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Government And Politics US > The Presidency > Flashcards

The Presidency Flashcards

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1
Q

What powers does the president have as head of government

A

Appoints heads of departments

Call congress back into session during breaks in times of national emergency

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2
Q

What are the presidente executive powers

A 
Executive orders 
Presidential memoranda
Presidential proclamations
National security directives 
Impoundment
Signing statements
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3
Q

What is an executive order

A

A directive issued to officers of the executive branch, requiring them to take or stop taking an action, alter policy, change management practices or accept a delegation of authority

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4
Q

What is presidential memoranda

A

A Pronouncement directed to executive branch officials

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5
Q

What is a presidential proclamation

A

When a president states a condition, declares law and requires obedience or recognises an event (also pardons)
It is binding on the public

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6
Q

What are national security directives

A

Formal declarations to an agency or department head of a presidential national security decision, requiring follow-up

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7
Q

What is impoundment

A

When a president refuses to spend funds appropriated by congress

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8
Q

Advantages of executive powers

A

Quick in an emergency situation
Pay debts to important groups without committing many resources
Don’t attract much attention
Signing statements prevent vetoes of complex/end of session legislation

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9
Q

Disadvantages of executive powers

A

Too much power in executive hands?
Harder for successors to govern
Undermine existing administrative law procedures
East for next administration to undo
Closed policy making process = bad policy?

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10
Q

How is the Vice President important

A

Balances the ticket
Congressional liaison
Taking responsibility for specific areas of policy
Attack dog - criticise opponents more forcefully
Stand in for president
Cheerleader- take lead on potentially unpopular policy

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11
Q

What are problems with the federal bureaucracy

A 
Clientelism
Imperialism 
Parochialism
Incrementalism 
Arbitrariness 
Waste
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12
Q

What is clientelism

A

Agencies tend to serve the interests of those who they are supposed to oversee, protecting them at the expense of the broader public interest

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13
Q

What is imperialism

A

Agencies invariably seek to expand their powers and responsibilities at the expense of other agencies and programmes, notwithstanding the issue of how public needs are best met

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14
Q

What is parochialism

A

Governments tend to focus narrowly on their own goals rather than the bid picture of government or the national interest as a whole

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15
Q

What is incrementalism

A

Most bureaucratic agencies are not renowned for creative or imaginative operations, instead acting slowly and cautiously and generally resisting major changes

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16
Q

What is arbitrariness

A

In applying abstract rules to concrete cases, agencies often ignore the particular concerns or specific merits of those affected by the rules

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17
Q

What does waste mean in the bureaucracy

A

Given the size and routinised procedures, bureaucracies tend to use resources less efficiently than private sector organisations

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18
Q

What are the roles of the president

A 
Head of state 
Head of government
Chief legislature 
Chief diplomat
Commander in chief
Party leader
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19
Q

Benefits of the bureaucracy

A

Representativeness
Respect for domestic values
Professionalism

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20
Q

How does the bureaucracy improve representativeness

A

Post people believe that bureaucrats political views tend, on the whole, to mirror those of the American publics more broadly

21
Q

How does the federal bureaucracy improve respect for domestic values

A

Federal bureaucrats tend to vest both their own neutrality and domestic values more broadly with great significance
If their elected leaders are Republicans they will pursue the goals that the Republicans establish
They will do the same for democrats if they are elected

22
Q

How does the federal bureaucracy improve professionalism

A

Many federal bureaucrats are well-educated specialists in technical and managerial positions, white collar professionals who take their responsibilities seriously, as lawyers or analysts,rather than partisans
No matter who the incumbent is most bureaucrats received- readily- advice and guidance from elected officials and act in ways consistent with their professional training

23
Q

What are functions of the cabinet

A

To advise the president on policy within areas covered by their departments
To oversea day to day enforcement and administration of federal within executive departments
To deal with specific areas of national and international affairs

24
Q

What are the features of cabinet meetings

A

Often receive criticism
Frequency can vary (Reagan 36 - Clinton 6 in Y1)
Frequency decreases (Reagan 36-21-12-12)
Cabinet little to contribute to discussion
Has functions for the president
Has functions for cabinet

