Institutions Test Flashcards
formal requirements for the President
- at least 35 years old
- resided in the U.S. for 14+ years
- natural-born citizen
informal presidential requirements
white, male, Protestant
22nd Amendment
passed in 1951, the amendment that limits presidents to two terms of office
12th Amendment
provides for the election of the president and vice-president by the electoral college; if a candidate does not have a majority vote, the House of representatives chooses the President and the Senate the vice president
25th Amendment
passed in 1967, this amendment permits the vice president to become acting president if both the vice president and the president’s cabinet determine that the president is disabled; the amendment also outlines how a recuperated president can reclaim the job
impeachment
the political equivalent of an indictment in criminal law, prescribed by the Constitution; the House of Representatives may impeach the president by a majority vote for “treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
Watergate Scandal
the events and scandal surrounding a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and the subsequent cover-up of White House involvement, leading to the eventual resignation of President Nixon under the threat of impeachment
differences between contemporary and framers’ view of the presidency
Framers: more limited authority, fewer responsibilities, and much less organizational structure
Constitutional powers of the President
National Security Powers:
commander-in-chief of the armed forces, make treaties (subject to approval of Senate supermajority), nominate ambassadors, receive ambassadors
Legislative Powers: state of the union, recommend legislation to Congress, convene/adjourn Congress, veto legislation
Administrative Powers: “take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” nominate officials as provided for by Congress/approved by Senate majority, request written opinions of administrative officials, fill administrative vacancies during congressional recesses
Judicial Powers:
grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses (except impeachment), nominate federal judges, who are confirmed by a majority of the Senate
executive order
regulation originating from the executive branch
executive agreement
an international agreement made by the President, without Senatorial ratification, with the head of a foreign state
executive privilege
the right of the executive officials to refuse to appear before, or to withhold information from, a legislative committee; enjoyed by the President
United States v. Nixon
The Supreme Court case which held that the doctrine of executive privilege was implicit in the Constitution but could not be extended to protect documents relevant to criminal prosecutions
shifting historical view of the ideal strength of the president
1950s/60s: favored powerful/strong presidency
70s: Johnson/Vietnam War + Nixon/Watergate people reassess; distrusted president/thought too powerful
more stuff if concerned pg. 408
Vice President
historically little studied/importance; recently some involve in policy discussions/important diplomacy; used to placate symbolic constituency (e.g. Biden military)
cabinet
a group of presidential advisers not mentioned in the Constitution, although every president has had one; today the cabinet is composed of 14 secretaries, the attorney general, and others designated by the president
executive office
collection of offices and organizations loosely grouped; some created by Congress through legislation, president has organized the rest
National Security Council
an office created in 1947 to coordinate the president’s foreign and military policy advisers; its formal members are the president, vice president, secretary of state, and secretary of defense, and it is managed by the president’s national security assistant
Council of Economic Advisers
a three-member body appointed by the president to advise the president on economic policy; prepare the annual “Economic Report of the President,” which includes data and analysis on the current state and future trends of the economy
Office of Management and Budget
an office that grew out of the Bureau of the Budget, created in 1921, consisting of a handful of political appointees and hundreds of skilled professionals; performs both managerial and budgetary functions; prepares the President’s budget
qualities of “good” White House staff
self-effacing, loyal, anonymous
Chief of Staff
the person who oversees the operations of all White House staff and controls access to the president
hierarchical vs. wheel-and-spokes system
chief of staff = head/directs others vs. many aides have equal status and are balanced against one another in the process of decision making
The First Lady
no official government position; Adams/Madison/Roosevelt counseled/lobbied husbands; Wilson ran government when Pres stroked, Johnson on most chose single issue to focus on; Clinton most in politics