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Presidency Flashcards

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1
Q

How many formal powers does the president have

A

9

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2
Q

What are the formal powers of the president

A 
There are 9
Propose legislation
Sign legislation
Veto legislation
Act as chief executive
Nominate executive branch officials
Nominate federal judges
Act as commander in chief
Negotiate treaties
Pardon
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3
Q

What powers does the president have concerning legislation

A

3 powers
Propose
Sign
Veto

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4
Q

What is the president’s annual address to congress called

A

State of the union

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5
Q

What appointment powers does the president have

A

2
Department and agency heads
Eg Secretary of State - mike Pompeo (Trump), Hilary Clinton (Obama)
Federal judges Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Coney Barrett (Trump),
Sotomayor and Kayan (Obama) Obama also wanted to appoint Garland in 2016

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6
Q

What foreign policy powers does the president have

A

Acts as commander in chief

Negotiates treaties

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7
Q

What are the legislative powers of the president

A

Propose legislation
Sign legislation
Veto legislation

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8
Q

What are the executive powers of the president

A

Act as chief executive ie in charge of running the executive branch

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9
Q

What are the appointment powers of the president

A

Department and agency heads

Federal judges

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10
Q

What are the foreign policy powers of the president

A

Act as commander in chief

Negotiate treaties

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11
Q

What does the pardon power of the president allow

A

V controversial
Often used to benefit close friends / supporters
Can be any form of clemency - commutation (reduction in sentence) or full pardon

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12
Q

What is meant by joint ticket

A

The Vice President and president are elected together

Eg trump and pence, Obama and Biden, Bush and Cheney, Clinton and Gore

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13
Q

Can the president fill a vacancy in vice presidency

If so how and give an example

A

Yes by appointment
Must be confirmed by congress
Gerald Ford in 1973
Nelson Rockefeller 1974

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14
Q

What are the five powers of the Vice President

A

Presiding officer in senate
Voting in the case of a tied vote in senate
Counting the electoral college votes after a presidential election
Becoming president in event of death, resignation or removal of president
Becoming acting president if the president is declared or declares himself disabled (25th amendment- TWW)

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15
Q

How many main powers does the VP have

A

5

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16
Q

Give an example of when a VP became acting president

A

Cheney when Bush underwent surgery

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17
Q

Give an example of VP becoming president due to death

A

Johnson became president after JFK was assassinated in 1963

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18
Q

Give an example of when VP became president due to resignation

A

Ford when Nixon resigned in 1974

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19
Q

Give an example of something interesting happening when the VP counted the electoral college votes

A

Pence counted on 6 Jan 2021
Trump had told his supporters that Pence would call election in Trumps favour despite actual vote count and when he didn’t it contributed to the riot

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20
Q

Give an example of when a VP has cast the presiding vote in the senate

A

Pence in order to confirm appointment of DeVos as Secretary of Education

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21
Q

What are the most significant powers of the VP

A

Voting in the case of a tied senate

Becoming president in event of death etc of president

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22
Q

What happens if the vice presidency falls vacant

A

President can appoint a Vp but this must be confirmed by senate

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23
Q

How is the VP elected

A

On same ticket as the president

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24
Q

Is the cabinet mentioned in the constitution

A

It is not BUT article II states the president “may require the opinion in writing” of heads of executive departments

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25
Q

What did Fenno state about eh cabinet

A

It has become “institutionalised by usual alone” ie it is used because it is is used

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26
Q

Is the cabinet advisory or decision making

A

Advisory

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27
Q

How many executive departments are there

A

15

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28
Q

Who makes up cabinet

A

15 executive department heads
Others who president designates as having cabinet rank
Eg US trade representative

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29
Q

How many additional members of the cabinet did trump have in 2017

A

8 inc White House chief of staff (mark meadows) and us trade representative (Lighthizer)

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30
Q

Why is it difficult to recruit cabinet members from incumbent members of congress

