presidency Flashcards
1
Q
what are the key roles of the president?
A
chief diplomat
chief legislator
commander in chief
chief of state
2
Q
where does the formal powers of the president come from?
A
article 2
3
Q
what does article 2 section 1 outline?
A
election process of president and requirements
4
Q
what does article 2 section 2 outline?
A
most of the social powers, focus on role as commander in chief
5
Q
what does article 2 section 3 outline?
A
presidents responsibilities
6
Q
what does article 2 section 4?
A
impeachment
7
Q
as head of state, what duties does the president have?
A
ceremonial and diplomatic
8
Q
the president is the key figure to look to in times of what?
A
crisis
9
Q
what does the presidents role as head of state give him?
A
large amounts of authority
10
Q
what policies did Obama propose after the Newtown shootings in a public address?
A
- created gun violence task force
- reintroduced assault weapons ban
- legislative proposals sent to congress inc maximum ammunition magazines of ten rounds
11
Q
how did Obamas role as head of state affect his ability to achieve his policy goals after the Newtown shooting?
A
didn’t help him pass propose legislation as it failed in congress but it gave his EOs passed more legitimacy
12
Q
what EXOP department drafts the annual budgets?
A
office of management and budget
13
Q
what chamber approves the budget?
A
house
14
Q
if the senate votes down the presidents budget, what may happen to the presidents legislative agenda?
A
it may be in jeopardy
15
Q
what is the result when the senate when the senate doesn’t pass the budget?
A
gridlock and shutdown
16
Q
what did Biden risk in 2021 when trying to pass his Build Back Better Budget?
A
gridlock
17
Q
where can the president suggest legislation to be considered by congress?
A
the state of the union address
18
Q
in the 2018 state of the union address, what did Trump use it to do?
A
crack down on immigration and keep Guantanamo bay open
19
Q
what did Biden announce in the 2022 state of the union address?
A
policy on a national mental health strategy, asked for gun control measures, asked for financial support for Ukraine
20
Q
is congress bound to follow what presidents propose in the state of the union?
A
no as congress is the legislative chamber
21
Q
where was Clinton successful with his state of the union policies?
A
assault weapons ban, passed a ten year ban
22
Q
where was Clinton unsuccessful with his state of the union policies?
A
healthcare reform failed to pass in congress
23
Q
where was Bush unsuccessful in his state of the union policies?
A
war on terror had debacle success as actions in Middle East are questionable
24
Q
where was Bush successful in his state of the union policies?
A
healthcare reform, reforms signed making prescriptions more accessible
25
where was Obama successful in his state of the union policies?
gay rights, repeal of dont ask dont tell
26
where was obama unsuccessful in his state of the union policies?
immigration reform - had to rely on executive orders instead
27
what must the president do for bills to become law?
sign it
28
what happens to a bill if the president leaves a bill for ten days when congress is still in session?
it automatically becomes law
29
what did Obama allow the renewal of in 2016 without his signature?
Iran sanctions act
30
what can presidents do to legislation they disagree with?
veto it
31
how can a veto be overridden?
2/3 superiority in both chambers
32
how many times did Trump veto bills in his 4 years in office?
10 bills
33
how many vetoes did Obama and bush issue?
12
34
how many vetoes did Clinton issue?
37
35
what happened to Obamas veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act?
easily overridden by congress
36
what did the justice against terrorsim act allow?
victims of 9/11 to sue Saudi Arabia
37
what happened to trumps veto of the NDAA?
overridden by congress
38
what did the National defence and reauthorisation act (NDAA) propose?
renaming military basis named after confederate war heroes
39
what is the pocket veto?
used at the end of legislative sessions when presidents do not sign the bill within the days and then they die
40
what can't congress do to pocket vetos?
override them
41
how many times did Bush use the pocket veto?
15
42
who are the most important of the presidential nomination?
15 executive departments such as treasury, agriculture, and state
43
who is the head of the treasury?
janet yellen
44
who is the secretary of state?
Anthony Blinken
45
who is the head of agriculture?
Tom Vilsack
46
what must the senate do to all presidential nominations?
confirm these appointments by a simple majority vote
47
who did Trump appoint to the Supreme Court?
Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanagh and Amy Coney Barett
48
who did Biden appoint to the supreme court?
Ketanji Brown Jackson
49
the presidents role as what gives him more power in times of war?
commander in chief
50
when was the last time congress declared war?
1942
51
the president does what with treaties which is then what by the senate?
negotiates, ratified
52
what treaty did Reagan negotiate?
