Presidency

Question 1

How are bills signed into law?

Answer 1

President chooses to sign bills

Question 2

How many vetoes did Bush have overridden?

Answer 2

33%, 4 vetoes out of 12

Question 3

Give types of veto

Answer 3

Standard veto
Pocket veto
(Threat of veto may be an informal use of power)

Question 4

Name some of Clinton’s state of the union policies

Answer 4

Health reform 1994- failed to pass Congress

Assault Weapons Ban 1995- passed a successful 10 year ban

Balanced Budget 1996- failure, US government deficit continues to grow today

Question 5

Name some of Bush’s state of the union policies

Answer 5

‘The axis of evil’ and moving against sponsors of terrorism 2002

Healthcare reform 2003- success, reform signed, making prescriptions more affordable

Question 6

Name some of Obama’s state of the union policies

Answer 6

2016 immigration- executive action then SC

2010 Gay Rights- Don’t ask Don’t tell Repeal Act signed

Question 7

Name some of Trump’s state of the union policies

Answer 7

2018 call to repeal Obamacare

Call for Congress to pass $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill (2018)- failure and budget shutdown

Question 8

Factors that affect strength or weakness of president

Answer 8

Opinion polls (for mandate and authority)
Events- Shannon (personality and circumstance)
Relationship with Congress (on policy)
Pres. relationship with party
Divide and unified (partisanship)
Strength of mandate and electoral success (midterms are a referendum?)
Relationship with SC

Question 9

Name some informal sources of presidential power

Answer 9

Electoral mandate 
Executive orders 
Events 
Cabinet 
Neustadt's powers of persuasion, use of charisma 
Support of EXOP, the WHO, OMB

Question 10

What else is the EXOP also referred to as?

Answer 10

The West Wing

Question 11

What is the role of the EXOP?

Answer 11

1. POLICY ADVICE- executive branch agencies advise the president
2. MANAGE the President- The chief of staff manage’s the president’s schedule, and therefore sets priorities
3. OVERSEE DEPARTMENTS
4. RELATIONS WITH CONGRESS- Office of Legislative Affairs helps president to advance on legislation
5. SPECIALIST- some offices have a specific mandate to work on their special interest eg Obama sponsored the Office of Faith-based and Neighbourhood Partnerships

Question 12

What is the role of the Office of management and budget?

Answer 12

OMB

Advise the president on the allocation of funds for the annual budget
Oversee spending in all federal departments and agencies

Question 13

How do SoPs limit presidential power? (3 main reasons)

Answer 13

1. President and Congress receive separate MANDATES
2. The President has LIMITED PATRONAGE POWER over INDIVIDUALS in Congress- cannot promote or demote (unlike the UK) or have significant. control over party
3. BIPARTISAN CONTROL AND DIVIDED GOV.

Question 14

What formal power does the President have over the judicial branch?

Answer 14

Nominations- influences ideological balance

Question 15

What factors contribute to the fluctuating nature of presidential powers?

Answer 15

Popularity
Events
The election cycle (Lame duck and mid-terms)
Judicial review

Question 16

What actions of presidents can make them be considered imperial, and is this a valid criticism?

Answer 16

1. Executive orders
   Eval- limited scope, cant pass on Congressional issues
2. Signing statements (written as leg. is signed, to explain the presidents viewpoint, eg they won’t enforce a certain element of it)
   Eval- This actually has little affect, the SC and Congress can still go against this
3. Executive agreements (agreements made between president and other countries, doesn’t need Senate ratification)
   Eval- only an agreement with the incumbent pres. not the gov. overall
4. Unilateral war powers- times where speed is necessary, consulting Congress is not necessary
   Eval- Only powerful for short-term action, War Powers Act, pres. limited by electorate’s views

Question 17

How strong is the power of the president on foreign policy in constitutional terms?

Answer 17

STRONG- Can overcome checks from Congress
Authority on military action- commander-in-chief
Act unilaterally
Head of State and Chief Diplomat
Signing treaties
Executive agreements

WEAK- Congress declare war
Ratify treaties
Congress has funding power

Question 18

How strong is the power of the president on foreign policy in political terms?

Answer 18

STRONG- National mandate
Only nationally elected body
US citizens look for a pres. strong on foreign policy
Congresspeople are freqeunekty criticised if they attempt to take action on foreign policy alone, unlike pres.

WEAK- Congress also has a mandate as an elected body, and being highly representative with closer links to constituencies

Question 19

How strong is the power of the president on foreign policy in practical terms?

Answer 19

STRONG- Wars have become initiated much faster in modern history, the power lying with the pres. is much faster and effective in times of emergency
Advisors of the president have better knowledge of modern warfare, technology and weaponry- more specialised
Pres. may have critical, classified information

WEAK- the pres. cannot always claim speed is necessary
Sometimes great consideration and scrutiny is necessary
None of the advantages apply to trade deals and treaties
Many committees and experienced Senators have great wisdom on foreign policy eg John Kerry, Biden,