A

Because in order to take office they must first resign from congress

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31
Q

who are most cabinet officers

A

Former members of congress, state governors, big city mayors (Pete buttigeig)
Tend to be policy specialists

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32
Q

How should presidents balance their cabinet

A 
Gender
Race
Region
Age
Ideology
Ha ha trumps cabinet mostly old white rich business men
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33
Q

How often does cabinet meet

A

Varies from one president to another

Tend to hold fewer as presidency progresses

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34
Q

Why are cabinet meetings important

A 
Promote team spirit
Exchange of information
Debate and promote policy
Help people get along and resolve disputes
Enable people to speak to the president
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35
Q

Why is the president’s cabinet important

A

Contains some of the most important people in the executive branch eg sec of state and sec of defence
All heads of 15 departments are members automatically
President always chairs the meeting
Some presidents hold frequent meetings (Reagan / Trump)

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36
Q

Why is the president’s cabinet NOT important

A

Article II of the constitution vests “all executive power” in the president
No doctrine of collective responsibility
Members neither president’s equals or political rivals
President often views members with suspicion due to divided loyalties
The Executive Office of the President remains the main source of advice giving NOT the cabinet

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37
Q

Give a definition of the president’s cabinet

A

The advisory group, selected by the president, to aid him in making decisions and coordinating the work of the federal government

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38
Q

Where, apart from congress, do presidents look when recruiting their cabinet

A

Business, state governors, policy specialists, city mayors

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39
Q

What functions can cabinet meetings serve for the president

A

Engender team spirit
Exchange information
Debate/promote policy

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40
Q

What functions can cabinet meetings serve for members

A

Get to know colleagues
Resolve interdepartmental disputes
Speak directly to president

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41
Q

When was EXOP established

A

1939

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42
Q

What does EXOP stand for

A

It is the umbrella term for the top staff agencies in the the White House

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43
Q

How many offices make up EXOP

A

1939 - 4

2017 - 12

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44
Q

Why has the number of offices in the EXOP increased

A

Because the number of policy areas that the president must address has increased

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45
Q

Where do key EXOP staff work

A

West Wing

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46
Q

What are the 3 most important offices within the EXOP

A

White House office
Office of management and budget
National security council

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47
Q

What makes up the White House office

A

Includes president’s most trusted advisers and aides
More than 30 different offices
Eg office of cabinet affairs
Office of legislative affairs

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48
Q

What does the White House office do

A

Acts as a liaison between White House and federal bureaucracy

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49
Q

What are the duties of the White House chief of staff

A

Door keeper to the Oval Office
Decides for the president who he sees, what he reads, who speaks to him on the phone
Takes the blame for the president if things go wrong
Probably most powerful person in the White House after the president

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50
Q

What is the Office of Management and Budget

A

Headed by OMB director (confirmed by senate)
3 functions
To advise the president on the allocation of federal funds in the annual budget
To oversee the spending of all federal depts and agencies
To act as a clearing house for all presidential legislative and regulatory initiatives

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51
Q

What is function of the National Security Council

A 
Headed by the national security adviser (Obama’s was Susan Rice)
Coordinates information from 
State department
Defence department
CIA
Joint chiefs of staff
US ambassadors
V imp that NSC acts as an honest broker NOT policy promotor
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52
Q

Which departments does the NSC coordinate information from

A 
State department
Defence department
CIA
Joint chiefs of staff
US ambassadors around the world
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53
Q

Who are the joint chiefs of staff

A

Head of the armed forces

54
Q

What does CIA stand for

A

Central Intelligence Agency

55
Q

What is the main problem of EXOP

A

Rivalry with cabinet

56
Q

What are the reasons for rivalry between EXOP and cabinet

A

EXOP work in White House but cabinet often some distance away
EXOP see president frequently but cabinet members seldom and rarely one to one
EXOP therefore know president’s true feelings and cabinet members feel out of the loop
EXOP work only for president but cabinet members have divided loyalties (president, congress, pressure groups, companies)
EXOP staff often regard cabinet members as disloyal

