American Goverment: Campaign Finance, Road to the White House, and Executive Branch

25th Amendment

Addresses the transfer of presidential powers if the president is incapacitated, dies, or is unfit for office.

U.S. v. Nixon

Supreme Court case affirming the confidentiality of presidential communications.

Chief Economic Planner

Role of the president to work with Congress to manage the economy.

Chief Diplomat

The president appoints ambassadors to represent the U.S. in foreign countries.

Commander in Chief

The president makes major decisions about military deployment and troop leadership.

Legislative Leader

The president influences legislation through proposing, vetoing, and signing bills.

Party Leader

The president campaigns for party members seeking election to state and federal offices.

POTUS line of succession

Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore, Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury.

Expressed Powers

Powers specifically written in the U.S. Constitution.

Pardon

Forgiveness for a crime, allowing a person convicted to be excused.

Reprieve

Postponement of a punishment or sentence.

Inherent Powers

Powers considered a natural extension of those granted by the Constitution.

Treaty

An agreement negotiated by the president with another country, requiring Senate approval.

Natural Born Citizen

One formal qualification for the presidency.

U.S. v. Nixon main issue

Whether all presidential communications have confidentiality privilege.

Caucus

A closed meeting of party members to select candidates.

Closed Primary

A primary where only registered party members can vote.

Open Primary

A primary where registered voters of any affiliation can participate.

Delegate

Individuals chosen to represent their state at a party's national convention.

Executive Agreement

A deal or pact made between heads of countries.

Executive Order

A directive from the President that has the force of law.

Executive Privilege

The president's claim to withhold information from Congress or courts.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Organizations formed for raising and spending money to elect or defeat candidates.

Super PAC

Committees that can raise unlimited funds but cannot donate directly to candidates.

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

An independent agency that regulates federal election rules.

Article II of the Constitution

Outlines the presidency's election process, removal, and powers.

Cabinet Approval

The president needs Congressional approval for cabinet appointments.

Head of State

The president performs ceremonial tasks (like giving medals of honor) and provides inspiration for the American people.

formal power of potus

negotiate treaties

formal power of potus

appoint cabinet members, ambassadors, and judges

formal power of potus

grant pardons and reprieves

formal power of potus

commander in chief

formal power of potus

give state of union addresses

Informal or Inherent Powers of POTUS

executive agreement, executive privlege, executive order

steps to become a president (summarized)

announce they are running, get nominated, campaign, general election, electoral college, votes are counted, president is inagurate

steps to become a president

A candidate must ANNOUNCE they are running for President

The candidate must win as many state Primaries and Caucuses as possible

At the NATIONAL CONVENTION the party officially nominates their candidate

Now that each party has a candidate they need to CAMPAIGN and get their message out to all voters

The GENERAL ELECTION takes place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November

The ELECTORAL COLLEGE votes are cast and certified in each state.

Congress CERTIFIES (or counts) the Electoral Votes on January 6th

The INAUGURATION of the newly elected President

Buckley v. Valeo ruled that campaign contributions …an extension of freedom of speech.

ARE

Nixon v. U.S. established that executive privilege is … absolute

NOT

executive powers

enforce the law

appoint cabinet members and other goverment officials

issue executive orders

seek advice of cabinet members

Foreign Policy (things POTUS does that influences relations with other countries):

commander in chief

negotiate treaties

recognize foreign countries

negotiate executive agreements

legislative powers

signing and vetoing laws

calling special sessions of congress

give annual state of the union address

adjourning congress

judicial powers

grant pardons and reprieves

appoint supereme court justices and judges

Which of the following are common campaign expenditures?

Salaries

Administrative costs, such as office space, travel and accounting services

Media, including phone banks and ads (TV, print and internet)

departments of economics

labor

commerce

education

transportation

treasury

energy

departments of Foreign relations and national security

state

defense

homeland security

departments of

Maintaining order within the country

justice

interior

departments of health + welfare of the people

health and human services

veteran’s affairs

agriculture

housing and urban development