Study Guide Part 4 Flashcards
What is gerrymandering?
The practice of drawing electoral district lines to favor one political party, individual, or constituent over another.
Gerrymandering can significantly influence electoral outcomes and party representation.
What is cracking in gerrymandering?
Dividing like voters across multiple districts until they’re outnumbered by a majority of voters who will vote the opposite way.
Cracking dilutes the voting power of a particular demographic group.
What is packing in gerrymandering?
Packing voters who tend to vote one way into just a few of the state’s districts.
Packing consolidates votes to minimize their influence in other districts.
What are safe seats in Congress?
Districts that are highly likely to be won by a particular political party.
Safe seats often lead to less competitive elections.
What was Alexander Hamilton arguing for in Federalist Paper No. 70?
The need for a strong executive leader, defending that a single executive was far safer.
Hamilton believed that a strong executive would ensure effective governance.
What are the three qualifications to be President in Article II?
- Must be 35 years old
- Birthright US citizenship
- Lived in the country for at least 14 years
These qualifications ensure that the President has a certain level of experience and commitment to the country.
How long is a president’s term in office?
4 years.
A president can be elected for a maximum of two terms due to the 22nd amendment.
How many terms can the President serve according to the 22nd amendment?
2 terms.
This amendment was ratified in 1951 to limit presidential tenure.
List 3-4 of the enumerated powers of the President.
- Commander in chief
- Negotiate treaties
- Veto or approve legislation
- Power to pardon
These powers are outlined in the Constitution and grant the President significant authority.
What is the difference between formal and informal powers of the President?
Formal powers are explicitly stated in the Constitution, while informal powers are implied and include bargaining, persuasion, issuing executive orders, and negotiating agreements.
Informal powers allow the President to effectively lead and influence beyond constitutional limits.
Give an example of a formal power of the President.
Veto or approve legislation.
This power allows the President to reject bills passed by Congress.
Give an example of an informal power of the President.
Issuing executive orders.
Executive orders allow the President to manage the federal government effectively.
What are the five roles of the modern president?
- Chief executive: laws be faithfully executed
- Chief legislator: formal powers to influence legislators
- Commander in chief: leads the military
- Chief diplomat
- Communicator in chief
These roles encapsulate the diverse functions of the President in governance.
What are checks and balances of the executive branch with Congress?
- Veto bills (can be overridden)
- Power to pardon
- Judicial appointments
These checks ensure that the executive does not abuse its power and maintains accountability.
What is a presidential pardon?
A presidential pardon can be given to express forgiveness and eliminate some consequences of a conviction.
Pardons can be controversial and are often subject to public scrutiny.
Who makes up the president’s cabinet?
The heads of the 15 main departments.
Cabinet members advise the President and help execute federal policies.
Name 3-4 Cabinet members.
Examples include:
* Secretary of State
* Secretary of Defense
* Secretary of the Treasury
* Attorney General
The specific members can vary depending on the current administration.
