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A Level US Politics > US presidency > Flashcards

US presidency Flashcards

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1
Q

How many formal powers does the constitution give the president?

A

10

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2
Q

formal powers

Propose legislation

A

often used the annual stage of the union address to congress
EXAMPLE Trump 2018 announced to spend $1.5 trillion on infrastructure

This power also includes submission of annual budget

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3
Q

Formal powers

Sign legislation

A

May hold bill signing ceremony to claim credit

EXAMPLE trump tax cuts (2017)

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4
Q

Formal powers

Veto legislation

A

Even the threat of a veto is a significant power
When used the president usually prevails
EXAMPLE trump won 9 of his 10 vetoes

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5
Q

Formal powers

Act as Chief Executive

A

In charge of running the executive branch
Is head of government
Assisted by cabinet: department and agency heads
EXOP

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6
Q

Formal powers

Nominate executive branch officials

A

Department and agency heads

EXAMPLE Trump appointed Mike Pompeo as SOS 2018

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7
Q

Formal powers

Nominate federal judges

A

Including Supreme court justices

For Example Trump Appointed Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett

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8
Q

Formal powers

Act as a commander in chief

A

has overall control over the armed forces-this was especially important from the nineteen forties to the 1980s during the Cold War hostilities with the Soviet union

EXAMPLE Bill Clinton ordered the bombing of Kosovo in 1999 and Barack Obama presided over extensive bombing in Libya which led to the downfall of the Gadhafi regime

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9
Q

Formal powers

Negotiates treaties

A

Symbolises the peace making role alongside the commander in chief role

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10
Q

Formal powers

Pardon and commutation of prison sentence

A

controversial power, especially when used to benefit close friends and supporters.
EXAMPLE
Bill Clinton made a total of 140 pardons while in office, Barack Obama 212 and Donald Trump 237

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11
Q

formal powers

act as head of state

A

is the public face or representative of the nation, both internationally and in domestic policies

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12
Q

Define executive branch

A

The branch of government that has responsibility for exercising authority across the governed territory and for implementing and forcing the laws created by the legislative branch.

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13
Q

Define domestic policies

A

The decisions and policies that the executive and the legislature make that are specifically to do with issues or events within a country

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14
Q

How is the vice president elected?

A

In conjunction with the the president
EXAMPLE Donald trump and Mike Pence in 2016
And Joe Biden and Kamala harris 2020

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15
Q

How many powers does the constitution give the vice president?

A

5

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16
Q

Constitutional powers of the vice president

Presiding officer of the senate

A

Chairs debates (but usually this is done by junior members of the majority party)

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17
Q

Constitutional powers of the vice president

Voting in the case of a tied vote in the senate

A

Vice president Mike Pence voted 13 times in the senate, more then all expect 6 of the 36 vice presidents

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18
Q

Constitutional powers of the vice president

Counting the electoral college votes after the presidential election

A

Mike Pence presided over the counting of the electoral college voted in January 2021 following the 2020 election

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19
Q

Constitutional powers of the vice president

Becoming president in the event of the death, resignation or the removal of the president

A

Has occurred on 9 occasions

Vice president Gerald Ford became president when Nixon resigned

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20
Q

Constitutional powers of the vice president

Becoming acting president if the president is declared or declared himself disabled

A

25th amendment

Vice president Dick Cheney twice became acting president while George Bush underwent exploratory surgery

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21
Q

Where do informal powers come from?

A

From sources not mentioned in the constitution as well as outside factors the president has limited control over

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22
Q

Informal source of presidential power

The cabinet

A

an advisory group set up by the president to aid in making decisions and coordinating the work of the federal government

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23
Q

informal sources of presidential power

EXOP

A

Contains the top staff agencies in the White House that assist the president in carrying out the major responsibilities of the presidential office.

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24
Q

informal sources of presidential power

White House office WHO

A

Part of EXOP, the WHO is the personal office of the president containing the staff who facilitate the presidents communications with congrats, department and agency has, the press and public

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25
Q

informal sources of presidential power

National Security Council NSC

A

 part of EXOP, the NSC is the presidents official forum for deliberating national security and foreign policy.