25
Q

What functions do cabinet meetings have for the president

A 
Team spirit 
Collegial and consultative appearance 
Information giving and gathering 
Forum to debate policy 
'Big picture' items 
Check on legislation 
Push for congressional action
See cabinet members
26
Q

What functions do cabinet meetings have for the cabinet

A 
Get-to-know you session 
Resolve inter-departmental disputed 
Networking 
Opportunities to 'catch' president 
Increased standing in departments
27
Q

What are the executive office of the presidency’s main responsibilities

A

Preparing the budget
Planing long term economic strategies
Co-ordinating the country’s diplomatic and military policies
Running the White House office, where the presidents advisors work with him to develop the administrations political strategies, provide advice on response to emergencies and other duties

28
Q

What part of the executive office of the presidency is responsible for preparing the budget

A

The office of management and budget

29
Q

What part of the executive office of the presidency is responsible for planning long term economic strategies

A

The council of economic advisors

30
Q

What part of the executive office of the presidency is responsible for co-ordinating the country’s diplomatic and military policies

A

The national security council

31
Q

What advantages does the congress have in the president

A 
Role is to check the executive 
Independent from the executive 
Power of the purse 
Approve/refuse appointments 
Override presidential veto
32
Q

What powers does the president have as head of state

A

appointment of ambassadors

Emergency powers

33
Q

What powers does the president have as chief executive

A 
Policy making 
Control of agencies like the CIA
Appointments 
Control of bureaucracy 
Control of cabinet 
Budget
34
Q

What powers does the president have as commander in chief

A

Control of the armed forces

35
Q

What powers does the president have as chief diplomat

A

Negotiate treaties

36
Q

What powers does the president have as chief legislator

A

Veto legislation

Policy making

37
Q

What areas check the presidents power

A 
Congress
Supreme Court 
Public opinion 
Media 
Pressure groups 
Federal bureaucracy 
Other factors
38
Q

What checks does congress provide on the president

A 
Amend/block legislation
Amend budget 
Override veto 
Investigation/impeachment/removal 
Senate confirms appointments of executive officials 
Senate must confirm appointments of federal judges 
Senate ratifies treaties 
Congress declares war
Power of the purse
39
Q

What checks does the Supreme Court provide on the president

A

Declare acts unconstitutional

40
Q

How does the president check the presidents power

A

The public elect the president so a president must keep them happy in order to re-elected (in their first term)

41
Q

Who does the media check the presidents power

A

The media can influence public opinion and the public elect the president

42
Q

How can pressure groups check the president

A

They can mobilise public opinion either for the president himself or his policies
They can inline cd people’s vote on presidential initiatives
They can get people to sing petitions to have issues voted on

44
Q

How can the federal bureaucracy check the presidents power

A

The federal bureaucracy is made up of thousands of people, meaning it is very difficult to get them to do anything

45
Q

What are national American powers

A 
Coin money 
Regulate interstate and foreign trade 
Raise and maintain armed forces 
Declare war 
Govern U.S territories and admit new States 
Conduct foreign relations
46
Q

What powers do states have in the U.S

A

Regulate trade and business in the state
Establish public schools
Pass licence requirements for professionals
Regulate alcoholic beverages
Conduct elections
Establish local governments

47
Q

What are concurrent powers for States and the national government in the U.S

A 
Levy and collect taxes 
Borrow money 
Establish courts 
Define crimes and set punishments 
Claim private property for public use
48
Q

What are advantages of federalism

A

Fosters state loyalties
Practices pragmatism
Creates laboratories of democracy - experiment with policies
Leads to political stability
Encourages pluralism
Ensures separation of powers and prevents tyranny

49
Q

What are advantages of federalism

A

Foster state loyalties
Practises pragmatism
Creates laboratories of democracy - experiment with policies
Leads to political stability
Encourages pluralism
Endures separation of powers and prevents tyranny

50
Q

What are the disadvantages of federalism

A

Prevents the creation of national policy

Leads to lack of accountability

Government And Politics US (8 decks)

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