57
Q

What is the main function of the NSC

A

To help the president coordinate foreign, security and defence policy

58
Q

What is the president trying to get congress to do

A

Pass his legislative proposals
Sustain his vetoes
Confirm his executive and judicial nominations (senate only)
Ratify his treaties (senate only)

59
Q

Why does the president need to persuade congress to support him the

A

His powers are checked by congress
His party may control only one house or neither
Congress members have other loyalties than to president (lobbyists, constituents)
Congress members are elected separately from president

60
Q

How is president’s power to propose legislation checked by congress

A

Amend,delay or reject proposals

61
Q

How is presidents power of veto checked by congress

A

Override (unusual - eg Obama used his veto 12 times and was overridden just once)

62
Q

How does congress check the president’s power to nominate executive branch officials

A

Senate has the power to confirm or reject

63
Q

How does congress check the president’s power to nominate federal judges

A

Senate has the power to confirm or reject

64
Q

How does congress check the president’s power to ratify treaties

A

Senate has the power to ratify or reject - rare to reject

65
Q

How can congress check the president’s power to act as commander in chief

A

Declare war

Power of the purse

66
Q

How does congress check the president’s power to act as chief executive

A

Investigation, impeachment, trial or removal from office

67
Q

Who helps president get support in congress

A

VP
Office of legislative affairs (part of White House office)
Cabinet ministers
party leaders in congress

68
Q

What perks can president use to help win the support of members of congress

A

Phone calls
Support legislation important to a member of congress
Invitations (social or political)
Campaign for them (only if in his party!)
Go on tv to appeal directly to voters

69
Q

What is the presidential support score

A

Annual statistic that measures how often the president won in recorded votes in congress (that they took a clear position on) expressed as a percentage of all such votes

70
Q

When is president’s support score at its highest

A

Early in their presidency

When president controls both houses of congress (eg Obama’s democrats in 2009/10)

71
Q

Give an example of a presidential support score

A

Obama 97% in 2009

Obama 39% 2016

72
Q

Give reasons why president’s power is still power to persuade

A

No formal disciplinary hold over members of congress
Party discipline in congress, through increasingly tight is not guarantee of votes
Either house or both may be controlled other party
President is dependent on members of congress for legislation, confirmation of appointments and treaty ratification
President’s direct authority has limited use
President can offer support for things members of congress regard as important

73
Q

Give reasons why the power to persuade is no longer important to the president

A

Increasing Partisanship within congress
Increasing partisanship within electorate
Presidents now usually have low approval ratings so their persuasion less effective
Second term presidents find they their persuasive powers v limited

74
Q

Finish the Quote

president and congress are part of a system of

A

Separated institutions, sharing powers

Richard Neustadt

75
Q

The president and congress are like

A

Two half’s of a bank note, each useless without the other

S Finer

76
Q

The president’s power

A

Is the power to persuade

Richard Neustadt

77
Q

The president needs to act as

A

Bargainer-in-chief

D Mervin

78
Q

What are the checks that congress has on the the presidents power to propose legislation

A

Amend, delay or reject

79
Q

What are the checks that congress has on the presidents power to veto legislation

A

Override veto by 2/3 majority in both houses

80
Q

What are the checks that congress has on the presidents power to nominated executive officials and federal judges

A

Senate can confirm or reject

81
Q

What are the checks that congress has on the presidents power to negotiate treaties

A

Senate can ratify or reject

82
Q

What phrase does David Mervin use to describe the presidents relationship with congress

A

Bargainer-in-chief

83
Q

Why did Obama’s support score vary so widely during his presidency

A

Range from 97% to 39%
Because support score is higher during first term and when president controls one or more of the houses of congress - so 2009/10 dems controlled both houses

