Gov. Notes for Final

Question 1

The Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas

Answer 1

This 1827 constituion was established while Texas was under the rule of the United States of Mexico. The newly formed government of Mexico combined the once independent province of Tejas with that of Coahuila. The government of Coahuila y Tejas featured a legislature of fourteen deputies, of which only three were from Tejas. THe Mexican government stimulated the growth of Tejas by encouraging immigration into tit through a process of land grants

Question 2

Constitution of the Republic of Texas

Answer 2

The population grew more Anglo, this led to more tension and led to the Texas Revolution of 1836. On March 16, 1836, fourteen days after they met to declare their independence from Mexico, the revolutionaries drew up the cCOnstitution of the Republic of Texas. They based the constituion’s structure on the U.S. Constitution of 1787. When Texas gained its indpenedence from Mexico it became the constituion of the new nation

Question 3

The Statehood Consitution of 1845

Answer 3

often referred to as the best constituion ever written, the statehood Constituion of 1845 was necessary for Texas to join the union. It was a rather lengthy document reflective of the growing democratic movement throughout the coountry. It included an elected overnor and lieutenant governor with two-year terms. The bicameral legislature included two-years terms for members of the House of Representiatives and four-year terms for members of the senate

Question 4

Confederate State Constitution of 1861

Answer 4

As a southern slave holding state, Texas joined the Confederate States of America. In march 1861 conventioneers drew up the Confederate Consittuion of 1861. This constituion included stron support for states’ rights, including secession and a staunch defense of slevary

Question 5

The presidential Reconstruction Constitution of 1866

Answer 5

Texas, along with the defeated Confederacy, was forced to reapply to the USA and then ammended the constituion of 1845 against secession and slavery, and then increased all terms of elected oficals to four years. Congress never approved this constituion before the new government began to oparate

Question 6

the congressional Reconstruction Constitution of 1869

Answer 6

Radical Republican congress rejected the Constituion of 1866 and dismissed the elected state government, subjected then to military rule. The republicans then disenfranchised all who oppose and had the supporting republican party ratify the new COnstitution of 1869 creating a strong central state government with a powerful governor with ample powers of appointement, appealed to the Radical Republicans. With its acceptance, Texas rejoined the USA

Question 7

Government of Texas under the Reconstruction

Answer 7

resultant disenfranchisement of those who led the stte into the Confederacy “radically” improved the Repuvlican’s chances for governing. In 1870 Repulican EJ Davis. Davis and his legislative allies facored an activist government aht supported increased social spending and massive tax increases. Scholars believe that Texans benefitted from these programs yet resented a governemnt that violated a conservative philosophy based uopn limited government. In 1872 the democrats captured the lagislature and, in 1874, in a massively disputed election, won the governorship, as richard Coke defeated Davis

Question 8

Present day Consitution: The CONsitution of 1876

Answer 8

With the election of 1874 the Democrats moved to reacquire the government. In 1875 a bipatisan group that had a strog democratic majority met in Austin to draft a new constituion. The Austin Convention, a cross section of Texans, but with a strong rural bent, headed by the National Grange, the first strongly united agricutlural organization, wrote a reactionary constitution that mirrored the principles of the 1845 Constution. THe term of the governor returned to a two-year limit, and he lost the extensive power of appointment gratned to the office by the constition of 1869. Voters wer allowed to elect the executive leadership and bring back the plural executive. Legislative terms also returned to two-year limits, and legislature sessions returned to biennial sessions instead of annual sessions, just as in 1845. In 1876 the newly drafted constituion went before the people for their ratificiation. They approved the COnstituion by a ration of two to one. THe vicotry was overwhelming in the rural areas. However, the few urban areas did not support the document

Question 9

Consitution of 1876

Answer 9

vely long and wordy. It is the fourth largest state constituion and has nearly 90,000 wrods. This reflects an effort to restrict b ig government through detailed constraints that reflect the Jefforsonian ideal of limited government through dtailed constraints that refelct the Jefforsonian ideal of limited government often associated with, htough not exclusively, conservative traditionalist thorught. For our puprposes, the most significant Articles are those found in the beginning of this constituion.

Question 10

Article One of Texas Constitution

Answer 10

Article One contains the Texas Bill of Rights. Texans show their commitment to individual liberty by placing their Bill of Rights in this first article. Very long, emphatic and specific, with 29 sections

Question 11

Article Two

Answer 11

Contains a discussion of the appropriate use of the speration of powers and checks and balance. I norder not to have any of these branches become too powerful, it specifies the importance of these two doctrines.