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26
Q

informal sources of presidential power

Office of management and budget OMB

A

The office within EXOP that reviews budget requests, legislative initiatives, and proposed rules and regulations from the executive departments and agencies

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27
Q

informal sources of presidential power

Powers of persuasion

A

The president uses personal influence, authority of office and political capital, and makes deals to obtain the support of key political actors.

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28
Q

informal sources of presidential power

Executive Orders

A

issued as a form of direct authority. They are often used by presidents frustrated by congressional assistance to their agenda as an alternative to legislation

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29
Q

informal sources of presidential power

Executive agreements

A

agreements between the president and a foreign nation, often used as alternatives to formal treaties

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30
Q

informal sources of presidential power

Signing statements

A

statements issued by the president on signing a bill which may challenge specific provisions of the bill on constitutional or other grounds

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31
Q

informal sources of presidential power 

Electoral mandate

A

The larger the presidents electoral mandate, the more likely they are to achieve the legislative agenda

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32
Q

informal sources of presidential power

Public approval

A

The presidents public approval rating can affect their ability to get things done

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33
Q

informal sources of presidential power

National events

A

National events can affect presidential power, enhancing or weakening their position in relation to Congress, the states and the presidents personal approval ratings. For example, the aftermath of the 911 terrorist attacks increased the popularity of George W Bush, whereas the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and negatively affected Donald trumps approval rating.

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34
Q

Define informal power

A

political rather than constitutional powers

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35
Q

Define powers of persuasion

A

using personal influence to convince others to provide support

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36
Q

Define electoral mandate

A

The size of the majority won by the president at the election-the higher the majority, the bigger the electoral mandate

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37
Q

Define cabinet

A

The advisory group selected by the president to assist in making decisions and coordinating the work of the federal government

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38
Q

Is the cabinet mentioned in the constitution?

A

No
Article ll states that the president may require the opinion in writing of the heads of each executive department
It is an advisory and coordinating group, not a decision making group

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39
Q

How many heads of executive departments are there?

A

15

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40
Q

What are the heads of executive departments traditionally?

A

Members of the cabinet but some some others are who the president designates as having cabinet rank
eg US trade representative

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41
Q

Why’s it difficult to recruit cabinet members from incumbent members of congress?

A

They then must resign from congress

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42
Q

Where are cabinet members mainly drawn from?

A

Former members of congress, state governors, big city mayors, academia etc
Tend to be policy specialists

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43
Q

Appointments of cabinet members must be approved by whom?

A

A majority vote in the senate

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44
Q

How does the cabinet often look like the cabinet

A

In terms of gender, race, region age and ideology
Should be balanced
Trumps cabinet mainly white, male, older, wealthy, business executives

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45
Q

Good exam quote for cabinet

A

‘the cabinet had become institutionalised by usage alone’

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46
Q

What’s the correct term for cabinet people in the USA

A

Cabinet officers

Cabinet ministers in the UK

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47
Q

How do cabinet meetings vary?

A

Frequency of meetings depends on President

Trump held 9 well above recent average

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48
Q

What happens to cabinet meetings as presidency progresses?

A

They hold fewer

Trump only held 2 in his final year

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49
Q

Is the presidents cabinet important?

Yes Important people

A

it contains some of the most important people in the executive branch eg secretary of state

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50
Q

Is the presidents cabinet important?

yes President chairs

A

The president chairs all the meetings

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51
Q

Is the presidents cabinet important?

yes fulfills important functions

A

cabinet meetings can fulfil a number of important functions for both the president and cabinet officers

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52
Q

Is the presidents cabinet important?

yes frequent meetings

A

some home frequent meetings

eg reagan

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53
Q

Is the presidents cabinet important?

No constitution

A

Article ll vests ‘all executive power in the president’

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54
Q

Is the presidents cabinet important?

no, responsibility

A

no collective doctrine of responsibility

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55
Q

Is the presidents cabinet important?

no, presidents equals

A

Members are neither presidents equals nor political rivals

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56
Q

Is the presidents cabinet important?

