US Presidency Flashcards
Presidential powers in the constitution
- Signing and vetoing legislation
- commander in chief of armed forces
- Giving the state of union address
- Granting pardons
- Treaties
- Recieving ambassadors
0 Appointing federal judges
0 Calling special sessions of congress
Whats the difference between being head of state and being head of gov’t?
Head of state
- President is the representative of the USA to the world
Head of gov’t
- Has to do more with domestic politics - i.e appointing cavinet
Commander in chief role
seen as both head of state and head of gov’t:
- dependent on money and approval from congress, making it more about governing
- Also a key gloval public figure and can act to defend the USA
What informal sources of power does the president have
- Electoral mandate
- National events
- Executive orders
- Vice president and cabinet
Electoral mandate
With a larger mandate, a president can exercise more power than someone who scrapes a win
How much did Obama win by in 2008
52.9%
How much did Trump win by in 2016
46.1%
Executive orders
Directives to a department on how to carry out a law
Trumps executive orders
220 executive orders - to restrict abortion, Obama care and instituting travel ban
National events
In times of national crisis, president gets a popularity bump, due to national tragedy, etc. seen with 9/11, peaking at 92%
Vice president & cabinet in informal power
individuals cn lend presidents power if they have popularity, etc Hilary Clinton was crucial as secretary of state in negotiating Start Treaty in 2010
Power of persuasion
President has more persuative power when he is popular and vice versa
Successful powers of persuation
Obama campaigned on healthcare reform throughout 2008 - able to pass Obama care in 2010, some success being down to bipartisan appeals to Republicans, health care summits and bc Congress was run by Democrats
Unsuccessful powers of persuation
Trump with the wall - 35 day gov’t shutdown with Trumps inability to persuade Congress
EXOP
Consists of those staff and bodies that immediately surround the president and help him carry out his duties
NSC
Cordinates foreign, military, etc polcy for president I DOTN EVEN FICKING NO DO I
Where is EXOP found?
West wing of the white house or the Eisenhower exec office building next door
What is in EXOP?
- National Security Council
- Office of Management and budget
- White House Office