The Executive Branch Of Government: The President (Formal And Informal Powers)

Question 1

What are the formal powers of the president according to the Constitution?

Answer 1

The president’s formal powers consist of enumerated powers, implied powers, and inherent powers.

Question 2

How do informal powers differ from formal powers?

Answer 2

Informal powers are political or involve the stretching of implied powers and are not mentioned in the Constitution but are essential for all successful presidencies.

Question 3

What are the key formal executive powers of the president?

Answer 3

The president controls the federal bureaucracy, which includes 15 executive departments and numerous federal agencies, and prepares the annual federal budget.

Question 4

How can the president influence the passage of legislation through Congress?

Answer 4

The president can propose legislation, sign bills into law, leave bills unsigned to become law after 10 working days, or veto bills.

Question 5

What is a pocket veto?

Answer 5

A pocket veto occurs when the president does not sign a bill and the congressional session ends within 10 working days, causing the bill to be lost.

Question 6

How does the president use veto power?

Answer 6

The president can veto a bill by sending it back to Congress with reasons for the veto. Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both houses.

Question 7

What is the significance of presidential appointment powers?

Answer 7

The president nominates officials for about 4,000 executive branch positions, including heads of departments, federal judges, and Supreme Court justices, subject to Senate confirmation.

Question 8

What foreign policy powers does the president have?

Answer 8

The president is the commander-in-chief of the military, can initiate military action, negotiate treaties (with Senate ratification), and grant pardons.

Question 9

What is the power to grant pardons?

Answer 9

The president can pardon anyone convicted of a federal crime, except in cases of impeachment, and can commute sentences.

Question 10

What are the president’s informal powers?

Answer 10

Informal powers include the power to persuade, deal-making, setting the agenda, acting as the de facto party leader, and being a world leader.

Question 11

What is the ‘power to persuade’ according to Professor Richard Neustadt?

Answer 11

Neustadt argued that presidential power is the power to persuade key political figures and actors in the shared power system of the US government.

Question 12

How do presidents use deal-making as an informal power?

Answer 12

Presidents make deals with legislators to support their policies by offering support for other policies, campaign assistance, or funding for home states or districts.

Question 13

How does the president set the political agenda?

Answer 13

Presidents command media attention, shape public opinion, and determine the issues discussed by journalists, commentators, and the public.

Question 14

What role does the president play as the de facto party leader?

Answer 14

The president influences party membership and can help pass legislation if their party controls both houses of Congress.

Question 15

How is the US president considered a world leader?

Answer 15

The president leads global politics and international institutions, such as the UN, NATO, and the G7, and often leads international coalitions and agreements.

Question 16

What is direct authority and how do presidents use it?

Answer 16

Direct authority allows the president to take action without consulting Congress, often through executive orders, signing statements, and executive agreements.

Question 17

What are executive orders?

Answer 17

Executive orders are official directives from the president to the federal government that have the effect of law but can be easily reversed by the next president.

Question 18

What are signing statements?

Answer 18

Signing statements are comments made by the president when signing a bill into law, often indicating constitutional concerns or how the law will be enforced.

Question 19

What are executive agreements?

Answer 19

Executive agreements are deals made between the US and other countries by the president that do not require Senate ratification.

Question 20

What is the role of the Executive Office of the President (EXOP)?

Answer 20

EXOP provides policy advice, administrative support, and helps the president run the federal government, develop policy, write legislation, communicate, and promote their agenda.