Presidency Flashcards
Formal power (Chief Executive)
granted all executive power and delegate to large number of departments. Nominate 4,000 government officials
Nominations being rejected
Chad Wolf rejected as head of Department of Homeland Security and Senate rejected 2 of Biden’s nominations
Formal power (foreign policy)
Commander in chief and negotiate treaties
Example of President using commander in chief position
Trump made decision to assassinate Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020 and Biden made the decision to pull the US troops out of Afghanistan
Formal power (legislation)
recommend legislation to Congress and sign veto legislation
two examples of policy recommened at State of Union address
Obama passing Affordable Care Act and Biden wanting to protect reproductive rights
3 examples of president vetoing bills
Obama vetoed 12, Trump vetoed 10 and Biden vetoed a bill that would’ve blocked his student loan forgiveness
Judicial powers (formal powers)
issues presidential pardons (1000 and Nixon)
Nominate federal judges (formal power
nominate all federal judges including those on the S.C e. Trump nominated 3
Head of state (formal power)
symbolic role - represent with foreign visitors and seek to unite the nation at times of crisis (Bush) (hard to do currently)
Example of head of state
Trump several high profile meetings with North Korea and Russian leaders
Electoral mandate (informal power)
Ability to use mandate to pass or create policy. Biden’s mandate was used to justify swift action and policies in response to COVID and pass American Rescue Plan 2021 (also ACA and No child left behind other examples)
Executive Orders (informal powers)
- easily issued instructions to federal officials (easy to remove)
Trump 220 E.O and Biden signed a large number in 2022 instructing officials to protect access to reproductive healthcare services
Executive agreements (informal agreement)
Made between President and other nations - allow President to make agreements with other nations and can be easily passed w/o senate need for approval
3 examples of Executive Agreement
- Biden to join Paris Agreement
- Trump agreement with Taliban in Afghanistan so can remove troops
Obama - Iran Nuclear Deal (removed by T)
Signing statement (informal power)
As passing document the President writes how they will enact this law and which bits they will enforce (pass without Congressional approval) e.g. Trump for the COVID19 Relief and Government Funding Bill 2020 - calling for increased direct payments to individuals (led to another bill)
Executive Privilege (informal power)
Allows president and other high-level officials the power to withold information from Congress, the courts and public e.g Trump over requests from Cngs for his tax returns
National events (informal power)
when crises, disasters or significant societal shifts opportunities to lead and enact policies e.g Bush received huge support for invasion of Iraq and war on Terror
National events bad (informal power)
Can undermine President’s popularity e.g Trump’s failings with COVID ultimately led to him loosing election
power of Persuasion (PoP) (informal power)
Power to garner support for policies through decisions and support as can’t force Congress
PoP (their and the V.P relationship)
use connections and relationship to create support e.g Biden reached out to moderate Repubs and Dems to shape American Rescue plan and Mike Pence frequently met with congressional members to negotiate and push forwards Trumps legislative priorities like the tax cuts and jobs act
PoP - Cabinet
Cabinet members advocate for legislation e.g under Trump the office of Legislative affairs was instrumental in coordinating with Congress to advance the repeal and replacement of Affordable Care act and Biden’s Secretary of Transport has been active in lobbying Congress for instrastructure investment
PoP party leadership in Congress
work with party leaders to facilitate passage of their legislative agenda e.g Trump frequently collaborated with Mitch McConnell to advance conservative judge appointments and key legislative pieces like 2017 tax overhaul and Biden/Kevin McCarthy reach conclusion of budget in 2023
PoP - offering perks
offer key positions in committees or photo opportunities to persuade individual Congress members to support their agenda e.g Biden hosting a bipartisan infrastructure meeting at the White House or Trump publicly supported Ted Cruz who was facing a competitive re-election
PoP - Bully Pulpit
addressing the public for their support/using status to gain media coverage and shape people’s opinion. E.g State of Union address, Trump used twitter to call out individual members of Congress who opposed his healthcare reform plans and Biden used speeches highlighting the need for urgent relief for COVID
How many in the cabinet?
15 and the V.P - responsible for certain policy area e.g Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transport
Cabinet key role
plays a crucial role in advising the President on various areas and provide specialized knowledge and support for the President
Cabinet loyalty
As they are appointed by the President they have little independent power and will be fired if they clash with the President (Trump fired 3 National Security Advisors) but many have had significant impact
Example of cabinet members have significant power
Scott Pruitt and Andrew Wheeler as (T’s) Environmental Secretaries - rolled back regulations, supported fossil fuel industry, revising Clean Power Plan and revised water protection rules Or his Attorney General who had a major influence on trump’s immigration policies - implementation of ‘zero tolerance’
EXOP challenge the cabinet
they have direct access to the P and have specialized agencies that occassionally overshadowed the Cabinet’s influence over policy (they meet with the president daily unlike cabinet monthly basis)
Example of EXOP being useful
Biden’s national security council have been instrumental in reversing Trump’s policies such as re-joining Paris Climate Agreement and renewing participation in the WHO. Also been important in providing intelligence in relation to Hamas terrorist attacks. Obama’s national security council were crucial in planning the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden in 2011
Example of Office Management and Budget
oversees the preparation and administration of the federal budget and assist the President in developing and submitting the federal budget to Congress e.g formulating Biden’s budgets aimed at addressing the COVID-19 pandemics economic impacts and reversing Trumps deregulatory policy like healthcare protection
White House Office
key personal and political staff who directly assist and advise the President in various capacities - central to the functioning of the President by providing essential support, advice and management. Manages day-to-day operations of the white House including planning events
clinton example of imperial
went to war with 6 countries without Congressional approval
Imperial president?
increasingly powerful due to executive orders, diminished of checks and balance system and ignoring the wishes of Congress
Bush example of imperial
after 9/11 expanded executive power through the Patriot Act which allowed for increased surveillance and search powers without conventional judical oversight
Obama imperial president
used executive orders when he couldn’t achieve goals through Congress e.g DACA when Dreamers failed and engaged with Libya (military) without seeking formal declarations of war
Trump imperial president
declared a national emergency in 2019 to divert funds to build a board wall when Congress denied funding
Imperilled Presidency
often faces significant limitations and challenges in exercising power - reliance on power of persuasion and acting as a facilitator rather than autonomous decision maker
Bush imperilled
faced significant challenges on implementing his social security reform plan in 2005
Obama imperilled
failed to pass any significant legislation on big issues after first 2 years and instead was forced to implement less singificant changes through executive orders (some reversed by Trump)
Trump imperilled
Unable to appeal ACA and fund his boarder wall and had to use E.O to build the wall (but only small section)