No, president suspicious

A

Presidents often view members of their cabinet with some suspicion because of their divided loyalties

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57
Q

Is the presidents cabinet important?

No EXOP

A

Exop is main source of advice giving for the president

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58
Q

When was EXOP established?

A

1939

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59
Q

How many offices does EXOP have now?

A

13

4 when it was establish

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60
Q

Why has the number of EXOP offices increased?

A

Because the number of policy areas that president must address has increased

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61
Q

Where do key EXOP personnel work?

A

In the west wing

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62
Q

What are the 3 most important offices within the EXOP?

A

White House Office WHO
The Office Of Management And Budget OMB
National Security Council NSC

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63
Q

Define EXOP

A

The umbrella term for the top staff agencies in the white house that assist the president in carrying out the major responsibilities of office

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64
Q

what does EXOP stand for?

A

Executive Office Of The President

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65
Q

Who does the WHO include?

A

The presidents most trusted aides

More than 30 different offices such as the office of cabinet affairs

66
Q

What does the WHO act as a liaison between?

A

The white House and vast federal bureaucracy

67
Q

How are staff of the WHO meant to act?

A

As neutral ‘honest brokers’ not partisan policy makers

68
Q

Who heads the WHO?

And duties:

A

The white house chief of staff:
The door keeper of the the Oval office
Decided who the president sees, what the president reads, speaks to the president on the phone
Should act as someone who sometimes takes the blame for the president is things go wrong

69
Q

Who struggled to fulfill the white house chief of staff role?

A

All 4 of trumps chief of staff did given trumps way of operating

70
Q

The White House Chief of Staff is arguably what?

A

Potentially the most powerful person in the white house after the president

71
Q

Who heads the OMB?

A

The OMB director

72
Q

What does the OMB director appointment require?

A

Senate confirmation

73
Q

What’s the OMBs 3 principal function?

A
  1. to advise the president on the allocation of federal funds in the annual budget
  2. To oversee the spending of all federal departments and agencies
  3. To act as a clearing house for all legislative and regulatory initiatives coming from the president
74
Q

what’s the main function of the NSC?

A

Is to help the president coordinate foreign, security and defence policy

75
Q

Who heads the NSC?

A

The national security advisor

76
Q

The NSC coordinates information coming to the president from:

A
  • the state department
  • the defence department
  • the central intelligence agency (CIA)
  • the join chiefs of staff
  • US ambassadors from around the world
77
Q

It’s important to note that the NSC acts as an not a

A

Acts as an ‘honest broker’ , a facilitator, not a policy promoter

78
Q

EXOP - Cabinet rivalry, why?

Geographic location

A

EXOP members work in or near the west wing, cabinet members often work some geographic distance from the white house

79
Q

EXOP - Cabinet rivalry, why?

President meetings

A

Some EXOP members may see the president on a regular basis, some members of the cabinet rarely get to see the P, and certainly not one on one

Therefore while EXOP members often know what the president wants from day to day, cabinet members may feel out of the loop

80
Q

EXOP - Cabinet rivalry, why?

Cabinet divided loyalties

A

while EXOP work only for the president, cabinet members have divided loyalties - to the president but also to congress, to their bureaucracy and to client interest groups

81
Q

EXOP - Cabinet rivalry, why?

EXOP staff regard cabinet members as?

A

Disloyal

82
Q

In the modern era of party polarisation the presidents powers of persuasion are what?

A

Less effective than they were in the postwar period when the bipartisan politics was more common

83
Q

A presidents power to persuade is usually greater when there is what?

A

A unified government

84
Q

Define unified government

A

When both houses of congress and the presidency are controlled by the same party

85
Q

What is the president trying to get congress to do, power of persuasion?

A

Pass the presidents legislative proposals
sustain the presidents vetoes
Confirm the presidents executive and judicial nominations (senate only)
Ratify the presidents treaties (senate only)

86
Q

Why does the president need to persuade congress to give its support?