84
Q

What are the 4 types of direct authority

A

Executive orders
Signing statements
Recess appointments
Executive agreements

85
Q

Why do presidents use direct authority

A

Frustrated by checks

Frustrated by partisanship

86
Q

What is direct authority

A

Actions the president can take which do not require congressional approval

87
Q

Why does president use an executive order

A

Easy for president to issue
Also easy for subsequent president to rescind
Obama used many after democrats lost control of congress
Trump used many when facing uncooperative congress

88
Q

What is an executive order

A

An official document issued by the executive branch with the effect of law, through which the president directs federal officials to take certain a actions

89
Q

Give examples of executive orders

A

Obama - DACA 2012 - immigration

Lincoln - emancipation proclamation 1862

90
Q

Give some examples of congress’ approval rating and what does it show

A

After 9/11 84%
2015 15 %
After 9/11 sense of whole country pulling together
Public are v unhappy at how congress behaves

91
Q

Give some examples of How many laws congresses pass each year and what does it show

A

300 laws in 112th congress (2011-13)
1028 laws in 84th congress (1955-57)

Shows that it is becoming harder to pass legislation

92
Q

How prominent is partisanship in congress

A

Higher now than at anytime since the late 1800’s

93
Q

How has use of the filibuster changed over time

A

It has dramatically increased

More cloture motions in 2009-10 than in 1950/60/70’s combined

94
Q

What is the monetary value of a house seat and what does this mean

A

$1.6 million
People who run either have a party funds or have a lot of personal money
Likely to be out of touch with the poorer members of their community and therefore under represent them

95
Q

Why are presidential nominees rejected

A

All modern nominee rejected have come when the president’s party has not controlled the senate
Eg Merrich Garland to SCOTUS - prevented by republicans because too close to the election but Trump was able to get Amy Coney Barrett elected as republican controlled Senate
Democrats rejected Robert Bork in 1987 to SCOTUS

96
Q

Give an example of when the president used a senate majority to force through a nomination and what does it show

A

Amy Coney Barrett 2020
Although republicans had an issue with Obama’s choice of Merrick Garland in 2016 being nominated 10 months before an election they did not stop Trump from nominating Barrett who was assumed office 1 week before the 2020 election!!!!
Shows the true partisan nature of congress and how it is broken

97
Q

Give an example of the Supreme Court having major partisan influence over congress

A

Unelected SCOTUS can strike down any legislation they see as unworthy
Often used as a partisan tool

98
Q

Give an example of legislation being passed with bipartisanship

A

Every student succeeds Act 2015

Trump attempted to repeal ACA but was prevented by John McCain who sided with the democrats

99
Q

Give an example of good legislation passed by congress and what does this show

A

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act 2009. Succeeded in its purpose to reduce the wage gap in america

Affordable Care Act 2010 fulfilled its purpose to increase healthcare coverage

Shows that congress can make resilient, strong and stable laws

100
Q

Give example of powerful legislation passed through congress

A

Justice Against sponsors of state terrorism Act 2016
Vetoed by Obama BUT overridden by congress (senate 97-1 and house 348-77)
Only override of an Obama veto

101
Q

Give an example of the power of the purse

A

Failures to implement an Obama executive order to close Guantanamo Bay by failing to appropriate the funds for it

102
Q

what is a signing statement

A

A statement issued by the president on singeing a bill which may challenge specific provisions of the bill on constitutional or other grounds

103
Q

Which president used a lot of signing statements

A

George W Bush

104
Q

What do critics say about signing statements

A

Abuse of presidential power over legislation

105
Q

What is a recess appointment

A

A temporary appointment of a federal official made by the president to fill a vacancy while the senate is in recess

106
Q

How long does a recess appointment last

A

Until the end of the next senate session
So the president is expected to nominate the person to the senate and for them to be confirmed in the normal way at some point during the session

107
Q

How many recess appointments did Clinton, Bush and Obama make

A

Clinton 139
Bush 171
Obama 32

108
Q

During Obama presidency what happened about recess appointments

A

Obama lost a Supreme Court decision about them in 2014 which resulted in their curtailment

