Unit 4 Flashcards
Presidential power is the power to
persuade
Two Ways To Become a President:
Running through the electoral process
Succeeding (either through the President stepping down or otherwise e.g. JFK’s assassination)
22nd amendment
limits a President to 2 terms
Impeachment:
the equivalent of an indictment in criminal law
Impeachment process
The House votes for impeachment
If House votes to impeach, then the President is tried by the Senate
If a 2/3 vote to impeach is reached, the President is removed from office
Watergate:
scandal involving Richard Nixon; Nixon was going to be impeached but he resigned before that could take place
25th amendment
permits the Vice President to become acting president and defines line of succession
Why do Presidents have difficulty getting things done?
Other politicians have their own agendas, interests, and power
Two Questions of the Presidency:
Are Presidents strong/not strong enough?
Do Presidents promise more than they can do?
What did the founders fear that led them to create the Presidency the way that they did?
Both anarchy and monarchy
Misc. Presidential Powers:
Commander In Chief Treaties Veto power Giving State of the Union addresses Nominating officials Filling vacancies during Congressional recesses
What are two examples of events that made the American people distrust the Presidency?
LBJ + Vietnam
Nixon + Watergate
Cabinet:
a group of presidential advisors
14 secretaries, attorney general, others
National Security Council:
President, Vice President, Sec. State, Sec. Defense, National Security Adviser
Council of Economic Advisors:
3-member body appointed by President to advise about the economy
Office of Management and Budget:
creates the President’s budget
The White House staff is
hierarchical, with the Chief of Staff at the top.
Aids’ tasks include
negotiating agreements, writing letters, and controlling paperwork
The First Lady often chooses one issue to rally behind (examples)
Nancy Reagan + Drugs
Rosalyn Carter + Mental health
Hillary Clinton + healthcare reform
The President can ___, ____, or ______ to bills
sign, veto, or not do anything for 10 days to a bill to let it become law
Veto:
power vested in the President to send a bill back to Congress
Pocket veto:
a veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting it; the President neither signs nor vetoes the bill
When forced to choose between siding with the President and with their constituents,
members of Congress are more inclined to side with their constituents.
Presidential coattails:
voters cast ballots of the President’s party because they support the President
Electoral mandate:
perception that the voters support the President’s character and politics
Presidential legislative skills:
Bargaining, making personal appeals, setting priorities
The President has a leading role in Defense and Foreign Policy (powers)
Negotiating, commanding armed forces, waging war, making treaties
Executive agreements:
routine agreements w/ heads of foreign governments that do not require the Senate
War Powers Resolution:
requires Presidents to consult w/ Congress prior to using military force + withdraw troops within 60 days
Crisis:
sudden, unpredictable, and dangerous event
Bully pulpit:
presidents can persuade public if they are good communicators
The Media tends to
focus on the negative aspects of a President