A

The presidents powers are checked by congress

The presidents party may control only one of the houses or none

Members of congress have other loyalties to their constituents and powerful lobbyists

Members of congress are elected separately from the president

The president has few ‘sticks and carrots’ Disincentives and incentives to encourage members of congress to offer their support

87
Q

Powers of the president: Propose legislation

checks by congress:

A

Amend, delay, reject the presidents legislative proposals

88
Q

Powers of the president: veto legislation

checks by congress:

A

override the veto

89
Q

Powers of the president: nominate executive branch officials
checks by congress:

A

Senate has the power to confirm or reject

90
Q

Powers of the president: Nominate federal judges

checks by congress:

A

senate has the power to confirm or reject

91
Q

Powers of the president: negotiates treaties

checks by congress:

A

Senate has the power to ratify or reject

92
Q

Powers of the president: commander in chief of the armed forces
checks by congress:

A

Declare war/power of the purse

93
Q

Powers of the president: Act as chief exec

checks by congress:

A

Investigation, impeachment, trial, removal from office

94
Q

Who does the president use to help get congress’s support?

A

The vice president
The office of legislative affairs (part of the WHO)
Cabinet officers
Party leadership in congress

95
Q

What perks can the president use to help win the support of members of congress?

A
  • phone calls to members of congress to request support directly
  • support legislation important to a member of congress
  • invitations social or political to the white house
  • campaign for them (only of the Ps own party)
  • go on tv and appeal directly to voters to contact members of congress and tell them to support P
96
Q

What success have recent presidents enjoyed in congress?

A

Success can be measured by the presidential annual support score

97
Q

What was obamas presidential support score?

A

2009 96% Both houses democrats

2016 39%

98
Q

What usually happens in a presidents second term?

A

They become ‘lame ducks’
The average first year support score for presidents from reagan to obama is 83% whereas in the last year the score is around 48%

99
Q

What was trumps approval score?

A

Ranged from 47% at its highest and at its lowest at 34% at the end of his term

100
Q

Is the presidents power of persuasion still important?

Yes Formal disciplinary

A

The president hold no formal disciplinary over members do congress

101
Q

Is the presidents power of persuasion still important?

Yes Party discipline

A

Party discipline in Congress, though tighter than it used to be, cannot guarantee votes for the president

102
Q

Is the presidents power of persuasion still important?

Yes Party majorities

A

the president may be faced one or both houses controlled by the other party

103
Q

Is the presidents power of persuasion still important?

Yes president dependant

A

The president is dependant upon members of congress for legislation, confirmation of appointments and treaty ratification

104
Q

Is the presidents power of persuasion still important?

Yes direct authority

A

The presidents direct authority has limited use

105
Q

Is the presidents power of persuasion still important?

Yes President support

A

The president can offer support for things members of congress regard as important

106
Q

Is the presidents power of persuasion still important?

No Partisanship

A

In an era of partisanship, few, if any, members of congress from the opposition party are open to presidential persuasion, especially on big ticket items

Partisanship also makes persuasion a less useful tool for the president trying to persuade voters to support him and then pressurise recalcitrant members of congress to do likewise

107
Q

Is the presidents power of persuasion still important? approval ratings

A

Presidents nowadays tend to have low approval ratings and high disapproval ratings and therefore their persuasion is much less effective

108
Q

Is the presidents power of persuasion still important?

no 2nd term presidents

A

2nd term presidents have found their persuasive power to be very limited

109
Q

How many types of direct authority are there?

A

4

110
Q

Direct authority

Executive order

A

And executive order is easy for a president to issue but equally easy for a subsequent president to rescind

Obama made increasing use of them after the democrats lost control of congress

Trump also made significant use of them during his first few months, also facing an uncooperative congress

111
Q

How did george bush use signing statements?

A

he increasingly used them to challenge constitutionality of some part of a bill he was signing

112
Q

What do critics claim about signing orders?

A

They are a abuse of power over legislation, the the correct and constitutional course of action would be for the president to either veto the bill or to await a ruling on the law’s constitutionality from the SC

113
Q

What do supporters say about signing orders?

A

They are a way in which a president can get their way over legislation even when congress is uncooperative

114
Q

When’s a recess appointment used?

