President

Question 1

List the Formal Powers of the President?

Answer 1

Sign Legislation
Veto Legislation
Act as Chief Executive
Appoint executive officials
Nominate all Federal Judges
Act as Commander in Chief
Negotiate all treaties
Pardon
Perform the role of Head of State.

Question 2

Give 2 examples of a President Signing Legislation?

Answer 2

For example on the 22nd of December 2023 Joe Biden signed National Defence authorisation act of 2024 which provided funding to military programs.

Also on the 7th August 2023 Joe Biden signed the United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act which created a trade deal with Taiwan.

Question 3

Give 2 examples of the president vetoing legislation?

Answer 3

On July 24th 2019 Donald Trump carried out multiple vetos of providing military services and equipment to various US allies such as Italy and Saudi Arabia.

On July 22nd 2016 Obama vetoed the Presidential Allowance modernisation act which would limit taxpayer funds to ex-presidents.

Question 4

Give 2 examples of Presidential appointment of officials?

Answer 4

On February 8th 2023 Joe Biden replaced Ron Klain with Jeff Zients as White House Chief of Staff.

On May 26th 2023 Joe Biden replaced Susan Rice with Neera Tanden as the White House Director of Policy Council.

Question 5

Examples of the President Appointing Federal Judges?

Answer 5

On May 15th 2023 Joe Biden appointed Brad Garcia to the D.C. circuit of the Federal Court of Appeals by a vote 53-40.

On January 30th 2024 Joe Biden Appointed Joshua Kolar to the Seventh circuit of the Federal Court of Appeals by a vote of 66-25.

Question 6

Examples of the President Negotiating Treaties?

Answer 6

On January 20th 2021 Joe Biden Officially re signed the Treaty of Paris after Trump withdrew from it.

28th October 2022 Joe Biden signed the Kigali agreement by a Senate vote of 69-27.

Question 7

Give 2 examples of the President Pardoning someone?

Answer 7

On December 20th 2023 Joe Biden pardoned Colombian businessman Alex Saab as part of a prisoner exchange.

On November 15th 2019 Donald Trump pardoned Mathew Golsteyn who had served as a soldier in Afghanistan for killing an unarmed bomb maker.

Question 8

What are the powers originally given to the Vice President?

Answer 8

Presiding Officer over the Senate.

Power to break a tie in the senate.

Task of counting and announcing the result of the electoral college vote.

Succeed the President if he dies or is removed.

Question 9

Examples of the Vice President Breaking ties in the senate?

Answer 9

On August 7th 2022 Kamala Harris casted the tie breaking vote on the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

On July 25th 2017 Pence passed a motion to proceed the American Health Care Act 2017 however, the act was never passed.

Question 10

Give 2 examples of the Vice President becoming the President?

Answer 10

After Richard Nixon resigned from office Gerald Ford became President.

After JFK died in office LBJ became the president and went on to win an election.

Question 11

Give four examples of members in the President’s cabinet?

Answer 11

Pete Buttigieg - Secretary of Transportation.
Deb Haaland - Secretary for the Interior.
Merrick Garland - Attorney General.
Dr Janet Yellen - Secretary of the treasury.

Question 12

How many Cabinet meetings did Obama hold?

Answer 12

Obama held 28 cabinet meetings.

Question 13

Why can the cabinet never be of prime importance?

Answer 13

The Constitution grants all executive power to the President, cabinet officers have no power vested in them directly.

No doctrine of collective responsibility.

Cabinet members are not seen as political rivals as it is not a stepping stone to the Presidency.

The members of the cabinet have loyalties other than the president

The cabinet has a rival office in the executive office of the President.

Question 14

Give 2 examples of members of the cabinet being dismissed?

Answer 14

In 2018 Donald Trump replaced John Sullivan with Mike Pompeo as his secretary of state.

In February 2017 Donald Trump replaced Adam Szubin with Steven Mnuchin.

Question 15

What is the role of the White House Chief of Staff?

Answer 15

They provide and administrative support for the President on a Daily basis.

It acts as a liaison between the White House and the vast Federal Bureaucracy, the chief of staff is the public voice.

Question 16

Who is Joe Biden’s current chief of staff and why has this happened?

Answer 16

Since February 8th 2023 Joe Biden’s chief of staff has been Jeff Zients. Prior to this it was Ron Klain who resigned on February 7th.

Question 17

What does the Office of management and Budget do?

Answer 17

They advise the President on the allocation of Federal Funds.

To oversee the spending of Federal Departments and agencies.

To act as a clearing house for all legislative and regulatory initiatives coming from the executive.

