Executive Flashcards
Which article in the Constitution outlines the powers of the President?
article II
list the formal powers of the president
- may recommend laws
- appoints ambassadors & judges
- may convene or adjourn congress
- approves or vetos bills
- pocket veto
- signing statements
informal powers of the president
definition: powers interpretedd to be inherent in the office to achieve policy goals
- bargain with and persuade lawmakers
- threaten a veto before a bill is final
presidential roles
- head of party
- chief of state
- commander in chief
- chief diplomat
head of party
as the most recognized democrat or republican in the country, the president is the de facto face of the party
chief of state
the president acts as the public face of the country and the chief ambassador
commander in chief
the president has control of the military
- the president may act quickly before congress officially approves a declaration of war
- recently, a “theory” of anticipated defensive war has expanded the president’s power
chief diplomat
- makes “contracts” with other countries — executive agreements
- a president can facilitate trade, provide mutual defense, agree on global environment and peace standards
executive orders
- a directive that allows the president to carry out executive authority without congressional approval
- can be declared unconstitutional
- can be challenged in court
- cannot address congressional powers
- can be undone by the next president
signing statements
- presidents offering their interpretation or commentary of a congressional bill before they sign the actual bill
executive privilege
- the president’s right to withhold information from another branch
- US v. Nixon
vice president
- acts on behalf of the president
- serves as president of the senate
- replaces a president that can no longer serve
- responsibilities are delegated by the president
secretaries
the head officers of the 15 cabinet departments
state department
- promotes US foreign policy around the globe
- oversees embassies and ambassadors
defense department
- aligns all military branches under one command
- headed by the joint chiefs of staff, at the pentagon
federal agencies
- subcabinet entities
ex. - fda
- irs
- fbi
immediate staff
personal advisors and employees of the president who do not need senate approval
chief of staff
- head of staff
- immediate staff
- manages daily operations of the white house
examples of immediate staff
- press secretary
- chief legal counsel
- national security advisor
inherent powers
those not explicitly listed but are within the role of the executive
executive interactions with legislative
- the senate & presidential appointees
- senate standoffs
- ambassador appointments
- removal
senate & presidential appointees
- the senate approves all cabinet, military, civilian officials, and judicial appointments
senate standoffs
- the senate will contest controversial appointments
ambassador appointments
- president will often appoint people who have donated heavily to their compaigns
removal
executive branch officials can be removed by the president, but there have been concerns about the lack of “check” by another branch
executive interactions with judicial
- president enforcing judicial orders
- judicial appointments
example of president enforcing judicial orders
- school desegregation with little rock nine (brown v. board)
judicial appointments
- the president appoints all federal judges (life term)
- senate standoffs are more likely here when approving judicial appointments
- longest lasting impact of a president
constitutional intent
- a limited office
- unites the people and moderates congress
- carries out congress’s policies
war powers act
- limited the presidents military powers
- congress can vote to approve/disapprove president military action within 60 days
notable presidents
- george washington
- andrew jackson
- abraham lincoln
- teddy roosevelt & woodrow wilson
- franklin d roosevelt
george washington
- “mr. president”
- chose to serve no more than two terms
- respected congress as lawmakers
andrew jackson
- dominate & headstrong
- most vetos to that point
- conflicts with other branches, but people loved him
abraham lincoln
- expanded the pres. powers (like suspending habeas corpus) to preserve the union and end slavery
teddy roosevelt & woodrow wilson
- expanded foreign influence
- stood up to industrial elites
- spoke strongly and publicly to the people
franklin d roosevelt
- used his popularity to unite and assist the country in a time of dispair
- worked with congress to have an increased federal role in the welfare of people
bully pulpit
the presidency has a prominent stage where they can speak with the public
“bully” = excellent
state of the union
- reporting on the economic, military, and social state of the union
- since woodrow wilson, it has become an annual address to the nation
technology & social media
television
- since jfk, press conferences are live on covered on 24-hour news channels
photography
- obama’s “office of digital strategy” employed photographers and videographers to create a social media image
tweeter in chief
- trump has been critisized for using twitter excessively and as a media weapon
presidential communication
- bully pulpit
- state of the union
- television
- photography
- tweeter in chief