109
Q

Why do presidents use executive orders

A

Because they are easy for the president to issue

110
Q

What are the pros and cons of signing statements

A

Pro a way of president getting his way over legislation even when congress is uncooperative
Con abuse of presidential power over legislation

111
Q

Why do presidents use recess appointments

A

Another way of the president getting his way against an uncooperative congress - this time gridlock in senate over confirmation of appointments

112
Q

What are the 3 theories of presidential power

A

The imperial presidency
The imperilled presidency
The post imperial presidency

113
Q

What is the imperial presidency

A

Most associated with Nixon (1969-74)
Characterised by abuse of power, secrecy and illegality
Term coined by Arthur Schlesinger 1973

114
Q

What is meant by the imperilled presidency

A

First used by Gerald Ford in 1980
Associated with Ford (1974-1977) and Carter (1977-81)
Characterised by congressional reassertiveness and presidential weakness

115
Q

What is meant by post imperial presidency

A

First used in 1980
Characterised by presidential reassertiveness but power limited due to hyper partisanship
Often used to refer to presidents from Reagan to Trump

116
Q

Which president is associated with the imperial presidency

A

Nixon (1969-74)

117
Q

Which two presidents are associated with the term imperilled presidency

A

Ford (1974-77)

Carter 1977-81)

118
Q

Name a president associated with the post imperial presidency idea

A

Reagan 1981-1989

Trump 2016-2020

119
Q

What is an executive agreement

A

An agreement reached between the president and a foreign nation on matters that do not require a formal treaty

120
Q

What powers does the constitution give a present regarding foreign policy

A

To act as commander in chief
To negotiate treaties with foreign powers
To make certain appointments - Secretary of State, defence secretary, director of CIA, ambassadors

121
Q

Who declares war

A

Congress
Must be agreed by simple majority in BOTH houses
Last used in 1941

122
Q

What powers does constitution give congress relating to foreign policy

A

To declare war (not used since 1941)
Control the budget - inc military spending
To ratify treaties - senate only
To confirm appointments - senate only
To investigate through standing or select committees eg senate foreign relations committee or house armed services committee

123
Q

Give reasons why president controls foreign policy

A 
Commander in chief
Has power to negotiate treaties
Has power to make appointments
Can set tone of foreign policy
Has access to nuclear button
Has all the facts in a crisis
124
Q

Give reasons why the president does NOT control foreign policy

A 
Congress controls purse string
Only congress can declare war (not used since 1941)
The senate has to ratify treaties
Senate has to confirm appointments
Congress has the power of investigation1
125
Q

What are the main checks on presidential power

A 
Congress
Supreme Court
Pressure groups
Public opinion
Voters
Federal bureaucracy
State governments
126
Q

Name 3 checks congress has on presidential power

A

Amend, delay or reject the presidents legislative proposals / budget requests
Override the president’s veto
Refuse to ratify treaties
Refuse to confirm appointments
Investigate the presidents action and policies
Impeach,try to remove the president form office

127
Q

What check does the Supreme Court have on presidential power

A

May declare the president’s actions to be unconstitutional

128
Q

Name three groups/institutions that can check presidential power

A 
Public opinion
Pressure groups
Voters
Federal bureaucracy
State governments
129
Q

Name three factors that can affect presidential success

A 
Electoral mandate
Public approval
First/second term
Unified / divided government 
Crises
130
Q

What effect can crises have on presidential success

A

People tend to ‘rally round the flag’ and look to the president for leadership
If president is seen to mishandle the crisis it can have the opposite effect (Trump with Covid)

131
Q

How does electoral mandate affect presidential success

A 
Difference between Reagan winning 59% 1984 and Trump 46% 2016
Both Bush (2000) and Trump (2016) lost the popular vote
132
Q

How does public approval affect a president’s success

A

The higher President’s public approval rating the more political clout he has
Difference between George W Bush (62% in first year) and Donald Trump (38% in first year)

Politics US (2 decks)

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