A

Gridlock in the senate over confirmation of appointments
Bill Clinton and George Bush increasingly use them over their terms in office

Obama lost a supreme court decision about them in 2014 which resulted in their curtailment

115
Q

Define executive order

A

An official document issued by the Executive branch with the fact of the law, through which the president directs federal officials to take certain actions

116
Q

Define signing statements

A

A statement issued by the president on signing a bill which may challenge specific provisions of the bill on constitutional or other grounds

117
Q

Define recess appointment

A

A temporary appointment of a federal official made by the presidency to fill a vacancy while the senate is in recess

118
Q

When does the president use an executive agreement?

A

To circumvent the senates power to ratify treaties

Hence there is strong opposition to them from congress

119
Q

Define executive agreement

A

an agreement reached between the president and a foreign nation on matters that do not require a formal treaty

120
Q

Imperial presidency

A

term first used by arthur Schlesinger
Associated most with president Nixon
Characterised by abuse of power, secrecy and illegality

121
Q

Imperilled presidency

A

Term first used by Gerald Ford
Associated most with presidents ford and carter
Characterised by congressional reassertiveness and presidential weakness

122
Q

Post imperial presidency

A

Term first used in 1980
Often used to refer to presidents from reagan to trump
Characterised by presidential re-assertiveness but power that is often limited by a new era of hyper partisanship

123
Q

Define imperial presidency

A

A presidency characterised by the misuse of presidential powers, especially excessive secrecy particularly in foreign policy - and high handed was in dealing with congress

124
Q

define imperilled presidency

A

A term coined by president gerald ford to refer to a presidency characterised by ineffectiveness and weakness, resulting from congressional over assertiveness

125
Q

Bill clinton

Imperial presidency

A

1994 clinton prepared to launch an invasion of Haiti without congressional permission

126
Q

George W Bush

Imperial Presidency

A

Bush’s unilateralism accelerated dramatically after 9/11

127
Q

Barack Obama

Imperial Presidency

A

Obama launched ten times as many strikes in the middle east and asia as george bush, likewise sanctioned military intervention in Libya without seeking congressional approval

Most controversially be sanctioned the death of Anwar Al Awlaki, an alleged terrorist by a drone attack in yemen 2011

128
Q

Donald Trump

Imperial presidency

A

Bombing ISIS fighters 2017
Air strike assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani without authorisation from congress
Argued in 2020 he could use twitter to inform congress of future airstrikes

129
Q

What powers does the constitution give the president in foreign policy?

A

To act as a commander chief in the armed forces
To negotiate treaties with foreign powers
To make certain appointments

130
Q

What powers does the constitution give to congress in foreign policy?

A

To declare war, not used since 1941
Control of the budget (military spending)
Ratify treaties (senate only)
Confirm appointments (senate only)

131
Q

Does the president control foreign policy?

Yes Cic

A

The president is commander in chief

132
Q

Does the president control foreign policy?

Yes treaties

A

the p has the power to negotiate treaties

133
Q

Does the president control foreign policy?

Yes appointments

A

The p has the power to make appointments

134
Q

Does the president control foreign policy?

Yes tone

A

The president can set the time for foreign policy

135
Q

Does the president control foreign policy?

Yes, Nuclear monopoly

A

The president has access to the nuclear ‘button’ (the ‘football’)

The president has the facts in a crisis

136
Q

Does the president control foreign policy?

No Money

A

Congress controls the purse strings

137
Q

Does the president control foreign policy?

No declaring war

A

Only congress can declare war

Although largely redundant now

138
Q

Does the president control foreign policy?

