Unit 4 Executive Branch & Bureaucracy Flashcards
Presidential hats/roles
Chief of state, chief exec, chief administrator, chief diplomat, chief legislator, commander in chief, chief economist, chief of party, chief citizen
Chief of state
Stands for the highest values and ideas of the country
Chief executive
Most powerful person in the workd
Chief administrator
Boss for millions of gov workers in the exec branch & decides how laws are enforced
Chief diplomats
Makes the foreign policy of the US
Chief legislator
Power to influence Congress in its lawmaking
Commander in chief
Oversees the US armed forces and all military leaders take their orders from the president
Chief economist
Does not control economy but is expected to help it run smoothly
Chief of party
campaign for those members of his/her party
Chief citizen
Represents all the people in the US
What are the formal qualifications to be president of the US (A2,S1,C5)
Natural born citizen, 35 yo, 14yrs resident of US
What do the 20th, 22nd, 25th presidential amendments mandate or provide for
They provide protocols for president (exec branch to follow in regards to the president)
20th amendment
Established the start date for the pres/vp/congres
22nd amendments
Established presidential term limits
25th amendment
Established the succession to the presidency
What is the max number of years one can serve as president
10 yrs. 2 terms (8yrs), 2 yrs when succeeding previous president
List an accurate presidential line of succession
1.VP,2.speaker of the house, 3.pres pro tempore, 4.secretary of state, 5.secretary of state, 6.secretary of defense, 7. Attorney general
What is the disability clause sections (3&4) of the 25th
Pres may declare disability, Pres disability is declared by VP and majority of the cabinet/other body (VP will replace Pres)
What does it mean to balance the ticket
When Pres candidate chooses a running mate who can strengthen their chances of being elected by virtue of ideological, ethnic, or gender characteristics
What does it mean to balance the ticket
When Pres candidate chooses a running mate who can strengthen their chances of being elected by virtue of ideological, ethnic, or gender characteristics
What are the constitutional powers of the vice president
VP can break a tie vote in the senate, formally president over the receiving and counting of electoral ballots cast in Pres. election, and is Pres in waiting
How has the role of the VP transformed since the 1940s
Shifted from ceremonial (just Pres replacement) to a key part of policy, diplomacy, and advising leadership responsibilities
If the VP resigns or dies, how is that position filled
The Pres will nominate a VP who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both houses of congress
What is imperial presidency
President stretched the constitution in the exercise of constitutional rules
What are the reasons for the expansion of presidential powers
Crisis situations, legislative delegation, executive orders and actions, media influence, judicial decisions
What are executive orders and examples
direct rule or regulation issued by a chief executive or subordinates.
Exec order 9981, mandated the desegregation of the US military
What are executive privileges with examples
The power of the president and other officials in the executive branch to withhold certain forms of confidential communication from the courts and the legislative branch.
To keep secret conversations with or memoranda to or from advisors
What is advice and consent
The Pres shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the US and of the militia of the several stages, when called into the actual service of the United States
What are the five types of federal positions appointed by the president
Ambassadors and other diplomats m, cabinet members and their top aides, the heads of independent agencies, all federal judges, attorneys, and us marshalls, all officers in the armed forces
Reprieve
The postponement of the execution of a sentence, but does not erase the conviction. (Government grants reprieves in death penalty cases out of their opposition if the death penalty)
Pardon
A release from the punishment or legal consequences of crimes by the president (federal), or governor (state)
President pardons a turkey for thanksgiving
Clemency
Mercy or leniency granted to an offender by a chief executive
Jimmy Carter pardoned, commuted, or rescinded the convictions of 56 people
Commutation
Power to reduce a fire or the length of a sentence imposed by a court.
10yr sentence reduced to 5yrs
Amnesty
Blanket pardon, offered to a group of law violators.
Illegal immigrants who came to the country before 1982 were granted amnesty
Veto
Chief executive power to reject a bill passed by legislators
Pocket veto
President receives a bill but is unable to reject and return the bill to an adjourned Congress with in the 10-day period. The bill, though lacking a signature and formal objections, does not become a law
What is the vote threshold for Congress to override a presidential veto
Congress can override a veto by a passing the act by a 2/3 vote in both the houses and the senate
Treaty
A formal agreement between 2 or more sovereign states
Executive agreement
A pact between the president and the head of foreign state
Executive agreement
A pact between the president and the head of a foreign state
Executive agreement
A pact between the president and the head of a foreign state
How are treaties and executive agreements different
Treaties require ratification by 2/3 of the senate, while executive agreements require ratification by 2/3 of the House of Representatives
What circumstances can the president commit American military forces to combat
When there is a declaration of war by Congress, specific statuaries authorization from Congress, or in cases of a national emergency created by attack upon the US, it’s territories or possessions, or it’s armed forces
What is bureaucracy
A system of organization that uses a hierarchical structure, specialized roles, and many roles and procedures to carry out the day-to-day business of an institution
What is the federal budget
A plan for the United States federal governments spending and revenue for a fiscal year
What is the office of management and budget
A part of the executive office of the president that helps the president implement their vision across the federal government
Characterize and explain the functions of the EOP
The EOP has responsibility for tasks ranging from communicating the president’s message to the American people to promoting our trade interests abroad. The EOP, overseen by White House chief of staff, has traditionally been home to many of the president’s closest advisors
Independent Executive Agency
Federal agencies that are constitutionally part of the exec branch, and are independent of presidential control (postal service)
Independent regulatory commission
A type of agency that is created by the government to regulate and oversee a specific industry or sector ( consumer product safety commission)
Government corporation
A gov agency that is established by Congress to provide a market-oriented public service and to produce revenues that meet or approximate its expenditures (PBS)
Open primary
Primary election in which voters are not required to declare party affiliation
(AZ system)
Closed primary
A direct primary in which only persons meeting tests of party membership may vote
Format and process it a presidential primary process
Pres primary process involves states holding primaries or caucuses to choose delegates who support different candidates. These delegates then vote at the party’s national convention to select the official nominee for president
Pros about Pres primary
Democratic input, tests candidate viability, encourages policy debates, regional representation
Cons of Pres primary process
Disproportionate influence of early states, lengthy and costly process, voter fatigue, low turnout, party divisiveness
Three major goals of the party convention
1.naming the Perseus presidential and vice presidential candidates, 2. Promoting party unity, 3. Adopting the party’s platform
What is the purpose of the convention keynote address
A speech give. Early at a party convention to set the tone for the convention and the campaign to come
What is a swing voter
A person whose vote is regarded as decisive to the outcome of an election bc it is not predictable which candidate or party they will vote for
What is a swing voter
A person whose vote is regarded as decisive to the outcome of an election bc it is not predictable which candidate or party they will vote for
What is a battleground state
of democrat voters ~ # of republican voters, so it has an important influence on the result of the election
What is the electoral college
A group of people (electors) chosen from each state to formally select the president and VP (270+ of 538)
Pros of electoral college
Ensures smaller states get representation, preservation of federalism, encourages national campaigning, prevents regional dominance ( populous regions don’t solely dictate presidential outcomes)
Cons of the EC
Disproportionate influence, smaller states have a disproportionately higher influence per vote, winner takes all system, potential for disconnection(possibly winning Pres w/out popular vote can undermine the perceived legitimacy of the electoral process
The state executive of Arizona (governor)
Katie Hobbs
