Executive Branch Review Flashcards
Who is the head of the executive branch?
The president
what are the requirements to be the president?
at least 35 years old
Nativeborn US citizen
Resident of the US for 14 consecutive years
What are electors
Representatives who vote for one of the major presidential candidates
What does it mean when the president is elected by the electoral college?
Each state appoints an elector, and when a citizen votes, they are voting for a list of presidential electors pledged to that candidate
The candidate must win 270 of the 538 electoral votes.
how is the number of each states electoral votes determined
The total of its US senators and reps
What determines who is part of the electoral college?
The political parties in each state
What is the maximum number of terms and years that a president can serve?
2 terms/10 years
what did the 22nd amendment say?
it limited each president to two elected terms in office
The vice president is the leader of the what
The Senate, but is only involved when a vote is needed due to a tie or disagreement
President succession act 1947
Created a line of succession to follow if the president dies
Who would assume the presidency if both the president and the vice president died?
Speaker of the house
List the top five replacements of the line of succession if the president died.
Vice president
Speaker of the house
President pro tempore
Secretary of state
Secretary of treasury
What did the 25th amendment say?
Said that if the president dies or leaves office, vice president becomes the president
List three powers the president has
Execute/carry out laws
Appoint heads of executive agencies, federal court judges, etc.
Call Congress into special session
What is the State of Union address?
A speech given by the president to Congress on important challenges facing the country
What is an executive order?
A rule or command that has the force of law
Who appoints judges to the Supreme Court
Chief executive
What is a pardon?
A declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment
What is a reprieve?
an order to delay a persons punishment until a higher court can hear the case
What is an amnesty?
A pardon toward a group of people
As chief diplomat, the president makes decisions about
how the US acts toward other countries in the world
What does it mean to be commander-in-chief?
Able to back up foreign policy decisions with force
List the two parts of the war powers resolution of 1973
The president has to tell Congress within 48 hours when troops are sent into battle
Troops have to be brought back after 60 days unless Congress agrees and declares war
The constitution states that only who can declare war
Congress
Who can order American soldiers into battle?
The president
Foreign policy
The nations overall plan for interacting with other nations
what is a basic goal of the foreign-policy?
To keep the country safe from harm
Explain why international trade is beneficial for the US
It keeps a healthy economy, creates markets for American products, and gives jobs to American workers
What is a bureaucracy?
A group of state officials that make important decisions together
The foreign-policy bureaucracy of the president includes what
State department
Defense Department
Central intelligence agency
Nation security council
Treaties
Formal agreements between the government of two or more countries
Executive agreement
Agreement between president and leader of another country
The president has the power to create what two things
Treaties an executive agreements
What are ambassadors?
Official representative of a country’s government
what is foreign aid?
money, food, military help, or supplies sent to help another country
What are trade sanctions?
Efforts to punish another country by imposing trade barriers
What is an embargo?
Agreement among a group of nations that prohibits them all from trading with a specific nation
Who has the power to impose trade sanctions and embargoes?
Congress
Who can make agreements with other nations about what products can be traded
The president
What is the executive office of the president?
presidents administration
Prepares reports on taxes, economics, and international news
What does the office of management and budget do?
Prepares federal budget for president
The president closest political advisors are part of the what
National security council
What is the national security council?
President made advisors
What role does the national security advisor play in regard to the national security council?
They manage the national security council staff
What is the role of the national security council staff?
The president main advisors for considering national security and foreign policy matters
Designed to help the president use a variety of instruments to forge policies that advance US security
What does the council of economic advisors do?
Gives present advice on economic issues like employment, tax policies, and impact on foreign trade policies
Cabinet
A group of presidential advisers that are the heads of top level executive departments
List the responsibilities of people in the cabinet
Advise the president on issues related to their department
Make important policy decisions
What is the federal bureaucracy?
Below cabinet departments
Agencies employees of executive branch
what are the three basic jobs of the federal bureaucracy?
Turn new laws into action by deciding how to apply the laws to daily life
Administers the day-to-day operations of federal government
-Deliver mail, collect taxes, etc.
Regulate various activities
-Labor unions, banks, airlines, nuclear power plants, etc.
What are political appointees?
People chosen by the president because they have a specific ability or were supporters of the president during election campaign
What is a civil service system?
practice of hiring government workers on the basis of open examinations and merit
What is the merit system?
Hiring people who are qualified for the job