START treaty on nuclear disarmament
53
what treaty did Bush negotiate?
chemical weapons ban
54
what treaty did Obama negotiate?
nuclear arms treaty with Russia
55
what must the senate ratify treaties by?
2/3 supermajority
56
what didn't Clintons test ban treaty receive in the senate?
simple majority
57
what can presidents use to overcome checks on the power in treaties?
executive agreements
58
what four powers did the constitution originally give presidents?
- presiding officer in the senate
- power to break a tie vote in the senate
- announcing result of electoral college votes
- becoming president in case of death or resignation of the president
59
how many times has Harris used the power to break a tie vote in the senate?
26, once to allow the inflation reduction act to pass
60
how many times did pence use the power to break a tie vote in the senate?
13, once allowing Betty DeVos to become Secretary of State for education in 2017
61
in 2021, what did trump try to get pence to do?
to change the result of the election but he abided by the constitutional order
62
what is the more recent fifth power that the VP has gained?
power to become acting president if the president is declared disabled
63
what amendment allows the VP to become acting president?
25th amendment
64
when did Cheney become acting president for Bush and why?
several hours in 2002 and 2007 because bush was hospitalised
65
what are informal sources of the presidents power?
powers that aren't explicitly mention in the constitution such as the cabinet and EXOP
66
what type of group is the presidents cabinet?
an advisory group
67
what are the four major pools of recruitment for the cabinet?
- congress
- former state governors
- big city mayors
- academia
68
who was appointed as secretary for energy in 2009 and where was he from?
Steven chu, professor of Physics at university of California
69
what power does the president need to get congress' agreement?
power of persuasion
70
why is the power of persuasion difficult?
because of the system of 'separated institutions sharing power'
71
under what type of congress does the power of persuasion become more difficult?
divided government
72
why can the president do very little without the approval of congress?
because the founding fathers wanted to prevent the president from become tyrannical
73
what have all of the last six VPs been members of?
congress, Biden was senator for Delaware
74
what are members of the office of legislative affairs?
members of the White House office who work as full time lobbyists on Capitol Hill
75
who can the presidents work through in congress?
party leadership
76
who is the house speaker?
Mike Johnson R
77
who is the house minority leader?
Hakeem Jeffries D
78
who is the senate majority leader?
Chuck Schuemer D
79
who is the senate minority leader?
Mitch McConnel R
80
who is the senate majority leader?
Steve Scalise R
81
what is presidential persuasion through perks?
reward in return for helping the president achieve his goal
82
what factors effect how successfully a president can use their powers of persuasion?
- how early they appoint positions
- a good chief of staff
- closed discussions v selling the final product
- close working relationships with White House staff
83
which presidents had appointments for key cabinet positions secured before they were sworn in?
Bush, Obama and Biden meaning they made effective use of their first 100 days
84
did trump appoint positions early?
no therefore it took him longer to utilise these people
85
what is a chief of staff with experience working with congress vital for?
effective powers of persuasion
86
who has Biden appointed successfully as chief of staff's far?
Klain
87
what must presidents be due to polarisation?
pragmatic and willing to compromise
88
who did Obama have to compromise with to pass ACA?
conservative democrats like Manchin who didn't support universal coverage
89
what did Bush ensure his whole EXOP did to fight the war on terror?
worked together
90
was Trump successful in having close working relationship with White House staff?
no, he regularly fired people over twitter
91
what are the 2nd half of 2nd term presidents called?
lame duck
92
what do executive orders do?
instruct federal departments on how to enforce law
93
how many EOs did Obama use?
154
94
what are examples of Obamas EOs?
one to review the detainees and end the unlawful interrogation techniques used at Guantanamo Bay
95
what are examples of Trumps EOs?
to bring in the muslim travel ban, one to separate parent and children who illegally crossed the US-Mexico border
96
in what case was trumps EO for the muslim travel ban allowed by the Supreme Court?
Trump V Hawaii
97
how many EOs did Obama sign in his first year?
52
98
what are examples of Biden EOs?
to cancel the keystone pipeline
99
why are EOs weak?
they can be easily done by the next president
100
how has family banning clinics been as issue contested by EOs for years?
Reagan introduced a ban, Clinton revokes, Bush reinstated, Obama revoked, Trump reinstated, Biden revoked
101
what of Trumps EOs did Biden remove?
trans military ban and Mexico border wall project
102
why was Obamas EO on the unlawful interrogation techniques in Guantanamo Bay unsuccessful?
congress passing a bill against the closure
103
what are executive agreements?
agreements between president and foreign nations
104
who was Clintons agreement with North Korea on nuclear disarmament critics by?
rep John McCain
105
why was obamas JCPOA unlikely to be ratified by the senate as a treaty?
as the senate was controlled by republicans
106
who did Clinton pardon on his final day in office?
a fugitive who donated to his campaign
107
how many pardons did Obama issue in his final month?