Ratification No

A

The senate has ratification power for treaties

139
Q

Does the president control foreign policy? No appointments

A

The senate has confirmation power of appointments

140
Q

Does the president control foreign policy? No Investiagtion

A

Congress has the power of investigation

141
Q

Factors affecting presidential success and how they vary between presidents:
Electoral Mandate

A

The electoral mandate is the percentage of popular vote won in the previous election

No the the difference between obama winning 52.9% and Trump winning 46%

Bush and Trump both lost the popular vote

142
Q

Factors affecting presidential success and how they vary between presidents:
Public approval

A

The higher the presidents public approval rating, the more political clout they are likely to have

Note the difference between George Bush 62% approval average in the first year
Donald trump had 38%

143
Q

Factors affecting presidential success and how they vary between presidents:
First/Second term

A

The president is likely to be more successful in the first 2 years of their first term than in the last 2 years of their second

George Bush bad an approval rating of 62% during his first term and only 37% during his second term; Obama had a rating of 67% in his first term, falling to 40% in his second term

144
Q

Factors affecting presidential success and how they vary between presidents:
Unified/divided

A

They are likely to be more successful if their party controls both houses of congress
For example, Clinton 1993 - 95 and obama 2009-11

145
Q

Factors affecting presidential success and how they vary between presidents:
Crises

A

In a crisis, the nation tends to rally around the flag and look to the president for leadership

But if the president is seen to mishandle the crisis, it can have the opposite effect, (eg Trump and covid 19 pandemic)

146
Q

Bill clinton Aims

Economic Growth

A

The economic recovery of the 1990s led to his presidency being remebered for a booming economy

147
Q

Bill clinton Aims

Affordable healthcare

A

His proposed healthcare reforms were too divisive in congress and ended up not even being voted on

148
Q

Bill clinton Aims

Expanding Civil rights

A

Successfully increased representation of ethnic groups and women in government during his presidency and bad some success in advancing gay rights in the military

149
Q

Bill clinton Aims

Foreign policy

A

Clinton was successful in his foreign policy in both Russia and Yugoslavia as well as playing a crucial part in negotiating an end ‘The troubles’ In Northern Ireland

150
Q

George Bush aims and effectiveness

‘war on terror’ post 911

A

Bush was successful in creating a homeland security department that increased mass surveillance to prevent another attack of the magnitude of 911

151
Q

George Bush aims and effectiveness

Education Reform

A

The ‘no child left behind policy’ Saw a 2% increase in spending for inner city schools and the most vulnerable children in US society

152
Q

George Bush aims and effectiveness

Major Tax Cuts

A

Succeeded in his aim of making $1.35 trillion worth of tax cuts

153
Q

George Bush aims and effectiveness

Social Security Reform

A

Bush underestimated the difficulties he would face in passing his bill, talking the support of congress for granted.
His reform was not acted upon by congress

154
Q

Barack Obama aims and effectiveness Healthcare Reform

A

Passing healthcare reform was a considerable achievement, Obamacare saw the number of adults uninsured for healthcare drop considerably

155
Q

Barack Obama aims and effectiveness

Stimulating the economy

A

He successfully saw the USA through the 2008 economic crisis

156
Q

Barack Obama aims and effectiveness

Ending the war in Iraq

A

the obama administration was successful in engineering an exit strategy that ended the war in Iraq

157
Q

Barack Obama aims and effectiveness

Ending the war in Iraq

A

The obama administration was successful in engineering an exit strategy that ended the war in Iraq

158
Q

Barack Obama aims and effectiveness

Immigration reform

A

Obama failed to achieve an immigration reform which he hoped would lead to citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants

159
Q

Donald Trump aims and effectiveness

Taxes and jobs

A

The tax and jobs act 2017
was the biggest overhaul in the nations tax codes for 30 years, slashing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 22%

2019 US unemployment rates fell to the lowest level since 1969

160
Q

Donald Trump aims and effectiveness

Repeal and replace the Obamacare

A

The Trump administration lacked a clear vision of what replacement for Obamacare would look like and this lack of clarity resulted in a Republican senate failing to back the administration’s plans

161
Q

Donald Trump aims and effectiveness

Build The wall

A

Trump failed to build a wall across the USA - mexico border. He claimed to have built around 450 miles of wall, but at least 350 miles of this replaced wall that already existed

162
Q

Donald Trump aims and effectiveness

Successfully managed the covid 19 crisis

A

The trump administration was slow to recognise the danger of the virus and failed to communicate a national response.
The USA was the worst affected country in the world in terms of total fatalities

A Level US Politics (8 decks)

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