Executive Branch Flashcards
Chief of State
- Ceremonial functions
- Symbol of the nation
- Decorating heroes and citizens
- Greeting visitors
Chief Executive
- Boss of millions of government workers (foreign and domestic)
- Decides how laws will be enforced
- Appointing cabinet members
- Coordinating efforts between departments and agencies
Chief Diplomat
- Direct foreign policy
- Represents US interests
- Negotiate and sign treaties
- Appoint and meet with ambassador leaders
Commander in Chief
- Leads/controls the armed forces
- Send troops in response to threat or emergencies
- Commanding US strikes
- Set up military governments
Chief Legislator
- Recommend bills
- Shape public policy
- Pressure congress members to pass a law
- Signing or vetoing a bill
- State of the Union
Chief of Party
- Executes party platform
- Helps other party members get elected
- Traveling to a close election to campaign for a party nominee
Formal Powers
National Security Powers, Legislative Powers, Administrative Powers, Judicial Powers
(Article 2: Section 2+3)
National Security Powers
Commander in Chief, Make treaties, Nominate and receive ambassadors
Legislative Powers
State of the Union (Nations report cards), Reccommend Legislation (bills) to Congress, Veto legislation (bills)
Administrative Powers
Ensure that laws are faithfully executed, Nominate cabinet positions, All federal cabinets and agencies report to the president
Judicial Powers
Nominate federal judges, Grant pardons and reduce sentences (reprieve) for federal offenses only
Informal Powers
Executive Agreement, Executive Order, Executive Privilege, Signing Statement
Executive Agreement
International agreement by president outside of the senate treaty ratification process
Executive Order
- Legally binding orders to government agencies
- Direct agencies & official in their execution of laws
- President gives direction and guidance
Executive Privilege
- Refusing to disclose close information
- Most presidents have claimed this power
- US v. Nixon: Court says this exists but president cannot claim this in criminal proceedings
Signing Statement
- Written comment issued at the time of signing a bill into a law
- Comments about intentions
- Defines terms and expresses concerns
22nd Amendment
- Originally no term limits
- Based on tradition
- Set at 4 year term for max 2 years
- Max 10 years
25th Amendment
- How presidential succession works
- President can inform Congress in writing
- Up and majority of cabinet can inform Congress
Role of Public Opinion
- Approval ratings
- Higher rating = more ability to get agenda passed
- Honeymoon period: role of economic/military crisis
Federal Bureaucracy
- Departments and agencies within EB that carry out laws
- Create regulations ensure safe products, environment, fair labor
- As president responsibilities and power increase so does the Federal government
Hierarchy System
- Executive Political Appointees (Cabinet Secretaries, deputy secretaries)
- Senior Executive Service (SES) - Expected to use their authority to achieve concrete results
- Career Civil Servants - Job rank clearly defined according to GS levels; hired based on merit
- President has most power of Executive Political Appointees and least over Career Civil Servants
Criticisms
Red Tape, Conflict or Competition, Duplication, Unchecked Growth, Waste, Lack of Accountability
Red Tape
The tons of gov rules, regulations, and paperwork that make gov overwhelming to citizens
Conflict or Competition
Agencies that often work toward opposite goals
Duplication
Agencies appear to do the same thing
Unchecked Growth
Agencies expand unnecessarily at high costs
Waste
Spending more the necessary
Lack of Accountability
Difficult in firing an incompetent bureaucrat
Presidential Checks
- Formal Control
- Appoint/remove top officials
- Annual budget
- Hard to control lower officials
Congressional Checks
- Senate confirmation: Secretary
- Creates/ends agencies and programs
Oversight: - Hearings
- GAO
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
- Provides fact-based, Nonpartisan information to Congress
“Congressional Watchdog” Investigates: - Federal spending
- Performance
Judiciary and Media
- Courts can restrain action
Media - Watch Dog Role: - Scrutinize behavior
- Report on issues
Whistle-Blowers: - Employees who report to the media
