Chapters 13, 14 Flashcards
Chief of State
Ceremonial head; symbol of all people of the nation (awarding medals, dedicating parks, natural disasters and tragedies)
Chief Executive
Vested by the Constitution with executive power (enforce laws, appointment, organize executive departments)
Chief Administer
Director of the Federal Government that employs 2.7 million people and uses over $2 trillion a year (oversee everyday operation, directs through cabinet heads)
Chief Diplomat
Our chief spokesperson to the world (foreign policy, treaties, executive agreements, through diplomatic staff and ambassadors)
Commander in Chief
Of our armed forces (War Powers Act, national emergencies)
Chief Legislator
Usually shapes our congressional agenda (State of the Union, vetoes, special session of congress)
Chief of Party
Head of the party that holds the executive branch (appointments, patronage, campaign fundraising, assistance to other party office holders)
Chief Citizen
Representative of all the people
Chief Judiciary
President had the power to pardon, reprieve, commute or issues clemency to any prisoner
What are the three formal qualifications to be president?
Natural born citizen, 35 years old, lived in the US for 14 years
What did the 22th amendment do?
Only two terms or 10 years in office
How much is the president paid, how much does he get for expenses and what is his/her other main benefit?
$400,000 salary $50,000 a year expenses, the 138 room mansion of the White House
Disability
Temporary shift of power in sickness/surgery/etc
What are the two main powers of the VP?
Preside over the Senate, help decide the question of presidential disability
Why are VPs chosen?
To “balance the ticket”
What happens in the case of VP vacancy?
The president will nominate a new VP to be confirmed by both houses of Congress
What is the procedure to select delegates?
Each state has their own (federalism!)
What are the three goals for the national convention?
Name the candidates, bring the leading personalities of the party together, adopt the party’s platform
What is a party’s platform?
Its formal statement of the basic principles, stances on policy matters, and objectives for the campaign and beyond
What happens in the first two days of the national convention?
Keynote address
What happens in the last two days of the national convention?
Nominate the president
What was the framers first plan for the electoral college?
The President and VP were chosen by a special body of presidential electors that would cast 2 electoral votes each for a different candidate
Why did the rise of political parties mess up the framers plan for the electoral college?
The president and VP could be from different parties
When do the electors meet to vote?
Monday after the second Wednesday in December
How do modern electors vote?
Two different ballots for president and VP, sealed and sent by mail to the president of the senate
What are the three biggest flaws in the electoral college?
The winner of the popular vote may not be president, electors are not required to vote with the popular vote, a tie will be decided in the House
What is the district plan?
Electors would be chosen in each state in the same manner as members of congress
What is the proportional plan?
Each presidential candidate would receive the same share of a state’s electoral vote as he/she received in the state’s popular vote
What is the National bonus plan?
The winner of the popular vote would receive a bonus of 102 electoral votes in addition to the regular votes, if nobody got at least 321 votes, a run-off election would be held
Why has the presidents power grown so much?
Article 2 is very loosely written
What is the ordinance power?
Power of the President to issue executive orders (regulation that has the same effect as law)
What is a treaty?
A formal agreement between 2 or more states
What is a executive agreement?
A pact
Recognition
Of other countries (Canadians from Canada)
What is the War Powers Act of 1973 and what are its 3 parts?
Places limits on the President’s war-making power (Report within 2 days of sending troops, combat ends after 60 days unless Congress says it is ok, concurrent resolution by congress can end war at any time)
Clemency
(Mercy, leniency) to be used only in cases of federal offenses
Reprieve
Postponement of the execution of a sentence
Pardon
Legal forgiveness of a crime
Amnesty
Blanket pardon offered to a group of law violators
Commutation
Reduce the length of a sentence
