Midterm 1 Flashcards
Active-negative
are motivated primarily by the goals of getting and keeping power, but receive
little emotional benefit from their job (Nixon)
Active-positive
are presidents that are positively motivated individuals who enjoy their job and
seek results. (FDR, Kennedy)
Passive-Positive
seek power as a way to obtain the love and admiration of others. They are
less interested in absolute power or policy ends, but enjoy the job as long as they are popular (Madison, Reagan)
Passive-Negative
seek the office out of civic duty, but are relatively unhappy in doing the job. (Lincoln, Washington)
Advertising
How candidates market themselves to voters- Biography (intro), Positive, Negative, Contrast
American Plan
start with the small states (total of 8 congr. districts), add 8 more CDs every two
weeks, gradually expanding the size of the electorate. States randomly chosen for each round.
Stagger rounds 4-10 (so it would be 8, 16, 24, 56, 32, 64, 40, 72, 48, 80).
Backlash
when the crisis is overcome but leaves a residue of criticism of excessive use of Presidential power,
The Big Lie
A lie spread mainly by the Trump administration that the election results were fake, which lead to the Jan 6th events
Bryce’s “greatness” caucus
why great men (and soon women) aren’t chosen president? Which presidents would be
remembered if they hadn’t been president? Top talent not drawn into politics. Congress
doesn’t breed greatness. Eminent men make more enemies than obscure. Gap between a good
candidate and a president. Regional background, military background, no Catholics or non-
Christians. Method of selection.
presidential character
centers largely around a president’s self-esteem. Is he or she filled with self-confidence
to the point of being cocky, completely ridden with self-doubt, or somewhere in
between?
– Energy that president puts into the job (active/passive) and his affect toward the job–
does he enjoy it (positive/ negative) (barber)
closed primary
A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote
open primary
a primary election in which any registered voter can vote in any party’s primary.
constitutional/legal approach
evaluating the President by how they follow the constitution (strict construction, stewardship, prerogative), or by the laws they pass
Strict Construction
Taft- a literal interpretation of the Constitution
Stewardship
TR- President as an overseer
Prerogative
Lincoln- unconstitutional measures may be needed by the President in dire times
Contrast Ad
contain information about both the candidate and the opponent. The information about the candidate is positive, while the information about the opponent is negative
cyclical historical approach
Stephen Skowronek – political time. Constitutional and “national development” approaches are well
established, but they overlook the recurrent patterns of history. Common historical context faced by
presidents in similar junctures of political time. Three repeating regime types:
dark money
refers to political spending meant to influence the decision of a voter, where the donor is not disclosed and the source of the money is unknown.
delegated powers
Congress cannot implement laws, delegates to the bureaucracy. Other legislative
functions also delegated: “fast track” provisions on trade treaties.
Electoral College
An electoral college is a set of electors who are selected to elect a candidate to particular offices
Electoral Count Act amendments
– Narrowing the concept of “failed” elections
– Respect state determination of election outcomes, but courts can intervene if a state
“goes rogue.”
– Clarify role of vice president (only to count votes)
– Make it harder to object to electoral college votes (both the number of members
required and the grounds for objecting).
– Make a clear process for resolving disputes. What if the House and Senate disagree
electoral count act
1887 is a United States federal law adding to procedures set out in the Constitution of the United States for the counting of electoral votes following a presidential election
exclusive powers
Appointment and removal powers and Diplomatic power
executive order
rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.
executive order
rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.
“executive powers” clause
granting the president the power to convene both houses of Congress, receive foreign representatives, and commission all federal officers
federal matching funds
Public funds candidates are able to get during primaries
formal powers
commander-in-chief, head of state, head of government.
framing
posing an issue to make you look better as a President
frontlash
when a crisis is managed successfully and precedents are created for a stronger Presidency
overshoot-and-collapse
when exercising prerogative power when there is no perception of emergency perceived as abusing power and oath to office, domestic political resistance will be so severe that the president will have to fight for his political life
front-loading
distribute or allocate (costs, effort, etc.) unevenly, with the greater proportion at the beginning of the enterprise or process.