Question 12

Article Three

Answer 12

Legislative Article. It includes the requirements for being in the legislature, and for the legislative process. There are numerous restrictions on the legislature. In fact, it includes more negative than positive rules about the functions of the legislature

Question 13

Articlee Four

Answer 13

Axecutive Article, Explains the functions of members of the plural executive. These leaders of the executive are all popularly elected heads of different depatments of governemnt

Question 14

Article Five

Answer 14

Judicial Article. Containsthe organizational structure of the state judiciary. It describes the stratified fucntions of the state court system and explains the complex jurisdictions of this sturcutre. Jurisdictions is the limits within which particular courts can hear cases

Question 15

Article Six

Answer 15

Suffrage article. It contains the rules and regulations of the elctions process. Remember that we find the basic control of this process in the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. cCOnstitution as a reserved power, gratned to the states. The U.S. Congress and the Supreme Court have limited stakes in this practice, expecially in relation to acts of raical, ethinic, cultural and sex discrimination

Question 16

Legislature

Answer 16

The new constitution had a biennial session. Biennial session meets every other year. In approving a constitutional amendment the voters limited the sessions to 140 days. The upper house is senate, lower house is the House of Representatives. There are thrity-one members in the senate and 150 in the House. IN theory the legislature is to be the true citien’s branch so tehir slareis reflect this notions. THeir tipend is 7,200 per year. Most states are organized along political party lines, but not in texas. The prime officers, Speaker of the House (Elected by the house) and Lieutenant Governor (Elected by the voters), organize the hierarchy of the committees and appoints most committee members, organizgizes the calancdar among memebrs ofth at committee (The Lieutentnat Governor is non restricted)

Question 17

The Texas Executive: The Governore

Answer 17

Texas has a plural executive. Governore is part of this plural executive, and it is higly limited, its most extensive power is the appointment power. He/She appoints the secretary of state and the members of regulatory boards. The Governore cannot seek removal of those regulatory board appointments. The governore draws up a budget, but so does the legislature, whose budgetary powers are greater. As he Commander -in-chief the Governore has military power over the Texas Naitonal Guard, and may hire and dismiss the actual military commander. If the situtiaon warrants, the Governor may use his emergency powers to declare martial law during periods of weather related catastrophes and civil insurrection and acts of mercy, such as pardons, amnesty and commutations as recommended by the Board of Pardons and Parole. Additionally he or she has legislative powers. These include calling special sessions of the legislature and the power to veto legislation. THe veto power increases the power of the governor; thee include a post adjournment and line item veto. Governore vetos legislation automatically after twenty days after the legislature adjourns, and is allowed to veto sections of the budget rather than rejecting it in its entirety

Question 18

Attorney General

Answer 18

Chief lawyer of Texas. He or she acts to resolve constitutional questions, state laws regarding antiturust, environmental and consumer portoections laws

Question 19

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Answer 19

The Comptrollers is the chief tax collector and banker for the state. He or she is resonsible for auditing businesses and collecteing all statewide taxes such as the sales tax

Question 20

Commissioner of Agriculture

Answer 20

Chief administator of farm policies for the state. He or she makes recommendations concerning the use of herbicides and pesticides, as well as soil conservation practices

Question 21

Commissioner of the Land Office

Answer 21

chief administrator for public lands. He or she manages 20,000,000 acres of public land

Question 22

Secretary of State

Answer 22

The only unelcted member of the plural executive. The governore with senatroail approval appoints him or her. The Secretary of State serves as the chief election officer of the state and is also the primary records keeper

Question 23

Texas Judiciary

Answer 23

Structure of the courts for Texasa includes: (from the lowest to the highest) the local courts, county courts, district courts, intermediate courts and the courts of last resort

Question 24

Local Courts

Answer 24

Municipal Courts, otherwise known as traffic courts due to the fact that most cases concern alleged traffic violations, are limited to cirimanl jurisdiction, only class C misdemeanors. Municipal Court Judges acquire their ofices by appointment of the legislature of the municiplaity. THe Justice of the Peace COurts act as the initial court for those criminal cases outside the municiplaties and/or within the county. They have an additional criminal jurisdictional function of being magistrates that issue search warrants and writs of hebeas sorpus. hey also have civil jurisdiction over cases that do not exceed $5,000.

