The Electoral Process Flashcards
Step 1 in the Electoral Process
Declare that you want to be president
Step 2 in the Electoral Process
Primary Campaigning
What are the types of conventions
Primaries and Caucuses
What is a caucus convention?
Discussion
- to make an agreement
- at a smaller level
What is a primary convention?
Secretive vote
- voting for delegate at a larger level
What is an open primary convention?
Anyone can vote for anybody
- can be both parties
What is a closed primary convention?
Only registered members can vote
- only one party is voted for
Step 3 in the Electoral Process
Primaries/Caucuses
Step 6 in the Electoral Process
Election Day
- popular vote
- doesn’t determine the outcome of election
- Electoral College
- determines the outcome of election
What are the President’s Roles? (9)
- Chief of State
- Chief Executive
- Chief Administrator
- Chief Diplomat
- Chief Legislator
- Commander in Chief
- Chief Economist
- Chief of Party
- Chief Citizen
What is the role of Chief of State?
It is the figure head of the state and is the symbol of the people of the nation.
What is the role of Chief Executive?
Has the executive power - broad in domestic affairs and foreign affairs
What is the role of Chief Administrator?
The director of the executive branch that employs 2.7 million citizens and spends $3.8 trillion per year.
What is the role of Chief Diplomat?
The main creator of American foreign policies and spokesman for the world.
What is the role of Chief Legislator?
The principal author of public policies - sets shape of congressional agenda
What is the role of Commander in Chief?”
The commander in chief of the nation’s armed forces - the army is directly controlled by the president
What is the role of Chief Economist?
To keep an eye on the nation’s economy and take action when conditions say so.
What is the role of Chief of Party?
The leader of the political party that controls the executive branch
What is the role of Chief Citizen?
The president is the representative of all the people and must champion the public interest
What are the qualifications for the Presidency?
- Citizenship - be born from an American citizen
- Age - Must be 35 years old
- Residency - Must have lived in America for 14 years
Step 4 in the Electoral Process
Conventions: Delegate cast ballots / select nominees
Step 5 in the Electoral Process
Large campaigning, debates, arguments
Rogue Electors
Electors who don’t follow the view of the majority vote of their state.
Does the constitution require the President to carry out the law?
Yes, all federal laws
Executive orders (Implied Power)
Directives, orders, rules that have affect on the law but, don’t pass through Congress
(Not in Constitution)
The power to issue executive orders is called…
ordinance power
Where does ordinance come from?
The Constitution and acts of Congress
What is executive privilege?
The inherent power to not disclose certain information from Congress (Not in the Constitution)
Who supports executive privilege and who doesn’t?
Congress does not, the Supreme Court does
What is Appointment Power?
The President appoints top-ranking officers such as…
1. ambassadors and diplomats
2. Cabinet Members and their aides
3. The heads of independent agencies
4. Federal judges
5. Officers in the armed forces
6. Supreme Court Justices
How does someone get appointed?
The President sends it to the Senate for confirmation where they vote
What are Recess Appointments?
The President is able to make temporary appointments when he senate is not in session/ is in recess
What is Removal Power?
The President is able to remove incompetent appointees without Senate permission only if they violate the law
What is the Power of Clemency?
The President can grant Reprieves and Pardons. (In Constitution)
What are Reprieves?
The ability to post-pone executions of a sentence
What is a Commutation?
It is the ability to reduce the punishment of a sentence
What is Amnesty?
A large-scale pardon for the same crime
What is a Pardon?
The ability to remove the punishment of a crime
What is an Executive Agreement?
It is a pact between the President and the head of a foreign state or their subordinates which, unlike treaties, don’t have to be approved by the senate. Though they flow out of legislature passed by Congress. (Not in Constitution)
What is the power of recognition?
It is where the Chief Executive can acknowledge the existence of a country and its government. (Not in Constitution)
How can recognition be accomplished?
Normally it is accomplished by the exchange of diplomatic representatives but also by methods such as proposing a treaty as only sovereign states can do so.
What is a persona non grata?
It is an official recalled from another country in which the President shows American displeasure with that countries conduct.
What are the President’s Diplomatic Powers?
They are…
1. executive agreement
2. recognition
3. recalling officials in a country
What is the main source of conflict between the legislative and executive branch?
The President’s powers as Commander in Chief.
Can the President declare war without Congress?
Many say no but, in history Presidents have multiple times
What was the War Powers Resolution of 1973?
It stated that the military forces can only fight if…
1. Congress has declared war
2. Congress has authorized the action
3. The President must tell Congress within 48 hours if troops are ordered into combat
What is the Power to Veto?
It is a check on the Legislative Branch but Congress can override a veto with a 2/3s vote from both Houses. There are 2 vetos.
1. Pocket Veto
- The President can just not sign the Bill if Congress has passed a Bill and is about to go on recess and it will die - it has to be created again
2. Line Item Veto
- Is not a Presidential Power - The President picks and chooses the parts of the Bill he/she wants to pass or send back
(In Constitution)
What is the Power to Recommend Legislation?
The President can call Congress into session in an emergency and make State of the Union addresses to recommend policies
What are the Domestic Powers of the President?
They are…
1. The Power of Clemency
2. Executive Power
3. Executive Orders and Executive Privilege
4. The Powers of Appointment and Removal
5. The Power to Recommend Legislation
What are the Foreign Powers of the President?
They are…
1. The Power to Make Treaties
2. Executive Agreements
3. The Power of Recognition
4. Commander in Chief
What are Departments?
They are the 15 main organizations in the executive branch.
What are agencies?
They are smaller parts of departments that have more specific jobs.
What is a secretary?
A secretary is the leader of a department and they make up the cabinet.
What is the cabinet?
It is a group of people that give advice to the president to help him/her make important decisions.
What are Independent Agencies?
They are like agencies but, they aren’t controlled by the executive branch, they are created by Congress to address concerns not able to be solved through legislation.
What are the ways an agency can enforce a law?
They are…
1. Educate the public about new laws
2. Monitor the public to make sure the laws are being followed
3. Apprehend those not following the law
4. Take those to court
5. Follow any enforcement procedures the agency might have
What are Regulations?
They are the rules the executive branch makes about how the law will be carried out. They have similar power to laws.
What is the biggest Department?
The Department of Defense(DoD) which includes all the military departments.
Why is the federal government the largest employer?
Most of the jobs are in the Executive Branch.
