Unit 2: exam - the presidency Flashcards
where are the powers of the president noted
Article II
what are the qualifications of the president
- 35yrs old
- 14yrs a resident of the US
- “natural born citizen”
what amendment limits the president to 2 terms
22nd amendment (XXII)
Roles of the president
- chief executive
- chief diplomat
- commander in chief
- chief legislator/legislative leader
- party leader
also the chief citizen
what is the cabinet
the heads of all executive agencies + the vice president
Process of being a cabinet member
- be appointed by the president
- have the senate confirm (advise and consent: article 2, section 2)
what are the postions of the cabinet
- sec of state
- sec of defense
- sec of treasury
- Attorney general
- sec of homeland security
- sec of transport
Federalist No. 70
- SINGLE and ENERGETIC executive
- written by Alexander Hamilton
- having multiple executives may lead to disagreements, one blaming faults on another, slow reactions to a crisis, and one taking credit for the other’s achievements
- it is easier to hold one executive accountable
limits on power
- impeachment
- war powers resolution
- court decisions
impeachment
limits on power
- “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors”
- w/ majority of the house, the articles of impeachment are given
- impeachment trial is done by the senate with a 2/3 vote to remove
court decisions
limits on power
- SCOTUS can overturn executive orders
- limited executive privilege
war powers resolution
limits on power
- 1973
- passed because they overrode Nixon’s veto
- limits the role of Commander in Chief
- congress reassertion in national security offers
result of the 12th amendment
- election of 1800
- the vice president and the president ride as a ticket
duties of the vice president
- preside over the senate
- become the president if the current president is seen as unfit (25th amendment)
what constitutional duties does the first spouse have
none
four man features of the modern presidency
- initiates legislation
- many unilateral powers have been delegated by congress
- focus on public attention
- large staff
executive office of the president (EOP)
- policy making responsibilities
- includes the white house
effects of techology on the presidency
- expanded communication with the public
- bully pulpit: using the power (mystics) of the presidency to push legislation, an image, or agenda
- makes the president closer to the people
how do approval ratings change throughout a presidency
- “honeymoon period” - when approval ratings are at the highest
- after the honeymoon period, ratings tend to drop. (they rise, but never at the same height it was at the start of the president’s term)
formal powers of the president
- veto (only rly needs to be threaten)
- commander in chief - controls the armed forces
veto (info)
- can include the pocket veto (where the president basically ignores the bill)
- congress doesn’t like it because it means the bill would have to completely start over
informal powers
- bargaining and persuasion
- executive order (has the force of federal law, but is not law): directs the bureaucracy
- signing statement: informs the nation how the president interprets the law, and how they will implement it
- executive agreement (very temporary as they only last while the president is in office, so the next guy can undo it easily if they wish)