Question 25

The County Courts

Answer 25

Constitutional County Courts served the dual role of being legislative as well as judicial. Evne today there are counties with very small populations in which this practice continues. Today in nonrurual ocunties these couts have legislative and executive functions, but no longer act in judicial capacity. A county Judge elected to a four-year term heads this court. The members of the court are not required to have any formal quilifications. As the population of the counties of the state grew, the county courts could not bear the burden of double duty. To compensate, the legislature initiated a reform establishing new courts known as County Courts-At-Law. THese courts have both civil and criminal jurisdiction. They have original jurisdiction of class A and B misdemanors, and they have civil jurisdiction in cases not exeeding $100,000. They also deal with matters of probate, guardianship and commitment to mental institutions. The judges in these courts are elected to four-year terms and must be lawyers

Question 26

District Courts

Answer 26

District Courts are the beasic trial courts for criminal and civil cases in Texas. They have both criminal and civil jurisdictions. Concerning their criminal jurisdictions, the courts have original jursidtiction over felony cases, which include cases involving the death penalty. Regarding civil jurisdiction, the district courts deal with cases concerninig matters aboce $5,000. They are also invoved in resolving land title disputes and in divorce matters. The boundaries of these courts may both divide a county and exceed the county’s borders. THe term for a district court judge is four years, and the eligibility requires a minimym of twety-five years of age and four years of judicial practice

Question 27

Courts of Last Resort

Answer 27

There are two Courts of Last Resort, which results in Texas being one of two states that has two functioning supreme courts. These courts are the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Supreme Court. The court of Criminal Appeals has final appellate jursidiction over criminal cases reviewed from the Courts of Appeals and over capital convictions from the District Courts. The Supreme Court has final appellate Jursidiction over civil cases reviewed from the Courts of Appeal. Each court has nine judges. THe constitutional requriements are the same as for the Courts of Appeal

Question 28

Intermediate Courts of Appeal

Answer 28

Courts of Criminal Appeal have appellate jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases originating in the county or district courts. There are fourteen courts of appeal with three judges on each court. Their terms are six years. The judge must be at least thrity-five years old and either a lawyer or a judge of acourt of records for ten years.

Question 29

The fundamental differneces between the Texas and the U.S. Constitutions

Answer 29

The supremacy constituion; it is the supreme law of the land. It is the embodiment of constitutional law. The Texas Constitution is a statutory constittuion and embodies both constitutional and statutory laws. The U.S. constituiton is very flexible and prone to be changed through the inromal processes of custom, time, and usage. THe Texas COnstituion is very restrictive. Amendments must be passed if the state government wishes to do anythying not specifically mentioned in the CONstituion. THe result is over 400 amendments to the Texas Constitution and only 27 amnedments to the U.S. Constitution

Question 30

U.S. Congress

Answer 30

This is the legislative branch of government composed of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Article one of the U.S. Constituion sets forht its structure and functions

Question 31

The Senate

Answer 31

This is the upper house of Congress. Each state sends two senators to the federal government, and they represent it in Congress

Question 32

House of Representatives

Answer 32

This is the lower house of Congress. Each state sends a certain number of representatives to CONgress. The state’s population is the basis of the representation

Question 33

Requirements for being int eh Senate

Answer 33

To be eligible for the senate, a person must be thirty years of age, have been a U.S. citizen for nine years and be an inhabitant of the state that he or she will represent

Question 34

requirements for being in the House of Representatives

Answer 34

To be eligible for the House of Representatives, a person must be twenty-five years of age, have been a citizen of the U.S. for seven eyars and be an inhavitant of the state that he or she will repersent

Question 35

comparison between the senate and the House

Answer 35

House is much larger than the Senate. It has 435 members, and the Senate has only one hundred. The term of office for House members is two years. The Senate term is six years. The functions of the House are reather restricited, but the Senate has much more flexibility. We will note this comparison when we compare the legislative process inboth houses. The Senate with its smaller membership receives more publicity and a greater degree of prestige than the House

Question 36

Speaker of the House

Answer 36

Speaker is the most powerful member of the House. His powers come about because his office is combination of a constituionally mandated position and a political power bastion. In essence, he or she leads the majority party representatives through each session’s legislative process. The Speaker’s powers include developoing a calender, or ganizing comitees, submitting bills to the commitees and recognizing members to speak. The authority of the Speaker varies throughout hisotry, with certain SPeakers dominating the agenda with a substantial use of their power