142
108
how many pardons did Trump issue in his time in office?
143
109
what are commutations?
do not change a guilty verdict but do lesson or remove a senatcne
110
how many commutations did Obama issue on his last fay in office?
330 relating to drug offences
111
what hasn't any president since Reagan achieved?
over 55% of the vote
112
what can weaken a successful presidents mandate in the midterms?
divided government
113
what % of the vote did Biden win in 2020?
51%
114
how did the Monica Lewinsky scandal weaken Clinton?
led to his impeachment of perjury under oath and obstruction of evidence
115
how did 9/11 strengthen Bush's power?
approval rating jumped dramatically due to his fats response to the crisis
116
how did the covid 19 pandemic weaken Trump?
trumps approval rating during the handling of the pandemic plunged to 35%
117
was Trump successful in united government?
no, failed to repeal ACA due to moderate republicans like Collins and Murkowksi
118
was Clinton successful under united government?
no, failed to introduce healthcare reforms despite being main campaign area
119
how was trump successful in divided government?
passed the CARES act provided covid relief and $2.2 trillion stimulus to the economy
120
what was the rate of oversight in the 117th congress' budget committee?
0%
121
what was the rate of oversight in the 118th congress' budget committee?
12%
122
how many of Clintons vetoes were override?
2
123
how many of Bush's vetos were overrode?
4
124
how many of obamas vetos were overrode?
1
125
how many of Trumps vetos were overrode?
1
126
how can the election cycle affect the presidents relationship of congress?
can lead to divided government which weakens the relationship
127
in January 2024, what was Biden approval amongst democrats?
80%
128
in January 2024, what was Biden approval amongst republicans?
7%
129
what was Bush's popularity after 9/11?
85%
130
why is the president far less able to influence the court?
constitutional constraints allowing the court to have greater independence
131
after what did Obama criticise the SC in his state of the union address?
Citizens United v FEC
132
why did Trump criticise federal district judge Robert?
struck down his immigration ban
133
what is Schlesinger's concept of imperial presidency?
that the modern presidency was emperor like, misusing their power and acting unconstitutionally
134
what area are president typically imperial in?
foreign policy
135
what is an imperilled presidency?
a reaction by congress to reassert its powers by create legislation to limit the power of the president
136
how did the case act 1972 limit the president?
required them to inform congress of all executive agreements with foreign nations
137
how did the war powers act 1973 attempt to limit the presidents power?
attempted to limit presidents use of troops unless congress declared war or gave specific statutory authorisation
138
what has the war powers act 1973 been declared as?
unconstitutional by presidents who refused to adhere to it
139
what is evidence to suggest that Clinton was imperial?
- prepared 20,000 troops to invade Haiti
- committed the most troops for Serbian war but refuse to go to congress for a formal declaration
140
what is evidence to suggest that Clinton was imperilled?
- never actually invaded Haiti
- failed to pass healthcare reforms
- impeached
141
evidence to suggest that Bush was imperial?
- war on terror using EOs to order surveillance of terror suspects without court order
- Homeland security Act
- No child left behind act
142
what is evidence to suggest that Bush was imperilled?
- often didn't act unilaterally and sought approval from congress
- republican congress refused to act on his social security reforms in 2006
143
what is evidence to suggest that Obama was Imperial?
- launched around 10x the number of air strikes in the Middle East than Bush
- conducted missile strikes in Libya without congressional approval in 2012
144
what is evidence to suggest that Obama was imperilled?
- had to modify ACA to repeal conservative democrats
- never closed Guantanamo bay
- EA of JCPOA as senate wouldn't ratify it as a treaty
145
what is evidence to suggest that trump was imperial?
- withdrew US from JCPOA
- used airstrikes across middle east on ISIS
- improved relations with North Korea with meeting with Kim Jong-Un 3 times
146
what is evidence to suggest that Trump was imperilled?
- impeached 2x
- failed to repeal Obamacare
- Pelosi ripped up Trumps state of the union speech after he refused to shake her hand
147
what is evidence to suggest that Biden is imperial?
- passed EOs to protect access to abortion
- passed major legislation like respect for marriage act 2022, and bipartisan safer communities act 2022
148
what is evidence to suggest that Biden is imperilled?
- passed inflation reduction act 2022 but had to slim it down from original build back better act
- rep house refusing to pass immigration bill despite it being exactly what they want
