Executive Branch II Flashcards
What are the three powers of Congress?
expressed, implied, investigative
Define the expressed powers of Congress. Give examples.
- A power specifically written in the constitution.
- power to declare war, impose taxes, regulate trade and currency
Define implied powers of Congress. Give examples.
- A power not explicitly written in constitution, but assumed to exist.
- minimum wage, creating a national bank, military drafts
Define political party.
Organized group of people with similar political opinions, wanting to influence public policy by getting candidates elected to office.
Define one-party government.
type of state which 1 political party has the right to form the gov’t
Define multi-party government
when multiple political parties run for national election, having similar/equal chance of winning
Define two-party system
when 2 major parties dominate politics within a gov’t
Within a two-party system, what is the role of a third party?
- force other parties to address new issues
- take votes away from 1 candidate in specific party
What is the electoral college?
Process through which president and vp are elected.
How does the electoral college work?
- Each state has electors.
- number of them influenced by number of representatives they have (determined by population size)
- electors choose which candidates to vote for
How many electors are in the electoral college?
538 electors
How many electoral votes are needed to win?
270 votes
How is the number of electoral votes for each state determined?
1 electoral vote for each house representative
2 for every senator
How many electoral votes for IL?
20 votes
What are the pros of electoral college?
pros- enhances minority interests, enhances political stability, requires distribution of popular vote
What are the cons of electoral college?
cons- “faithless electors”, failure to reflect popular vote
What are the requirements to be President?
- at least 35
- born in US
- lived in US for 14 years
What are the requirements to be VP?
- at least 35
- born in US
- lived in US for 14 years
List the 5 presidential powers.
Executive Diplomatic Military Legislative Judicial
Define executive powers of president
- sign or veto legislation
- command armed forces
- grant pardons
- convene/adjourn congress
Define diplomatic powers of president
-make treaties for Senate to approve
Define military powers of president
-direct military after congressional declaration of war
Define legislative powers of president
-veto/approve bill from from congress and if 2/3 of house votes to override veto, bill doesn’t become a law
Define judicial powers of president
-appointing public officials
Define an executive order
-a rule/ order from president to executive branch and having force of law
What is the role of the cabinet?
direct gov’t policy and make national decisions
Try to name 11 departments of cabinet
- Agriculture
- Commerce
- Defense
- Education
- Energy
- Health and Human Services
- Interior
- Labor
- State
- Transportation
- Treasury
Explain Chief of State
symbolic leader of country
Explain Chief Executive
- executes laws
- appoints officials
- grants pardons
Explain Chief Diplomat
negotiates with other countries
Explain Chief Administrator
- representative of nation
- runs gov’t office
Explain Commander in Chief
in charge of armed forces
Explain Chief Legislator
- introduces bills
- signs/vetoes legislation
- works with congress on budget
Explain Chief of the Party
helps members of party get elected
Define the investigative powers of Congress.
Powers to test the effectiveness of laws and performance of members of other branches.
List the roles of the President. “Chief”
Chief of state chief of executive chief diplomat chief administrator commander in chief chief legislator chief of the party