Question 37

The House Majoriy Leader

Answer 37

The House Majority Leader works with the Speaker in moivng the majority agenda. He or she works to generate support for the position ofp arty leaders, acts as a spkesperson for the aprty’s legislative programs, helps shepherd the party’s legisltation through the lawmaking process and assists in scheduling florr actions and the flow of debate

Question 38

House Minority Leader

Answer 38

Is the leader of the minority party in the house and is responsible for marshalling supportfor the minoiryt party’s agenda. He/She tries as best as possible to convert a necessary number of the majority to the concerns of the minority party, with the hope of approving minority sponsored legislation

Question 39

House Majority and Minority Whips

Answer 39

These are assistant party leaders in the House whose jobs include ensuring that party membes are present for floor votes and are informed and prepared to vote as the party prefers

Question 40

President of the Senate

Answer 40

President of the Senate is the Vice Presdient of the U.S.. His/Her role in the Senate is the constitutional officer of the senate. This position is largely ceremonial. One of its imoprtant but rarely used functions is to vote in case ties

Question 41

Presidnet pro tempore

Answer 41

This senator replaces the vice presidnet in the role of the president of the senate when the Vice President is absent. The English language application of his or her language title is to be in the place of the President (Of the senate) This senator has the longest length of service of the members of the majority party. He/ she often delegates task to more junior senators who need the exposure

Question 42

Majority Leader

Answer 42

Leader of the majority party in the Senate. Unlike the majority leader in the House, he or she is the prome legislator for the aprty and sets the agenda. However, this is in closer consulation with the minority than in the House. In fact, when possible, Senate leaders set the agenda by unanimous consent. Given the Present partisan divide this rather cozy relationshiop had been strained

Question 43

The Minority Leader

Answer 43

The minority leader is the leader of the minority party in the senate and is responsible for marshalling support for the party’s agenda. He/She tries to convice the majority to support issues endorsed by the minority party. The relationship between the majority and the minority leaer is less formal than in the House

Question 44

Majority and Minority Whips

Answer 44

These are assistant party leaders in the Senate whose jobs are similar to their House counteroparts. However, the Senate with its smaller and more cohesive membserships often makes their whip jobs much easier than they are in the House

Question 45

Committee Structure

Answer 45

Congress primarily accomplishes its work in committees. Political scietists refer to committees as little legislatures. Their purpose is to study bills (proposed legislation) and to make recommendations concerning their future to the entire membership of their respective chamger. THere are twenty standing or permanent committees in both the Senate and the HOuse

Question 46

Standing Committees

Answer 46

The Standing committees are the regular permanent committees in Congress. Some of them are quite permanent, having life spans of over 150 years. Among the most noted committees included: in the House, Wyas and Means and Appropriation, and in the Senate, Judiciary and FOreing Relations

Question 47

Subcommittees

Answer 47

Committees are involved in the critical phase of revising, accepting, or rejecting proposed legislation. In many cases subcommittees have become the burial ground for legislation deemed either inappropriate to the needs of the country or too controversial for consdieration

Question 48

Select Committee and Joint Committees

Answer 48

Select committees of either the House or the Senate are initiated to deal with problems that are limited in scope and time. They are often fact finding committees. Joint committees perform the same functions, but are composed of members from both hosues

Question 49

Legislative process

Answer 49

Bicamerla CONgressional procedure b y which a bill (an item proposed for legislation) become law

Question 50

Source of bills

Answer 50

Bills can originate from a variety of sources: Congress, the Executive branch, the bereaucracy, or special interest group seeking legislation favorable to their memberships’ well-being

Question 51

Clandars

Answer 51

The Calandars are the dockets werhe bills are placed for congressional consdieration.

Question 52

Union Clander Bills

Answer 52

House calendar dealing with bills with raising or spending money

Question 53

House Calendar

Answer 53

all other major public bills

Question 54

Priavate Calander

Answer 54

House calander dealing with private bills

Question 55

Consent Claendar

Answer 55

House calendar dealing with non-controversial bills

Question 56

Calendar of General Orders

Answer 56

all public and private bills.

