Executive

Question 1

What are some of the Presidential powers that are in the constitution?

Answer 1

• Commander-in-chief of the armed forces
• Making treaties
• Appointing federal justices
• Signing or vetoing legislation

Question 2

Informal sources of power

Answer 2

• Electoral mandate
• National events
• Executive orders

Question 3

Relationship between the executive and congress

Answer 3

• Elections
• Separation of powers
• Divided government

Question 4

Relationship between the Executive and Supreme Court

Answer 4

• Appointments
• Judicial Review
• The Media

Question 5

Limitations on the President’s power

Answer 5

1) Presidential popularity
2) The election cycle
3) National events

Question 6

Informal sources of power, (Mandate?)

Answer 6

Electoral mandate (Obama won the 2008 election 52.9% while Trump won the election 46%-3 million fewer votes weaker mandate)

Question 7

Informal sources of power, (events?)

Answer 7

National events, president often gain large popularity after natural disasters and tragedies (George W.Bush, day after 9/11)

Question 8

Relationship between the executive and Congress, (elections?)

Answer 8

Elections (Congress has its own mandate from the people and has more frequent elections and must therefore look to its constituents as well as to the president) e.g. veto override of the 9/11 Victim’s Bill 2016 (allow families affected by the attacks to sue Saudi Arabia)

Question 9

Relationship between executive and Congress (branches?)

Answer 9

The separation of powers (the president is dependent on the congressional agreement for money, war, legislation-Trump failed to pass repeal and replace of Obama care)

Question 10

Relationship between executive and Congress (division?)

Answer 10

Divided government (the majority party in Congress may be different to the ones of the president straining the relationship) – Obama failing to get immigration reform through a divided Congress

Question 11

Relationship between executive and Supreme Court, (appointments?)

Answer 11

Appointments (the fortunate president may get a chance to shape the court with an appointment that reflects their own ideology) –Samuel Alito more conservative, appointed by George W Bush

Question 12

Relationship between executive and Supreme Court, (judicial review?)

Answer 12

Judicial review (as the final interpreter of the Constitution, the Supreme Court can thwart The president by ruling against him) - supreme Court struck down Obama’s DAPA executive order in Texas vs US

Question 13

Relationship between the executive and Supreme Court, (polarisation?)

Answer 13

In the media (justices have had an increasing tendency to speak out about political events, often causing political tension) – Justice Alito spoke out against the ruling in Snyder vs Phelps 2011

Question 14

Limitations on the presidents power (popularity?)

Answer 14

A president who experiences high popularity is more likely to be successful in his policy proposals than an unpopular president. If congressional politicians constituents support the president, then by supporting the president the politician is likely to also be more popular - coat tail effect.

Opposite is also true. 2014 campaign, Democrat Senator Mark Pryor highlighted the differences with Obama on gun control in order to appeal to his constituents

Question 15

Limitations on the president power (election cycle?)

Answer 15

Election cycle – fixed term elections, one eye on the election calendar.Midterm might deliver divided government

Question 16

Limitations on the presidents power (events?)

Answer 16

National events-reactions could have huge limiting effects on the president.

E.g. Sandy hook or natural disasters (Hurricane Maria) can not only knock the president popularity but it can derail the Legislative agenda

Question 17

What does the head of state mean?

Answer 17

The president is the representative of the USA to the world

Question 18

What roles does the head of state involve?

Answer 18

• Granting pardons
• Attending global summits (e.g. G7)
• Receiving and nominating ambassadors

Question 19

As the head of state how is the president best understood as?

Answer 19

A public figure. Meeting other leaders around the world and speaking for the USA

Question 20

What roles does the head of government involve?

Answer 20

• Signing, vetoing and executing legislation
• Appointing his Cabinet
• Delivering the State of Union address to Congress

Question 21

As the head of government how is the president best understood as?

Answer 21

A political figure. At the annual State of the Union address, the president outlines his legislative agenda for the coming year

Question 22

Informal sources of power, (Executive orders)?

Answer 22

These are directives to a department on how to carry out a law e.g. Trump using executive orders to restrict abortion, attack Obamacare

Question 23

Informal sources of power, (VP and Cabinet?)

Answer 23

Despite lacking constitutional power, Cabinet can lend the president power if they have popularity e.g. VP Biden popularity and connections were of huge importance to Obama’s foreign policy

Question 24

Explain an example of where there have been successful powers of persuasion?

Answer 24

• Obama campaigned on healthcare reform throughout 2008.
• Was able to get PPACA, (Obamacare) act passed in 2010
• Success was down to bipartisan appeals to Republicans. Democrats controlled both the House and Senate and wanted some of the popularity that Obama had gained for themselves

Question 25

Explain an example of where there have been unsuccessful powers of persuasion?

Answer 25

• Trump campaigned on repealing Obamacare
• His party won control of both Houses of Congress, yet ‘repeal and replace’ failed to pass into law
• Partly due to a lower electoral mandate, meaning Trump’s party had less reason to work with him so powers of persuasion were lower

Question 26

What does the Executive Office of the President (EXOP) consist of?

Answer 26

Those staff and bodies that immediately surround the president and which help him carry out his duties. Those are: National Security Council (NSC), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), White House Office (WHO)

Question 27

Explain the NSC and their importance?

Answer 27

• To coordinate military, foreign policy and security information and policy for the president
• Importance vaires on the president and whether they want to rely on the NSC, Defence or State Departments

Question 28

Explain the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and their importance?

Answer 28

• Advises the president onthe budget and oversees federal department spending
• Ensures that all presidential legislative initiatives are bugeted and fit onto the presidential policy goals

Question 29

Explain the White House Office (WHO) and their importance?

Answer 29

• Act as a link between president and Cabinet members and their departments
• Act on behalf of the president, giving interviews on his behalf, breifing the press and organising access to him

Question 30

What does the Head of Governement mean?

Answer 30

The president commands the executive branch and domestic politics