The President Flashcards
How a vice president vacancy is filled
President nominates a new vice president who must be approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate by a majority vote
Informal power of the president
Based on precedent, custom, and tradition in issuing executive orders, interpreting executive privileges, and creating executive agencies
The power and influence of the president have…
Evolved and increased as the US has grown as a world leader
Leadership attributes of the president:
- Manage a crisis
- Demonstrate leadership as perceived by the public
- Appoint quality officials
- Set and clarify the national agenda
- Achieve a legislative agenda
- Achieve success in the foreign policy arena
Presidential cabinet
Tradition started by Washington
Need approval from Senate
Creation and abolition of positions needs congressional approval
Executive office
Separate from cabinet
Est. By FDR
4 policy-making bodies of the executive office:
- National Security Council
- Council of Economic Affairs
- Office of Management and budget
- Office of National Drug Control Policy
National Security Council
Chaired by the president
Lead for national and international security
National security advisor is the direct liaison
Council of Economic Affairs
Consists of individuals who are recognized as leading economists
Approved by Senate
Help president prepare annual Economic Repost to Congress
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Largest agency in the executive office
Prepared the massive federal budget that must be submitted to Congress in January
Oversees congressional appropriations
Direct link to other agencies
Help prepare executive orders and presidential budget policy
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Recent addition to executive office
Chaired by a director appointed by the president with consent of Senate. Nation’s drug czar
How to combat drug abuse
White House staff
Managed by the White House Chief of Staff
Directly advises president on daily basis
First Lady and vice president have their own staffs
Indirect presidential roles
Chief legislator
Head of part
Chief of state
Chief diplomat
The veto tools is primarily used to…
Influence Congress to meet the president’s agenda priorities
Pocket veto
Occurs is president does not sign a bill within 10 days and Congress adjourns within in the 10 days
Legislative vetoes of presidential actions are….
Unconstitutional
Key players in foreign policy
- President- in Article II, as commander in chief of armed forces and chief diplomat, having power to appoint ambassadors and negotiate treaties
- Congress- in Article I, having power to declare war, support and maintain armed forces, approve foreign aid allocations; senate approves treaties
The Immigration and Naturalization Service
Deals with those ppl trying to seek residence in the US from other countries
CIA
Est. By Congress in 1947
Works under National Security Council
Coordinates and gathers info related to foreign affairs and national defense for the other federal agencies
US Information Agency
Acts as the propaganda arm of the US
Informs through Voice of America radio station
US Arms Control and Disarment Agency
Maintains responsibility for negotiate, participation, and implementation with disbarment
Force on nuclear weapons with Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)
The Selective Service System
Coordinates and raises an army
Criticized because draft system
The heart of the foreign policy establishment is led by…
Citizens
Dilemma with defense policy in the US
Caught between past practice of developing a powerful nuclear deterrence and an uncertain future of budgetary reductions
War Powers Act
Congress’s response to the president’s unilateral commitment to US troops
States that a president can commit the military only after a declaration of war by the Congress or by specific authorization by Congress, if there’s an national emergency
Compared to a legislative veto
President’s influence over the judiciary
Power to appoint Supreme Court justices
Grant pardons and reprieves
Pardon v. Reprieve
Pardon: forgives the crime and frees the person from legal culpability
Reprieve: is a postponement of a sentence