Calendar of the senate

Question 57

Executive Calendar

Answer 57

Senate Calendar. All treaties and nominations

Question 58

Committee/Subcommittee Work

Answer 58

Once a committee receives a bill it is discussed by the full committee. If all officers in the committee are facorable toward the bill, it is placed in the approprite sub-committee. The Sub-Committee will look at a serios bill and include withnesses with knowledge of the bill, and a mark-up session, in which the bill is edited to the wishes of the sub-committee members. Then the sub-committee makes its ruling. Sends the bill back to the full committe without the previously mentioned mark-ups or send it back with the mark-ups. Upon recieving the bill, the full committee may call its own witnesses nd have mark-up session of its own.Depending on the action of the committe the bill is either reported to the respective house with full approval, with suggested amendments, tabled for future consdieration or rejectd. However, in the house of Representatives one more committee needs to consider the bill before it goes to the full house

Question 59

Rules of Committee

Answer 59

The committee acts as a traffic cop to control the flow of bills to the House floor. It does this by sheduling bills for consdieration in order of importance and organizing debate through the establishment of rules. These rules will determine if amendments are to be allowed, and howe long the debate over the bill shall be

Question 60

Floor debate

Answer 60

the House debate flows from the rules of the Rules Committee. The parlimentary device of the Committee of the Whole accomplshes most floor debate. Wit this device the House can debate without a quirum. That is until it must consider the bill for passage. Then they must have quorum and follows the Rules Committee restrictions. The Senate debate is framed with by a reliance on unanimous consent. With it the Senate avoids lengthy debate, and ensures a rather prompt decisions through a role call debate. Without this unanimous consent the alternative is to bring it up by motion. HOwever this may render the bill susceptible to a filibuster

Question 61

Filibuster

Answer 61

filibuster is a senatorial procedure which features unlimited debate, otherwise known as “talking a bill to death”. Its pupose is to give a small minority, who object to the bill, the rightot hold up the bill ofr consideration. The debate will go on until the bill is withdrawn or cloture is imposed. In recent years this mechanism has been used with growing frequency. SOme believe that this practice threatens the very nature of the legislative practice

Question 62

Cloture

Answer 62

This is the senatorial method to stop filibusters. It requires sixteen senators to petitoin that the deabte end. After the petition is filed, it requires a 60-vote majority to end the debate. A thirty-hour limit is established, and then a vote is taken on the bill

Question 63

The Vote

Answer 63

Bills are approved by majority vote. These bills must receive positive consideration in both houses. The cast majority of the bills passed by both houses do not havae the same structure. These bills must go before a conference committee

Question 64

Conference Committee

Answer 64

This bicameral committee attempts to resolve the structural difference between the House and Senate bills. The membership is composed of three, five or seven members from both houses. They are usually composed of senior members of the standing committees of both houses whihc held hearing on he bill. If possivle, this committee writes a compromise peice of legislation. They then send the bill back to both chambers for their approval

Question 65

Presidential Action

Answer 65

With congressional approval the bill is sent to the president. Within ten days of receiving the bill he/she may sign the bill, not sign it and let it become law after the ten days are over. The president may also decide to veto a vill. Such action, under normal circumstances will kill the bill. THere are two types of vetoes

Question 66

The Veto

Answer 66

Within The ten-day period after he/she receives the bill from Congress, the president may take action by vetoing the bill. The latin derivation means, “I fobid it.” Alternatively, the he/she may use a pocket veto. This device is used when the president does not sign a bill, but COngress adjourns before the ten-day limit is over. This is called a pocket veto

Question 67

Congressional Override

Answer 67

A non-pocket veto may be overrideden by a two-thirds vote of both house of Congress

Question 68

The Composition of Congress

Answer 68

The Joke on Capital Hill is the prime characteristcs are pale, male, and stae. Seriously in discussing the composiiton of congress wil will look at the following characteristcs: party membership, age, sex, race or ethnicity, religion and occupation

Question 69

Party membirship

Answer 69

in t he house of representatives the 113th Congress has 242 Republicans and 193 democrats. THE Senate has 51 democrats, 47 Republicans, and two independents that caucus with the Democrats

Question 70

Age

Answer 70

In the 113th Congress the average age of the House is 58, and 61 in the Senate

Question 71

Sex

Answer 71

in the 113th congress, the House of Representatives has 357 males and 78 females. In the senate there are 80 males and 20 females

Question 72

Reace or Ethnicity

Answer 72

In the 113th congress the vast majority in both houses are European American. There are 43 African Americans in the House, and two in the Senate. There are 28 Hispanic Americans in the House, and three in the Senate. There are 11 Asian Americans in the HOuse, and one inthe Senate

Question 73

Religion

Answer 73

In the 113th Congress there are 299 Protestants, 163 Catholics, 39 Jewes, 15 mormons, and a scattering of other religions, as well as aothers that are non-religious

Question 74

Occupations

Answer 74

The most frequently recorded occupation among the members of the 113th congress are lawyers (217), business men and owmen (188), former government officals (109), and educations (96). Obviously some have declared more than one occupation