“going public”
Kernell- taking your case to the people. Paradox: presidents are going public at time it is least likely to work. Conditions that have to be in place for going public to have an impact. Measures of going public, why (technology), impact
hard money
federally regulated campaign contributions and other moneys spent to influence the outcome of a federal election
soft money
a contribution to a political party that is not accounted as going to a particular candidate, thus avoiding various legal limitations.
historical approach
thinking about the presidency in American history periods and cycles
impeachment
2 part process where the house must vote by a simple majority then the senate must convict with a 2/3 majority
what actions would lead to an impeachment
treason or a misdemenor
imperial presidency
LBJ and Nixon). Military, judicial, and
diplomatic powers. Executive orders. Dominating Congress
imperial presidency
jimmy Carter.
– The president had become too weak.
intimate presidency
Bill Clinton’s method of being close to the public
implied powers
powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution
Machiavelli’s Prince
A short treatise on how to acquire power, create a state, and keep it- people are self-interested and we need strong rulers
Madisonian Executive
Not really sure, I would say a strict Constitutionalist
majority president
A President that won both the electoral college and the popular vote
mandate
The idea of the myth of a presidential mandate.
Motivated reasoning
Using bias to lead to justification
National security Constitution
No search and seizures
Neustadtian power
Presidential Power as the power to persuade
Neutrality Proclamation
Washington’s issue that established a precedent in the exertion of executive authority for foreign policies
New Deal
FDR’s series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations during the Great Depression
nominating convention
A convention held by each part to select a final Presidential nominee. State delegates from the primaries and caucuses selected to represent their constituents,
Period/era approach
One way of analyzing Presidents by comparing them to other Presidents in the same era. 1789-1932- Traditional Presidency, 1933- current- modern Presidency
Presidential Personality
The personality that the president shows to the public
Philosopher-king
The idea that the best form of government is when philosophers rule- Plato
Pledged Delegate
A delegate at a political party’s presidential nominating convention that is pledged to vote for a candidate
Plurality president
A President who wins when they recieve the most votes in a geographical area, regardless if they win the majority (Donald Trump 2016)
Political Time
Different areas in a political cycle (regime management, regime construction, and regime enervation *look at discussion notes
Power Approach
President can be successful or unsuccessful depending on their ability to persuade
Presidential elector
serve in the electoral college and cast their vote
Prerogative Powers
Constitutionally based power to declare policy, take action, and make law without Congressional support
Prestige
Something that warrants respect or admiration
Primary elections
Held to nominate political party candidates to the general election
Psychological approach
Barber and the four types of presidents
Quantitative approach
Concentration on numbers and stats, not stories or personality
Rally effect
9/11
“Ratchet effect”
Government growth blossoms after crisis- causing bursts of growth rather than linear
Retail politics
kissing babies
Wholesale politics
build boards
Regime construction
Jackson and FDR- beginning of a new party system
Regime management
Polk and Kennedy- carry on the regime
Regime enervation
Pierce and Carter- struggle to hold the regime together-regime failure
Regional primaries
Proposal by critics of caucuses to divide the country into 4 regions
Sampson Presidency
Carter and Ford- imperiled President , power is necessary
Satan President
Nixon, LBJ- Use the power of the Presidency for personal gain
Savior President
President as a guardian to make the office stronger
Shared Powers
Powers shared between the President and Congress- Needs advice and consent of the Senate- treaties, and nominating people to public platforms
Signing statement
A written pronouncement by the President when signing a bill into law to comment on it
superdelegates
In the Dem party, an unelected delegate who is free to support any candidate for the Presidential election (opposed to pledged delegate)
“Take Care” clause
Requires the President to “take care” that the laws are faithfully executed, made to stop prompt and vigorous implementation of laws
Traditional/insider approach
Refers to the process of getting information about a president from their staff- extremely biased
Transition Period
The time between getting elected and getting in the White House- Rey quick turn around, best success with planning ahead
Unilateral Powers
Mean issue variety or rues, regulations, and instruction, ex.) executive orders
Washington Reputation
Someone’s reputation whilst in Washington?
Wilsonian executive
Comes from WW, open diplomacy, no secret treaties, freedom of navigation and freedom of the seas, foreign policies are morally superior because citizens in democracies love peace
