The Presidency examples Flashcards
What is an example of a quote used by the President to show their lack of power?
President Johnson: ‘The only power I’ve got is nuclear, and I’m not allowed to use that’
Examples of the President acting as head of state, which is especially seen in times of national mourning?
-George W Bush after 9/11
-Trump played this role less successfully as the US was devastated by Covid and the death of George Floyd
When did a President us their State of the Union address to propose legislation?
Trump in 2018 promised to crackdown on immigration, keeping Guantanamo Bay open and bolstering the USA’s nuclear arsenal
How many vetoes did Trump make?
Ten and one was overturned
How may vetoes did Obama make and which was overturned
He made 12 vetoes- one was overturned - the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, allowing victims of 9/11 to sue Saudi Arabia for any role they played
What are some of the examples of appointments for head of the executive departments made by Biden?
Janet Yellen- Secretary of the Treasury
Antony Blinken- Secretary of State
Example of Supreme Court Justices appointed by Trump?
Neil Gorsuch
Brett Kavanaugh
Amy Coney Barret
Which president tried to refrain the USA’s role in foreign policy?
Trump increasingly complained about the price of being the ‘world policeman’ and criticised countries in NATO for not paying enough on defence. In 2019, he withdrew troops from Syria and Afghanistan
What is an example of Presidents carrying out wars without Congress actually declaring war?
Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964, which allowed Johnson to take ‘all necessary measures’ in Vietnam
What’s an example of the use of the power to pardon?
In 1974, Ford pardoned Nixon over all Watergate related matters
What is an example of treaties made by the president?
Chemical Weapons Ban -Bush
Nuclear Arms Treaty With Russia - Obama
How many times in the 20th century was a treaty rejected and what’s an example of one?
Seven treaties were rejected including the Treaty of Versailles was initially rejected
What’s an example of a VP becoming president?
Johnson became president after JFK’s assassination
Ford after the resignation of Nixon
How many VPs have become president?
14: 4 elected and 8 because of death
What’s an example of the VP presiding over the Senate?
Kamala Harris has the record for making the greatest number of tie-breaking votes: 32, including the motion to proceed on the American Rescue Plan 2021
When did the ceremonial role of the VP counting the electoral college votes change?
In 2020, when Trump tried to persuade Pence to change the election outcome; Pence abided the constitution
What was Trump’s cabinet like?
‘older, white and richer’ than that of his predecessors
Lacking in experience- Heads of executive departments had no experience, including Treasury Secretary and Secretary of State
What is Biden’s cabinet like?
it’s being described as the most diverse ever, with the first openly gay cabinet secretary
It had 5 women and 4 black men when he first appointed it
What’s an example of a President who had lots of cabinet meetings compared to a President who had few?
Ronald Reagan held 36 cabinet meetings in his first year, while over 8 years, Obama had only 28
Who’s cabinet is seen as the most unstable?
Trump’s- during his 4 years, there were 20 personnel changes. This caused a lack of policy continuity. By the end of his term, there had been 9 different heads of the department for Homeland Security
What was Trump’s relationship like with EXOP?
There was a turnover of 86% of Trump’s top officials during his tenure, with a culture of sackings and resignations
Examples of White House Chief of Staffs who become too powerful?
Don Reagan under Reagan, Sherman Adams under Eisenhower
Example of recent chief of staffs
Andrew Card who was Bush’s chief of staff whispered in his ear on the morning of 9/11 to tell Bush America was under attack
What was some of Trump’s earliest executive orders?
The setting out of procedures to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the building of the wall between Mexico and the US, declaring sanctuary cities that didn’t comply with immigration enforcement measures would not be eligible to receive Federal grants (later ruled unconstitutional) and a travel ban for Muslims
What’s an example of Biden overturning Trump’s executive orders?
Reversed the construction of the US-Mexico wall, the ban on transgender people serving in the military
Example of an executive order being ruled unconstitutional because congress mobilised against the president?
Obama’ executive order failed to close Guantanamo bay. They refused to fund the effort with an overwhelming 90-6 congress vote
What’s an example of an executive agreement?
Barak Obama on the Paris Agreement, which Trump withdrew from and Biden then re-entered
What’s an example of a signing statement issued by Obama?
He used a signing statement to highlight his concerns over the ‘detention, interrogation and prosecution of suspected terrorists’ when signing the national defence authorisation act in 2011
Why have recent presidents struggled with electoral mandates?
Since Reagan, no president has achieved more than 55% of the vote, especially Trump who was well short of 50% and had 3 million less votes than Hilary
What was a great success of Biden’s in the first 100 days of office?
He passed the American Rescue Plan, a 1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill to help those left weak after the covid-19 pandemic
Example of national crises leaving presidents in a positive position
Bush and 9/11 and Obama and Hurricane Sandy in 2012