Question 75

Congressional Elections

Answer 75

Congressional elections occur every two years as all members of the house are elgivle for reelection. IN the Senate one thrid of the members are eligivle for reelection every two years. If the most imopratnt hing for a member in Congres to do is to win election, then the second most imoprtant is to win reelection. This act happens more often than not becuase of the incumbency factor. Other items of importance include considering that the otu parrty usually gains in off year elections. Another point to not is that the stat representation in the HOuse changes every ten years based on constitutionally mandated census data. THis is the practice of reapportionment, assigning each population. It features redistricting in which congressional district boundaries reflect this fchange.FInally, the controversial procedure of gerrymandering may influence this practice when state legislatures recreate congressional boundaries to give one party an advantage over the other

Question 76

Congressional Responsibilities

Answer 76

The primary responsibilities of Congress include lawmaking, oversight, conflict resolution and constituent service.

Question 77

lawmaking

Answer 77

This is the most siginifact function of Congress. OF course this is evident throuout Article One of the Constitution. In performing these duties legislators pursue three distinct roles. They may prefer the delegate role which features voting, as they believe their onstitutients wnat them to vote. OTHER TIMES THEY MAY CHOOSE THE ROLE OF THE TRUSTEE IN WHICH THEY STRESS THEIR WON JUDGEMENT IN DECISION-MAKING. FINALLY, legislatiors may seek a compromise between the aboce roles and beocming politicos, indetifying with their district on sisues of profound interst, but deviating when their constitutents are less opinionated

Question 78

Oversight

Answer 78

Oversight is a classic use of chekcs and balances. It allows the legislators to insure that the executive branch is carrrying out the itnentions of Congress. We see this action performed during the bicameral meetings of joint committees. Obstinate executives may see thier budgets cut or, in extreme, their agencies abolished

Question 79

Public education

Answer 79

Elected officals often provide information to their constitutnets in order for them to understand how the congress is engaged in helping them. Traditionally Congress uses the franking privalege giving it free postage to carry out this endeavor. Today much of this information appears on the web pages of congress

Question 80

Conficlt resolution

Answer 80

This is a splendid example of the Madisonian system. It emphasized decision making thorugh compromise and consensus, while it is true that neight side truly totally wins, accommodation resolves the varying differences between groups. (This is not that noticeable in recent Congresses).

Question 81

Constituent Services

Answer 81

This role requires memebrs of Congress to pay attention to the need of the peoplpe within their district. In turn the representatives refer these desries to Congress as a whole. Sometimes this function and the law making process combined to produce the aforementioned private bills.

Question 82

U.S Presidency/Executive

Answer 82

Article Two of th Constitution we find the Executive Branch of Government. The primary responsibility of this branch is to execute the laws passed by Congress. The chief of the Executive Branch is the President of the U.S.

Question 83

Formal Qualifications

Answer 83

There are only three expressed qualifications to be the Presdient of the U.S.

Question 84

Age

Answer 84

The minimum age of the presdient must be thirty-five

Question 85

Place of birth

Answer 85

the president must be a native born American. In other words, he or she must a U.S. citizen by blood or soil

Question 86

Residency

Answer 86

He/She must be a U.S. resident for the fourteen years before becoming president

Question 87

Informal Qualifications or social characteristics

Answer 87

Certain similarities are very evident when we consider the indivudlas who have become the U.S. president. We will look at sex, race/ethnicity, nationality, religion, marital status and ideology

Question 88

Sex

Answer 88

All 44 presidents have been male. However, many nations of the world have democratically elected female heads of government

Question 89

Race and Ethnicity

Answer 89

The campaign of 2008 provided the U.S. with a first–the first elected African-Aermican presdient of the U.S. The rpevious 43 presdients wer European American. Considering the racism that has pervaded American politics that has resulted in restricting African Americans from voting, let along holding office, this is an enormous alteration of tradition

Question 90

Nationality

Answer 90

Not only were the previous 43 presdients European American, they were also northwestern European American. In other words, we are still waiting for our first presdient of Italian or Slavic Heritage

Question 91

Religion

Answer 91

Here we again have unanimity. All 44 presidents chave been Christian. 43 Presidents calim some sort of alliance with the Protestant branch of Christianity. The longe expetion was JFK who was a Roman Catholic

