

party identification
positivity bias
personality
rally events (international involving US)
economy
going pubic

Question 18

executive office of the president

Answer 18

one of the most important EOP duties is helping the president achieve their policy goals and get reelected

Question 19

west wing

Answer 19

most important staff members are president’s chief of staff, personal secretary, press secretary, and other senior advisors

Question 20

vice president

Answer 20

event though the vp has formal powers, more anymore the vp has become unimportant senior advisor and trusted confidant of the prez

Question 21

cabinet

Answer 21

composed of the heads of the 15 executive departments, along w/ other appointees given cabinet rank by the president

Question 22

Moe and Howell

Answer 22

argue that constitutional ambiguities have allowed presidents to take unilateral action

Question 23

unitary and executive theory

Answer 23

vesting clause gives president authority to issue orders and policy directives that cannot be undone by congress

Question 24

MS: The War Powers of Resolution of 1973

Answer 24

1. the president is required to report to congress any intro of us forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities
2. the use of force must be terminated w/in 60 days unless congress approves of the deployment, time limit can be extended to 90 days
3. the president is required whenever possible to consult w/ congress before introducing american forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities
4. any congressional resolution authorizing the continued deployment of american forces will be considered under expedited procedures