Unit V: Branches of Govt: Executive Flashcards
What are Constitutional qualifications for VP?
Same as President:
- Must be native-born citizen
- Must be 35 yrs old
- Have to have lived in U.S. for 14 yrs
What are the Constitutional qualifications for being President?
- Must be native-born citizen
- Must be 35 yrs old
- Have to have lived in U.S. for 14 yrs
What are the presidential qualifications that voters look for?
a. Education
b. experience in govt.
c. leadership
d. ideology/beliefs
e. vision for America
f. communication skills
g. diplomatic skills
h. legislative skills
Who is the presidential salary set by?
Congress
What is the presidents salary?
$400,000
Who picked the site for the White House?
George Washington
Did George Washington ever get to live in the White House?
No
When was the White House occupied?
John Adams in the 1800’s
Who was the architect of the White House?
James Hoban
How was the architectural design of the White House determined?
Held a contest and architect w best design won $500
Who had the West Wing built?
Theodore Roosevelt
Where are the offices (& Oval Office) in the White House?
In the West Wing
What is the purpose(s) of the White House?
- Office/Work place
- Home
- Ceremony/host events/impress visitors
What did the Constitution originally say about the terms of a president?
No term limits
Who was our 1st President?
George Washington
How many terms did George Washington serve as president?
Stepped down after 2 terms
What did George Washington do by stepping down after 2 terms?
Set a precedent that lasted until 1940
Who won 4 terms as President?
FDR (Franklin Roosevelt)
Why did FDR run 4 times for president?
- Great Depression
2. World War II
What is the 22nd Amendment (1951)?
Limits President to 2 terms
What is the Vice President aka?
VP or Veep
What are the 2 duties of the VP according to the Constitution
- replace President if needed
2. President of the Senate
What did veeps do before 1945?
Until 1945, basically nothing
“From 1791-1918, not one VP attended a single Cabinet meeting.”
What happened in 1945?
Turning pt for VPs
Why was 1945 a turning point? (Describe in detail)
FDR dies
-Harry Truman becomes Commander in Chief during World War II
-was shocked to find out about atomic bomb
-was told he had to decide whether to use it
Therefore, Truman puts VP on National Security Council (NSC)
-created more active role for VPs
What are 2 reasons VPs are chosen
- Vote bait
2. Good public image
Describe the concept of vote bait
- Views/experience
- Pick someone that “fills out part of the presidential resume” - Geography
- Pick someone that has a strong pull in a part of the country that the candidate does not have a strong pull in
Describe the VPs good public image
can’t be better than president but can’t be so bad that president is embarrassed
What does the Constitution say about Presidential Succession?
VP should assume “powers & duties” of President
Why was the Presidential Succession Act created?
With WWII over & Cold War began, threat of multiple assassinatios becomes possible with Soviets having atomic bombs & US not having nuclear monopoly anymore
List the Presidential Succession (order does not mean everyone “moves up”, new VP is appointed for new President)
President VP Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore of Senate Secretary of State Dept. Heads
Describe the 25th Amendment
Acting President
- VP becomes President for a short period of time bc the President cannot perform his duties (bc he’s incapacitated)
- Ex. Surgeries, medically induced coma, etc.
What are the 4 major types of presidential power?
- Chief Executive
- Chief Diplomat
- Commander in Chief
- Legislative Leader
What does the chief executive have?
the power to carry out nation’s laws
What does the position of chief executive allow the President to do?
may require the President to interpret how to enforce laws
How does the president interpret how to enforce laws?
Through bureaucracy
Define bureaucracy
large network of individuals & agencies
Define executive order
Rule/command the President issues that has the force of law
What is the significance in Presidential Power?
- *1. inherent (vested in, right/privilege) powers
2. interpret how to carry out the law
3. best interest of nation if not prohibited from doing
What was Theodore Roosevelt’s view of presidential power
President can do whatever is not prohibited by Constitution
Therefore, he increases Presidential power
Describe how Teddy Roosevelt expanded the power of the presidency (list of examples)
ex. Creates press room
- asked for support from people on whatever he was trying to accomplish
ex. Travelled abroad
ex. Acquired & built Panama Canal
ex. Doubled size of national parks
- used executive orders
ex. Broke up monopolies
ex. Negotiated end of a strike
- favored the workers
ex. Doubles size of navy
ex. Negotiated end of war
- Russo-Japanese War
- won Nobel Peace Prize
What do presidents sometimes do during times of crisis?
Sometimes, Presidents will use executive orders during times of crisis
ex. During Civil War, Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus
What can the chief diplomat do?
Appoint ambassadors
Negotiate treaties
Define ambassadors
Official representative of govt. in foreign country
people sent to different countries to be official representatives in those countries
What are 2 requirements for ambassador?
- Need Senate approval
2. US must “recognize” the govt. that the ambassador is working at
Define treaty
formal agreement btwn. 2 or more countries
Describe the power of negotiating treaties
It’s a shared power with the Senate (2/3 vote)
Describe Commander in Chief
leader of all armed forces
Only who can order American soldiers into battle?
The President
The FF wanted what?
Civilian control?
To separate the presidency from military control?
What was the War Powers Act in response to?
The Vietnam War
What was the intent of the War Powers Act?
to check the power of the President to use the military
How does the War Powers Act work?
- President can send troops into combat for 60 days
- must inform Congress (within 48 hrs)
- needs permission of Congress to keep there after 60 days - If Congress says no, then 30 days to remove military
What is the significance of the War Powers Act?
- goal was to get more interaction more interaction btwn. the President & Congress
- Has lead to presidents asking Congress to use force more often
Where may troops also be used?
within our agreements with United Nations & NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) & to keep peace within country
What are the 7 powers/roles of the president?
- Chief Executive
- Chief Diplomat
- Commander in Chief
- Legislative Leader
- Party Leader
- Judicial Leader
- Chief of State
Describe the role of legislative leader
Introduce legislation
How does the president introduce legislation
- ask Senators/Representatives to formally submit
- actively support its passage
How does the president influence legislation?
a. Proposed budget
- President proposes budget
b. Veto/threaten to veto
c. Call special session of Congress
Describe the role of party leader
- Reward party through patronage
- Support candidate running
Define patronage
Giving jobs/appointments to people from his party
Describe role of judicial leader
Appoint justices to Supreme Court / Federal courts
Describe power to appoint justices to supreme/federal court
- Can influence how court may vote by who they appoint
- Must be approved by Senate
What 3 things can president grand as judicial leader?
- Pardon
- Reprieve
- Amnesty
Define pardon
Issue a declaration of forgiveness & freedom from punishment
Define reprieve
Delay punishment until case is reviewed
Define amnesty
Pardon but applies to group of people
Describe role of chief of state
- Symbolic role to be admired/respected
- Meet with foreign leaders/visit/funerals
- Peace negotiation
- Ex. Israel vs. Palestine
Describe Richard Nixon
secretive/paranoid/insecure
List Nixon’s accomplishments
- opened relations with China
- visited USSR
- helped negotiate arms control with them
Nixon infringed on Congress’ power to…
- Declare war
- Control govt. spending
- Oversight of other branches
How did Nixon infringe on Congress’ power to declare war?
bombed Cambodia / Laos during Vietnam War without telling Congress
How did Nixon infringe on Congress’ power to control govt. spending?
redirect money to fund war effort
How did Nixon infringe on Congress’ power to oversee other branches?
tried to use executive privilege during Watergate Scandal
