Presidency Flashcards
1
Q
How many formal powers does the president have
A
9
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
3
Q
What powers does the president have concerning legislation
A
3 powers
Propose
Sign
Veto
4
Q
What is the president’s annual address to congress called
A
State of the union
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
6
Q
What foreign policy powers does the president have
A
Acts as commander in chief
Negotiates treaties
7
Q
What are the legislative powers of the president
A
Propose legislation
Sign legislation
Veto legislation
8
Q
What are the executive powers of the president
A
Act as chief executive ie in charge of running the executive branch
9
Q
What are the appointment powers of the president
A
Department and agency heads
Federal judges
10
Q
What are the foreign policy powers of the president
A
Act as commander in chief
Negotiate treaties
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
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
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
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)
15
Q
How many main powers does the VP have
A
5
16
Q
Give an example of when a VP became acting president
A
Cheney when Bush underwent surgery
17
Q
Give an example of VP becoming president due to death
A
Johnson became president after JFK was assassinated in 1963
18
Q
Give an example of when VP became president due to resignation
A
Ford when Nixon resigned in 1974
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
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
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
22
Q
What happens if the vice presidency falls vacant
A
President can appoint a Vp but this must be confirmed by senate
23
Q
How is the VP elected
A
On same ticket as the president
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
25
What did Fenno state about eh cabinet
It has become “institutionalised by usual alone” ie it is used because it is is used
26
Is the cabinet advisory or decision making
Advisory
27
How many executive departments are there
15
28
Who makes up cabinet
15 executive department heads
Others who president designates as having cabinet rank
Eg US trade representative
29
How many additional members of the cabinet did trump have in 2017
8 inc White House chief of staff (mark meadows) and us trade representative (Lighthizer)
30
Why is it difficult to recruit cabinet members from incumbent members of congress
Because in order to take office they must first resign from congress
31
who are most cabinet officers
Former members of congress, state governors, big city mayors (Pete buttigeig)
Tend to be policy specialists
32
How should presidents balance their cabinet
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Gender
Race
Region
Age
Ideology
Ha ha trumps cabinet mostly old white rich business men
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33
How often does cabinet meet
Varies from one president to another
| Tend to hold fewer as presidency progresses
34
Why are cabinet meetings important
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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
Why is the president’s cabinet important
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)
36
Why is the president’s cabinet NOT important
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
37
Give a definition of the president’s cabinet
The advisory group, selected by the president, to aid him in making decisions and coordinating the work of the federal government
38
Where, apart from congress, do presidents look when recruiting their cabinet
Business, state governors, policy specialists, city mayors
39
What functions can cabinet meetings serve for the president
Engender team spirit
Exchange information
Debate/promote policy
40
What functions can cabinet meetings serve for members
Get to know colleagues
Resolve interdepartmental disputes
Speak directly to president
41
When was EXOP established
1939
42
What does EXOP stand for
It is the umbrella term for the top staff agencies in the the White House
43
How many offices make up EXOP
1939 - 4
| 2017 - 12
44
Why has the number of offices in the EXOP increased
Because the number of policy areas that the president must address has increased
45
Where do key EXOP staff work
West Wing
46
What are the 3 most important offices within the EXOP
White House office
Office of management and budget
National security council
47
What makes up the White House office
Includes president’s most trusted advisers and aides
More than 30 different offices
Eg office of cabinet affairs
Office of legislative affairs
48
What does the White House office do
Acts as a liaison between White House and federal bureaucracy
49
What are the duties of the White House chief of staff
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
50
What is the Office of Management and Budget
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
51
What is function of the National Security Council
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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
Which departments does the NSC coordinate information from
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State department
Defence department
CIA
Joint chiefs of staff
US ambassadors around the world
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53
Who are the joint chiefs of staff
Head of the armed forces
54
What does CIA stand for
Central Intelligence Agency
55
What is the main problem of EXOP
Rivalry with cabinet
56
What are the reasons for rivalry between EXOP and cabinet
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
What is the main function of the NSC
To help the president coordinate foreign, security and defence policy
58
What is the president trying to get congress to do
Pass his legislative proposals
Sustain his vetoes
Confirm his executive and judicial nominations (senate only)
Ratify his treaties (senate only)
59
Why does the president need to persuade congress to support him the
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
How is president’s power to propose legislation checked by congress
Amend,delay or reject proposals
61
How is presidents power of veto checked by congress
Override (unusual - eg Obama used his veto 12 times and was overridden just once)
62
How does congress check the president’s power to nominate executive branch officials
Senate has the power to confirm or reject
63
How does congress check the president’s power to nominate federal judges
Senate has the power to confirm or reject
64
How does congress check the president’s power to ratify treaties
Senate has the power to ratify or reject - rare to reject
65
How can congress check the president’s power to act as commander in chief
Declare war
| Power of the purse
66
How does congress check the president’s power to act as chief executive
Investigation, impeachment, trial or removal from office
67
Who helps president get support in congress
VP
Office of legislative affairs (part of White House office)
Cabinet ministers
party leaders in congress
68
What perks can president use to help win the support of members of congress
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
What is the presidential support score
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
When is president’s support score at its highest
Early in their presidency
| When president controls both houses of congress (eg Obama’s democrats in 2009/10)
71
Give an example of a presidential support score
Obama 97% in 2009
| Obama 39% 2016
72
Give reasons why president’s power is still power to persuade
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
Give reasons why the power to persuade is no longer important to the president
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
Finish the Quote
| president and congress are part of a system of
Separated institutions, sharing powers
Richard Neustadt
75
The president and congress are like
