gov executive branch Flashcards
I can describe the framers original provisions for choosing the president
Originally these electors each cast two electoral votes
Candidate with most= president
Candidate with second highest= VP
why did the method of voting in a president change?
Added due to election in 1800 between jefferson and adams in which H.O.R decided
12th amendment
Added in 1804
Provided that electors must cast separate ballots for president and vice president to prevent a tie
I can contrast a primary and a caucus which differ based on how they are organized and who participates
Candidates often begin by forming a political action community for fundraising before primaries and caucuses begin
what is a primary
A voting process in which voters and indicate their preference for their party’s candidate or aa candidate in general in an upcoming election
Usually multiple names on the ballot
First one is generally held in Feb in new Hampshire
Separate ones for each party
what is a caucus
A meeting of supporters o members of a specific political party
Participants divide into groups according to the candidates they support
At the end of the meeting the number of votes determine how many delegates each candidate receives for the national convention
First one is generally held in jan in Iowa
I can describe what occurs at a national convention
Party national convention arrange time and place for party convention
Parties apportion the number of delegates each state will receive to attend the national conventions and state numbers very sice no federal law to regulate
i can describe how the electoral process works in federal elections
According to the constitution, the president and vice president are chosen by a special body of presidential electors
1. Electorate person who casts their states vote for president
2. Electoral college are that who collectively formal elect the president
what are electoral votes
Each state receives “electoral votes/electors” based on their representation in congress
Cast one vote for president and one for VP based on the popular vote of their state
South carolina has 9 electoral votes
12th amendment
what is step 4 of deciding the president
December
Monday after the second Wednesday, electors meet in state capital and cast votes for Pres and VP
US Constitution
what is step 5 of deciding the president
January 6th
Congress counts the electoral vote and the winner of 270 electoral votes out of 538 total is announced
what is step 6 of deciding a president
Jan 20th- INAUGURATION
The new president takes office at noon on january 20 in the year following the presidential election
The chief justice administers the oath of office
The new president gives an inaugural address
I can describe how the electoral process impacts presidential elections
How many electors are needed to win
There are 538 presidential electors. Victory requires one over half, So, a great deal of importance is placed on the concept of 270
What is the importance of winner take all
Electoral college gets full
I can describe 3 flaws of the electoral college
It is possible to win the popular vote in the presidential election, but lose the electoral college vote
Nothing in the constitution, nor in any federal statute requires the electors to vote for the candidate favored by the popular vote in their state
If no candidate gains a majority in the electoral college, the election is thrown into the house. A situation that has happened twice. In the process, each state is given one vote, meaning that states with smaller populations wield the same power as those with larger populations
I can explain each of the four proposed reforms to the electoral college and identify one advantage and one disadvantage of each reform
National bonus plan
Direct Plan
Proportional Plan
District Plan
what is the national bonus plan advantage and disadvantage
Whoever wins popular vote gets electoral
Advantage
Encourage voters
Disadvantage
Does not eliminate the spoiler dynamic
what is the direct plan advantage and disadvantage
One man one vote
Advantage
Accurately represents the will of people
Disadvantage
Takes longer
what is the Proportional Plan advantage and disadvantage
Receive electoral votes in proportion to popular vote
Advantages
Yield electoral vote in line with popular vote
Disadvantage
Lost of pop could win electoral
what is the District Plan advantage and disadvantage
Electors are chosen the same way as members of congress. Congressional districts
Advantage
Do away with winner take all
Disadvantage
Loser of got vote could still win the electoral votes
I can outline the formal qualifications necessary to become president
Article 2
Be a natural born citizen
Person must be born a citizen
Must be at least 35 years of age
Have lived in the US for at least 14 years
I can explain issues that have arisen involving the length of the president
Until 1951, the constitution placed no limit on the number of terms a president might serve
Traditionally president limits the number of terms served to two
Who changed this
The 22 amendment
Max years that can be served now
I can discuss how the president is compensated
Congress determines the president’s salary cannot be changed during a presidential term
The president’s pay was first set at 25000 a year. Currently its 400,000 a year
Congress has also approved an expense allowance -50,000
Retirement plan 148,400 in salary and benefits
Use of air force one
I can outline the role of the Vice president
Presidents over the senate
Votes in the senate in the event of a tie
Help to decide if pres, is disabled, along with a majority of the cabinet by informing congress in writing sections 3 and 4 of the 15th amendment provide procedure to follow when the president is disabled or filling the vacancy
I can classify the 3 categories of presidential power
Constitutional powers
Delegated powers
Inherent powers
Constitutional powers
Powers explicitly granted by the constitution
Delegated powers
Powers granted by congress to help the president fulfill his dreams
Inherent powers
Inherent powers
Inherent powers
emrgency powers
Grant federal disaster and aid
Executive order
A rule or regulation issued by the president that has the force of law
Executive privilege e
To refuse to disclose some information to other branches of government or to the public
