Chapter 6 Flashcards
Constitutional qualifications to become president
35 years old
natural born citizen
be a citizen for at least 14 years
youngest president
Teddy Roosevelt
informal qualifications of the president
- prior gov. experience (Governors/Senators)
- Male
- White
- Married/ straight
- education (ivy league)
- Christian/ Protestant
- Charisma
- Wealth
- Political Connections
- Republican or Democrat*
payment of president
- $400,000/ year
- $50,000/ year expense account
- use of White House- 132 room mansion
- cars, air force one, marine one
- camp david- mountain resort
- being the most powerful person on earth
overview of presidency’s
-1789-1st term (George Wash.)
-44 presidents served
-4 died in office of natural causes
=Harrison, Taylor, Harding, Roosevelt
-4 assassinated
=Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy
-1 resigned (nixon)
Presidential terms
- 4 year terms est. by const.
- no limit on # of terms, tradition was 2: held until FDR (4 times)(22nd amend. created limit)
what is the max number of years u can serve as a president `
10 years, if vice president becomes pres in the 2nd term
what presidents have called for 22nd amend. repeal/ why?
Truman, Eisenhower, Reagan have called for 22nd amendment repeal
- believe it is undemocratic and arbitrary
responsibilities of president
- chief of state; ceremonial head of gov.
- Chief executive; control executive power in U.S.
- manager of the economy; responsible for U.S. economy
- chief diplomat; Architect of U.S. foreign policy
- chief legislator; sets legislative agenda
- commander-in-chief; Leader of U.S. armed forces
- party leader; leader of their political party
- chief citizen; top representative of U.S. people
The vice president duties
preside over the senate
help decide if the president is disabled
often used as a political pawn to balance the ticket
presidential succession
officially set up by the president succession ACT OF 1947
1. vice pres
2. speaker of the house
3. president pro tempore
4. secretary of state
this set up is to separate power and avoid any political maneuvering, because they are not all the same political party
25th amendment
clarified cases involving presidential disability and VP vacancies
-VP and majority of the cabinet can declare president unfit (VP assumes power)
how has presidential power grown?
greatly, since the start of our country bc of:
- strong presidents (Lincoln, both Roosevelts)
- complexities of modern life; socio-economic concerns, industrialization, population boom
- advances in technology (especially military(nukes))
- growth of Mass Media and celebrity culture
what is Tafts interpretation of presidential power?
strict constructionalist- narrow interpretation of constitution
what is Roosevelts interpretation of presidential power?
loose constructionalist- broad interpretation of Constitution
what are the presidential powers executive powers?
-Ordinance Power
=power to give Executive Orders; command based on Constitutional or Congressional laws (effects congressman)
-Appointment Power
=to appoint executive officers and federal judges
-Removal Power
=To remove executive officers
-Executive Privilege
=Power to keep sensitive information private
=limited during Watergate scandal
Military powers
-can send military anywhere in the world and order strikes on enemies of the state
-limited by the war powers resolution (1973)
=president must notify Congress within 48 hours of military action
=Troops can only engage in combat for 60 days without Congressional approval
Diplomatic Powers
-Treaties
-executive agreements
-Power of Recognition
-Persona non grata
Methods used to ___
treaties
formal agreements between countries (approved by 2/3 Senate)
executive agreements
agreement between countries (no approval from congress)
Power of Recognition
officially recognizing foreign countries and their existence.
Persona non grata
an unwelcome person (used to describe unwelcome ambassadors)
Legislative Powers
recommend legislation -state of the union address actions on a bill -sign -veto -let pass -pocket veto
Judicial powers
clemency powers
- reprieve- delay in carrying out sentence
- pardon- legal forgiveness for a crime (pardoning nixon)
- Amnesty- pardon for many people (carter granting amnesty for Vietnam draft evaders
- Commute- shorten a sentence
clemency powers
mercy granted on offenders
chief of state
ceremonial head of gov
chief executive
control executive power in the US
manager of the economy
responsible for US economy
chief diplomat
architect of foreign affairs
chief legislator
sets legislative agenda
commander-in-chief
leader of US armed forces
party leader
leader of their political party
chief citizen
top representative of US people
removal power
you can remove people from office for a legitimate reason
chief administrator
same as manager of the economy
treaty power
power to make treaties, is checked by the senate