Two half’s of a bank note, each useless without the other
S Finer
76
The president’s power
Is the power to persuade
Richard Neustadt
77
The president needs to act as
Bargainer-in-chief
D Mervin
78
What are the checks that congress has on the the presidents power to propose legislation
Amend, delay or reject
79
What are the checks that congress has on the presidents power to veto legislation
Override veto by 2/3 majority in both houses
80
What are the checks that congress has on the presidents power to nominated executive officials and federal judges
Senate can confirm or reject
81
What are the checks that congress has on the presidents power to negotiate treaties
Senate can ratify or reject
82
What phrase does David Mervin use to describe the presidents relationship with congress
Bargainer-in-chief
83
Why did Obama’s support score vary so widely during his presidency
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
What are the 4 types of direct authority
Executive orders
Signing statements
Recess appointments
Executive agreements
85
Why do presidents use direct authority
Frustrated by checks
| Frustrated by partisanship
86
What is direct authority
Actions the president can take which do not require congressional approval
87
Why does president use an executive order
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
What is an executive order
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
Give examples of executive orders
Obama - DACA 2012 - immigration
| Lincoln - emancipation proclamation 1862
90
Give some examples of congress’ approval rating and what does it show
After 9/11 84%
2015 15 %
After 9/11 sense of whole country pulling together
Public are v unhappy at how congress behaves
91
Give some examples of How many laws congresses pass each year and what does it show
300 laws in 112th congress (2011-13)
1028 laws in 84th congress (1955-57)
Shows that it is becoming harder to pass legislation
92
How prominent is partisanship in congress
Higher now than at anytime since the late 1800’s
93
How has use of the filibuster changed over time
It has dramatically increased
| More cloture motions in 2009-10 than in 1950/60/70’s combined
94
What is the monetary value of a house seat and what does this mean
$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
Why are presidential nominees rejected
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
Give an example of when the president used a senate majority to force through a nomination and what does it show
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
Give an example of the Supreme Court having major partisan influence over congress
Unelected SCOTUS can strike down any legislation they see as unworthy
Often used as a partisan tool
98
Give an example of legislation being passed with bipartisanship
Every student succeeds Act 2015
Trump attempted to repeal ACA but was prevented by John McCain who sided with the democrats
99
Give an example of good legislation passed by congress and what does this show
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
Give example of powerful legislation passed through congress
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
Give an example of the power of the purse
Failures to implement an Obama executive order to close Guantanamo Bay by failing to appropriate the funds for it
102
what is a signing statement
A statement issued by the president on singeing a bill which may challenge specific provisions of the bill on constitutional or other grounds
103
Which president used a lot of signing statements
George W Bush
104
What do critics say about signing statements
Abuse of presidential power over legislation
105
What is a recess appointment
A temporary appointment of a federal official made by the president to fill a vacancy while the senate is in recess
106
How long does a recess appointment last
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
How many recess appointments did Clinton, Bush and Obama make
Clinton 139
Bush 171
Obama 32
108
During Obama presidency what happened about recess appointments
Obama lost a Supreme Court decision about them in 2014 which resulted in their curtailment
109
Why do presidents use executive orders
Because they are easy for the president to issue
110
What are the pros and cons of signing statements
Pro a way of president getting his way over legislation even when congress is uncooperative
Con abuse of presidential power over legislation
111
Why do presidents use recess appointments
Another way of the president getting his way against an uncooperative congress - this time gridlock in senate over confirmation of appointments
112
What are the 3 theories of presidential power
The imperial presidency
The imperilled presidency
The post imperial presidency
113
What is the imperial presidency
Most associated with Nixon (1969-74)
Characterised by abuse of power, secrecy and illegality
Term coined by Arthur Schlesinger 1973
114
What is meant by the imperilled presidency
First used by Gerald Ford in 1980
Associated with Ford (1974-1977) and Carter (1977-81)
Characterised by congressional reassertiveness and presidential weakness
115
What is meant by post imperial presidency
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
Which president is associated with the imperial presidency
Nixon (1969-74)
117
Which two presidents are associated with the term imperilled presidency
Ford (1974-77)
| Carter 1977-81)
118
Name a president associated with the post imperial presidency idea
Reagan 1981-1989
| Trump 2016-2020
119
What is an executive agreement
An agreement reached between the president and a foreign nation on matters that do not require a formal treaty
120
What powers does the constitution give a present regarding foreign policy
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
Who declares war
Congress
Must be agreed by simple majority in BOTH houses
Last used in 1941
122
What powers does constitution give congress relating to foreign policy
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
Give reasons why president controls foreign policy
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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
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124
Give reasons why the president does NOT control foreign policy
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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
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125
What are the main checks on presidential power
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Congress
Supreme Court
Pressure groups
Public opinion
Voters
Federal bureaucracy
State governments
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126
Name 3 checks congress has on presidential power
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
What check does the Supreme Court have on presidential power
May declare the president’s actions to be unconstitutional
128
Name three groups/institutions that can check presidential power
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Public opinion
Pressure groups
Voters
Federal bureaucracy
State governments
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129
Name three factors that can affect presidential success
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Electoral mandate
Public approval
First/second term
Unified / divided government
Crises
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130
What effect can crises have on presidential success
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
How does electoral mandate affect presidential success
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Difference between Reagan winning 59% 1984 and Trump 46% 2016
Both Bush (2000) and Trump (2016) lost the popular vote
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132
How does public approval affect a president’s success
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)