Question 18

Who is Joe Biden’s current Office of management and budget leader?

Answer 18

His current leader is Shalanda Young and she was appointed at the start of his term, She was appointed by a vote of 63-37 in the Senate with many Republicans saying that it’s a pleasure to work with her.

Question 19

Give examples of the President utilising the National Security Council?

Answer 19

IN 2022 Joe Biden convened the National Security council in response to increasing violence in Ukraine.

In 2024 members of the national security council have been sent to China in order to improve relations between the nations.

Question 20

What did professor Neustadt say about the role of the Presidency?

Answer 20

He stated that the power of the President is the power to persuade.

Question 21

What key methods can the President use to persuade Congress?

Answer 21

The Vice President - All previous 8 Vice Presidents have been members of Congress in the past and therefore are crucial in keeping congress on side.

Members of the Office of Legislative Affairs - They serve as lobbyists for the President, they meet with Congressional liaison staff in order to foster good relations.

Cabinet Officers - Often deployed by the White House in order to discuss particular areas of policy with members of Congress.

Party leadership in Congress - The President must cooperate with various major members of Congress such as the majority and minority leaders, it helps if the President has a United Government.

Question 22

Give an Example of the Office of Legislative Affairs in Action?

Answer 22

Biden’s current White House director for the Office of Legislative Affairs is Louisa Terrell who stated that although Biden and the Republicans wouldn’t agree on everything she has a job to do and intends to do it.

Question 23

What are the internal factors that enhance Presidential Power and give examples?

Answer 23

Vision - If the President has a clear ambitious vision they can often garner an immense degree of power, for example Donald Trump although he failed to pass a lot of his proposed legislation he has been able to garner an almost cult like following.

Experience - A more experienced politician may be able to gain more political power, for example Joe Biden has been a Senator since 1973 and was also Obama’s Vice President which give him immense levels of valuable experience.

Oratory - A President that is good at speaking is able to assert more political power, for example Obama despite not having a united government was able to pass some major legislation.

Organisational Ability - George W Bush was extremely skilled in this regard with his rapid response to 9/11.

Question 24

What are the external powers that effect the power of the president?

Answer 24

International Crises - If a President gives a strong response to the developing International Situation for example Joe Biden responded well to the Situation in Ukraine however, his response to the situation in Palestine has garnered widespread support.

Domestic Crises - If a president handles a domestic situation well they may garner more support, for example Donald Trump had an incredibly poor response to Covid leading to one million deaths whilst Joe Biden dealt with it comparably better and carried out a mass vaccine rollout.

Natural Disasters - A quick and effective response will garner lots of support for example with hurricane Catrina Obama was seen as incredibly compassionate which gave him lots of support Nationwide and may have aided his re-election campaign.

Question 25

Give three examples of Presidents utilising Executive Orders?

Answer 25

Joe Biden - 2023 October, Safe, secure, and trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial intelligence which aimed to regulate the development of artificial intelligence.

Donald Trump - 2019 December, Executive order 13899 which aimed to counter rising anti Semitic incidents in the US.

Barak Obama - 2016 December, Executive Order 13754 which aimed to give protection to indigenous communities living along the coast of the Bering Sea.

Question 26

Give Three examples of a President Signing Statements?

Answer 26

Joe Biden refused to sign into law section 1033 of the National Defence authorisation act of 2024 as it refused to allocate funding into transferring inmates out of Guantanamo Bay.

In 2019 Donald Trump refused to sign into law section 408 of the PROGRESS for Indian Tribes act 2019 which would not allow the Secretary of the Interior to reduce funding to native communities.

In 2016 Barak Obama refused to sign an aspect of the The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement act of 2016 which would have made trade to Israel more difficult.

Question 27

Give 2 examples of recess appointments?

Answer 27

In 2012 Barak Obama made 4 appointments to the National Labour Board which led to the case of NLRB v Noel.

President Bill Clinton received major criticism for his choice to appoint Lan Lee as assistant attorney general for civil rights as his pro affirmative action stance was unpopular in the senate.

Question 28

How has the power of recess appointments been limited?

Answer 28

The Senate have now began to hold multiple Pro Forma sessions in which as little as one senator may sit in congress during a recess period.
In April 2020 Congress refused to let Trump appoint a number of Secretary during a recess.

Question 29

Give 2 Examples of Executive Agreements?

Answer 29

In February 2024 Joe Biden passed an Executive Agreement which aimed to prevent Russia and China from Buying American’s personal data.

Joe Biden is also considering signing an executive agreement which would deal with the current situation on the Southern border with Mexico.