Question 92

Marital Status

Answer 92

All of the above American presidents wer emarried, with one exception: James Buchanan. Their statuses did vary while they were presdient. For example, Thomas jefferson entered the White House as a widower and remained one. Andrew Jackson became a widower right before becoming presdient. Gorver Cleveland got married while in the White House, but he remarried while serving as presdient

Question 93

Ideology

Answer 93

Following the Madisonina systematic approach, the presidents usually have either been moderates or they woked toward the middle while they were presdient usually have either been moderates or they worked toward the middle while they were presdient. Successful presdients who maintained a distinct ideology, such as Frankling Roosevelt, a liberal, and Ronald Reagan, a conservative, upset their core constituency by seeking suppport from political moderates

Question 94

The ranking of presdients

Answer 94

Political Scientists and historians have always shown an interst inranking the presdients. Beginning with the work of historian Arthur Schlesinger in the late 1940s, presdiential experts have conducted polls to evaluate the presidnets. These evaluations show consistencies in their ranking .Forxample, Abraham Lincoln regularly rates as america’s fines president. Gerogy Washinton Adn Franklin Roosevelt rate either second or third. We notice that many of the highly ranked presdients held the office rather recently or at least during the tweitiest centruy. Others include: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truamn, DWIGHT eISENHOWER, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan. In addition to the outstanding job these presdients may also have something to o with these high rankings. On the negative side of the ledger we find the following men as extremely subpar or abject failures: rankling pierce, James Buchanan, Ulysses S. Grant, Warren G. Harding and Richard M. Nixon

Question 95

Presidential Sussecion

Answer 95

It is siad that the vice presidency is a heratbest away from president. According to the Constitution the vice presdient is to suceed the presdient. The first time this occurred was when John Tyler replaced the deceased William Henry Harrison. In 1947 Congress enacted legislation setting the line of succession after the vice presidnet. This establiched order placed the Speaker of the House third, followed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and then the cabinet members, beginning with the Secretary of State and continuing in the chornological order of the creation of the position. THe 25th amendment, ratified in 1967, allows for a smooth transition in the succession process. For example, it provides a method to keep the vice presidency occupied. THis officew ill never lie vacant again. THis lessens the need to use the 1947 succession law

Question 96

The Vice Presidency

Answer 96

In truth, the vice presdientcy was an afterhought. During the Constitutional Convention the office came into existence merely to make the electoral college work. It became the consolation prize in the formal race for the presidency. The constittutional duties of the office are sleder, to say the least. The vice presdient is the president of t he Senate and votes only to break a tie. Of course he/she remain a heartbeat aaway fro mthe presdiency. THE VICE PRESDIENT HAS SUCCEEDED THE PRESDIENT ON 9 OCCASIONS. the role of the vice presdient depends upon the wishes of the president. Most of the time his/her duties are minor. One halfhearted description depicts the vice president as traveling the world atending funerals of former presidents of the third world. THE MORE IMPORATNT jobs he/she performs include being an ocasional advisor to the presient, afact finder for the presidnet, an agency head, a political partisan and an ambudsman resolving lower level complaints

Question 97

Role of the President

Answer 97

As the old yarn goas “the presiddnt wears many hats” we will lok at six of these hats: Chief Executive, Commander-in-chief, Chief Diplomat, Chief legislator, head of state and head of political party

Question 98

Chief Executive

Answer 98

The constituion gives the power of appointment of officials such as federal judges, diplomats, cabinet members. Some of these appointements, known as patronage, are products of pilitcal paybacks and typically are associated with ambassadors. The passage of the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 required presdidents to submit a budget for the fourth coming fiscal year. Although COngress has huge discreitonary powers in this area, the rpesdients buget sets his or her priorities

Question 99

Commander-In-Chieft

Answer 99

As civilian, the presdient is the head of the armed forces. This provides a singluar head over all of the uniform services. This role produces the classic clash between the president and Congress. While the predient has his or her authoirty, the congress msut declare war. Neverhtelss, most of ht military actions taken by the president has not been acocompnaied by a conressional decleration of war

Question 100

Chidef Dimplomat

Answer 100

The presdient negotiates treaties with other nations, but the approval of this action depends on a two-thirds vote of the senate. THIs too has sparked controversy. Presdidnts often make executive agreements with other heads of state. The Supreme Court ruled that it is an acceptable way of performing diplomacy. THis expedient alternative to treaty making lasts only thorugh the administrationg initiating it. THe presdient, on behalf of the country, extend dimplomatic relations to nations. This functions enhances the inherent powers of the U.S.

