Informal Sources of Presidential Power Flashcards
Give example of the roles and powers of the Presidency that are informal (not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution) - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
Selecting and chairing a Cabinet, overseeing the EXOP, chairing the NSC, signing Executive Orders and Executive Agreements, overseeing the OMB, issuing signing statements, utilising powers of persuasion, controlling the White House Office.
What is the Cabinet? How is it used and how is this different from in the UK? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
The Cabinet is a collection of people appointed by the President who have policy specialities, approved by the Senate. This is intended to present policies and enforce them rather than debate and decide on action, whereas in the UK it is more of a debating forum.
How many changes did Trump make to his Cabinet in 4 years? How many did Obama make in 8? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
In 4 years, Trump made 20 changes to his cabinet, with many of these being his Secretary of Defense. In 8 years, Obama made 3 changes to his Cabinet.
How many Cabinet meetings did Obama hold in 8 years? How many did Bush hold each year on average? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
Obama held 28 cabinet meetings in 8 years. Bush held 9/year on average.
What is the EXOP? When was it introduced? What are its 3 most important branches? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
The EXOP is the Executive Office of the President, introduced in the 1930s following the Federal expansion in the New Deal. It acts as a collection of 12 agencies to carry out Presidential responsibilities, with the 3 most important branches being the White House Office, the Office of Management an Budget and the National Security Council.
What is the power to persuade? Why is it important? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
The power to persuade is whereby the president uses the prestige of their office to encourage people and Congress to act as they wish. This is needed due to the separation of powers, checks and balances and the lack of formal patronage in the US.
What are means of persuasion available to the President under the power of persuasion? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
The President can appoint experienced individuals to cabinet to create a strong Executive, they can use their Chief of Staff to encourage certain actions, can make policy that has a broad appeal to a coalition of views/across party lines (Obamacare/No Child Left Behind).
How can the President use Executive Orders to assert direct authority? How many executive orders did Trump issue? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
The President can sign Executive Orders, which are official documents with legal force to direct federal government actions. These do not require congressional approval. Trump issued 220 Executive Orders.
How can the President use Executive Agreements to assert direct authority? What examples are there of this? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
The President can make agreements between foreign powers on matters not requiring a formal treaty without Senate approval. These have included the Paris Agreement and the Iran Nuclear Deal.
What are signing statements and how do they assert direct authority? When have these been used? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
Signing statements can be issued by a President alongside legislation to address concerns and reservations about a law. These were used by Obama on the 2011 Defense Act over concerns about Guantanamo Bay. Trump also objected to Congressional sanctions on Russian, Iranian ad North Korean officials.
How does an electoral mandate strengthen/weaken the power of a President? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
A strong electoral mandate, as occurred under Reagan in 1984 when he took 49 states, allows a President to control their agenda and become influential over Congress. However, with a questionable mandate, as Trump had after 2016, the President may struggle to legislate.
How can public approval strengthen/weaken a President’s power? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
After 9/11, Bush had approval ratings of 90% and allowed him to have substantial control over Congress. However, Trump had an average approval of 41% and as such struggled to get the approval of Congress as the delegates of the people.
How have national events strengthened/weakened presidential powers? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
Strengthened: Bush and 9/11, Obama and Hurricane Sandy
Weakened: Bush an Hurricane Katrina, Trump and COVID pandemic, Clinton and Lewinsky Scandal.
Why do most Presidents find a chief of staff useful? - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
Presidents find a chief of staff useful in order to coordinate meetings between individuals and to ensure that a broad spectrum of views are heard by a President so that they can reach a judgement. They are effectively a facilitator.
Give 3 examples of Executive Orders used by Presidents (Eisenhower, Kennedy, Obama) - Informal Sources of Presidential Power
Eisenhower: ordered the desegregation of Little Rock School with federal troops.
Kennedy: required affirmative action measures in employment.
Obama: reversed practices of Bush administration which involved interrogation and detention of terror suspects.
