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