Question 101

Chief Legislator

Answer 101

If we reacall the legislative process, the executive branch draws up the largst perentage of bills. In this way the staff of the presidnet influences the making of the laws of the country. OCNgressional legislation authorized presdientts to execute legislative intention, which occurs by issuing executive orders, which taken on the form of administrative law. In a less direct way the presidnet motivates the legislatative approach by delievering his or programs and policies. HOwever, since the time of woodrow wilson the president has delievered the adress in person. Additionally, the presidnet is required to send a budgetto Congress. He/She sends this to congress about one week after the State of the Union message, usualy in early February. FInally, the presidnetial power takes on legislative qualities when he/she engages in sigining or vetoing legislation

Question 102

Head of State

Answer 102

This is largely a cermonial role. In many other nations it is a separate office. In the UK this is the role of the monarchy. In Germany the president of the republic fulfills this function. While a nominal position, the presdient represents the nation, including its spirit, laws and people. THis includes the intial greeting dignitaires for other nations as well as the purely celebrative roles of lighting the White HOuse CHirstmas tree or organizing the annual Easter Egg hunt

Question 103

ead of political party

Answer 103

The presdient by virtue of his or her august position gains control of the politicla party that elected him/her. THE COMPLEX STRUCUTE OF THE MAJOR PARITES DIFFuses the hierarchal authority. It falls to the presient ot move forward and capture that authority. Not all presients ascend to this role equally desirous of serving in this capacity. Oftern success or failure in this role equally desirous of serving their political parites; others, such as Dwight Eisenhower, some sya made nonpartisanship an art form, and jimmy carter, often made poicy without consulting the leadership of his party, were marginal in this role

Question 104

The major offices of the executive

Answer 104

After WWII the needs of the country changed and the executive branch continued to grow and become more organizationally complex. We will review some of these changes in the executive, as well as define the role of the cabinet. In this case we must take into account the changing needs of the modern presdiency and the growing importance of the office

Question 105

Executive office of the Presidency

Answer 105

Within this office we find the primary advisory policymakers of the executive branch of government. These include the White House Office, the Management and the Budget, the Council of Economic Advisor and the Naitonal Security Council

Question 106

White House Office

Answer 106

Many of the prominent presdiential advisors and policy-makers belong to this office. This includes the white House Chief of Staff, the White House Counsel, speechwriters and the press secretary

Question 107

Office of Mnagement and the Budget (OMB)

Answer 107

THE LENGTHY process of drawing up a fiscal year budget cov ers a eyar and a half period. Those involved in this detaled process work in the OMB. They prepare the budget and work to thave it enacted

Question 108

Council of Economic Advisors

Answer 108

The Council of Economic Advisors works with the OMB. HOWEVER, it remains a speracete institution. Its influences depends on the presdient whom it serves. Roland Reagna paid it no heed, while Bill Clinton saw it as beneficial institution. When called upon, the council helps analyze economic data nad forecast economic growth, decline and stability

Question 109

National Security Coundicl (NSC)

Answer 109

Acreation of the 1947 legislative act that altered the foreing policy and defesy establishment, the NSC features a membership that includes the true secrutiy establishment. Those on the NSCincldue the Presdient, the V.P., the Sec. of St., the Sec. of Def., the Directo fo teh CIA and the Chairman of the Joint CHiefs of Staff. This intriguing polyglot advises the president on matters of security and offers, as best as possible, a coordinated policy concerning defense and diplomatic policies

Question 110

The Cabinet

Answer 110

Although the Constituion does not specifically refer to it, the cabinet came into existence at the request of George Wasinton. Since the time of the first presdient these secretaries of major departments of government have gown substantially in quantity. the initial cabinet positions include the secretary of state, the secretary of the treasure, the attorney gerneal and the secreaty of War. In washinton’s time these gentlemen offered advice to the president as well as administrating their depatements. From the beginning the presdient appointed cabinet memebrs and the senae confimerd them. Through the years the head of their depatments and meet as united body with the presdient. THEY STILL ADVISE THE PRESDIENT, ESPECIALLY OCNERNING POLY AFFECTING THEIR DEPARTMENTS. The initial four offices reamined the entire cabinet until the middle part of the nineteenth centruey. The cabinet until the middle part of the nineteenth century. The cabinet grew to include the Department of the Interiro and Agriculture. Later other cabinet positions were included and others restructured, such as the Department of COmmerce and Labor, which divided into separate departments. Another realigment occured when the department of Health, Education and Welfare became the Departments of Health and Human Services and THe Deaprtment of Education