Presidency Flashcards

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1
Q

Formal power (Chief Executive)

A

granted all executive power and delegate to large number of departments. Nominate 4,000 government officials

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2
Q

Nominations being rejected

A

Chad Wolf rejected as head of Department of Homeland Security and Senate rejected 2 of Biden’s nominations

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3
Q

Formal power (foreign policy)

A

Commander in chief and negotiate treaties

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4
Q

Example of President using commander in chief position

A

Trump made decision to assassinate Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020 and Biden made the decision to pull the US troops out of Afghanistan

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5
Q

Formal power (legislation)

A

recommend legislation to Congress and sign veto legislation

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6
Q

two examples of policy recommened at State of Union address

A

Obama passing Affordable Care Act and Biden wanting to protect reproductive rights

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7
Q

3 examples of president vetoing bills

A

Obama vetoed 12, Trump vetoed 10 and Biden vetoed a bill that would’ve blocked his student loan forgiveness

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8
Q

Judicial powers (formal powers)

A

issues presidential pardons (1000 and Nixon)

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9
Q

Nominate federal judges (formal power

A

nominate all federal judges including those on the S.C e. Trump nominated 3

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10
Q

Head of state (formal power)

A

symbolic role - represent with foreign visitors and seek to unite the nation at times of crisis (Bush) (hard to do currently)

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11
Q

Example of head of state

A

Trump several high profile meetings with North Korea and Russian leaders

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12
Q

Electoral mandate (informal power)

A

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)

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13
Q

Executive Orders (informal powers)

A
  • 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
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14
Q

Executive agreements (informal agreement)

A

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

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15
Q

3 examples of Executive Agreement

A
  • Biden to join Paris Agreement
  • Trump agreement with Taliban in Afghanistan so can remove troops
    Obama - Iran Nuclear Deal (removed by T)
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16
Q

Signing statement (informal power)

A

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)

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17
Q

Executive Privilege (informal power)

A

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

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18
Q

National events (informal power)

A

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

19
Q

National events bad (informal power)

A

Can undermine President’s popularity e.g Trump’s failings with COVID ultimately led to him loosing election

20
Q

power of Persuasion (PoP) (informal power)

A

Power to garner support for policies through decisions and support as can’t force Congress

21
Q

PoP (their and the V.P relationship)

A

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

22
Q

PoP - Cabinet

A

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

23
Q

PoP party leadership in Congress

A

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

24
Q

PoP - offering perks

A

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

25
Q

PoP - Bully Pulpit

A

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

26
Q
A
26
Q

How many in the cabinet?

A

15 and the V.P - responsible for certain policy area e.g Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transport

27
Q

Cabinet key role

A

plays a crucial role in advising the President on various areas and provide specialized knowledge and support for the President

28
Q

Cabinet loyalty

A

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

29
Q

Example of cabinet members have significant power

A

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’

30
Q

EXOP challenge the cabinet

A

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)

31
Q

Example of EXOP being useful

A

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

32
Q

Example of Office Management and Budget

A

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

33
Q

White House Office

A

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

34
Q

clinton example of imperial

A

went to war with 6 countries without Congressional approval

34
Q

Imperial president?

A

increasingly powerful due to executive orders, diminished of checks and balance system and ignoring the wishes of Congress

35
Q

Bush example of imperial

A

after 9/11 expanded executive power through the Patriot Act which allowed for increased surveillance and search powers without conventional judical oversight

36
Q

Obama imperial president

A

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

37
Q

Trump imperial president

A

declared a national emergency in 2019 to divert funds to build a board wall when Congress denied funding

38
Q

Imperilled Presidency

A

often faces significant limitations and challenges in exercising power - reliance on power of persuasion and acting as a facilitator rather than autonomous decision maker

39
Q

Bush imperilled

A

faced significant challenges on implementing his social security reform plan in 2005

40
Q

Obama imperilled

A

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)

41
Q

Trump imperilled

A

Unable to appeal ACA and fund his boarder wall and had to use E.O to build the wall (but only small section)