Unit 2B: Chapter 5.2 - The Constitution and the American Presidency Study Guide

The goal framers wanted to execute for the president

Powerful enough to lead, but not to the point they president could become tyrannous.

According to Federalist 70, the qualities that have more power in one person than in multiple executives?

Decision, Activity, Secrecy, and Despatch

The fear regarding popular elections for the presidency

The fear that popular elections was not a good indicator of the most qualified, they mistreated american citizens.

Why were less populated states against popular elections for presidency?

They feared that their votes would be swallowed by more populated states.

What did delegates believe about voters in relation to presidential elections?

They thought that voters would choose people from their own states.

The lengths of presidency

4 year terms
Only be re elected once

Hamilton's idea about the length of presidency

The president should serve for life

A limit the Framers not consider during the Constitutional Convention regarding the presidency?

No limits were placed on how many times a President could run.

The precedent George Washington set regarding presidential terms

He did not run for a third term. So most all but one ran only twice.

The only President that was elected more than twice, and elected 4 times.

Franklin Roosevelt

Since Franklin Roosevelt was elected more than twice this was created to limit the amount of terms in office.

The 22 amendment

22 Amendment XXII ( 1951)

President cannot run more than twice, only once if they assumed office for more than 2 years before the end of a partial term.

Requirements to be President

natural-born citizen, or a citizen by the time of the Constitution

35 years old,

resident of US for 14 years

Who created Federalist 70?

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 70 argues ________ important for a good government

An energetic executive

Federalist 70 protect against

Foreign attacks

Hamilton's view on having more than one executive

It weakens decisiveness

Federalist 70 say about dual executives

It causes dissension and disagreement

The Overview of the Powers the President has

Informal and Formal powers

Formal Powers ( or enumerated Powers)

Powers given to the President through the Constitution

Informal Powers

Powers not laid out in the Constitution but used to carry out presidential duties

Because of Informal and Informal Powers what key roles does the President have?

Chief Executive

Commander in Chief

Chief Diplomat

Legislative Leader

Party Leader

As head of the Executive Branch, the president is tasked with...

Carrying out laws as Chief Executive

The President Overseas...

A large Complex system of Bureaucracies, and agencies

What Constitution say about the President's ability to oversea Bureaucracies & Acencies

The Constitution does not say how to oversea Bureaucracies & Agencies

The Advisors of the President

Cabinet members,

15 Heads of the Major agencies/Bureaucracies

Vice Presidnet

And are a link between the President and the Bureaucracies

How often do Bureaucracies change?

They come and go, with each administration

How can choosing Cabinet members be juggling?

The senate must confirm Cabinet heads.

Cabinet members can Challenge the President's disapproval of a policy

A diverse Cabiet is also seen as reprensenting all american and intersts which is a want.

The Pros of Cabinet Members

A diverse Cabinet is also seen as representing all Americans and interests which is a want.

Cabinet Members have important ties with interest groups,

Which can help the President shape and inform on policies for certain groups.

Ways that the President can have control over Bureaucracies & Agencies based on what they favor

President can Issue an executive order instructing on how to implement powers.

Can use the power of proposing the budget to reward or punish Bureaucracies & Agencies according the President's wishes.

Why it's so hard to keep control over Bureaucracies & Agencies even with tools to do so.

Bureaucracies & Agencies are vast and complex to keep tabs on.

Heads have their own goals

The ways the President is given guidence

" Require opinion in writing of the principal office in eac executive office."

Bureaucracies & Agencies are a powerful source of information.

An Appointment power Modern Presidents have?

They have the power to appoint thousands of positions, from heads to lower level administration.

Is required for most presidential appointments?

A majority require confirmation from the Senate.

Chief Diplomat

The role the president is responsible for guiding the U.S's foreign policies, and interacting with leaders of other nations.

What the President can do as a chief Diplomat

Make treaties, appoint ambassadors & public ministers
Must be ratified by 2/3 vote in the senate

By interacting with leaders, It's mainly symbolic/cerimonial: Balls and dinners

Shapes U.S foreign policies
Mainly falls under the senate which plays a major role in foreign affairs.

How one executive is better than plural

Being one person is an advantage because it's quick and decisive.

Treaties

formal agreements between nations

An agreement with a foreign government negotiated by the president and requires a 2/3 votes from senate to ratify.

Chief Legislator

term for the president as architect of public policy and the one who sets the agenda for congress

Due to shared powers to prevent tyranny, The president has a limited and a negative role in the Legislative Process.

What is required for the President as Chief Legislator

The constitution Requires The president to give congress the state of the Union Address

State of the Union Address

An annual speech delivered to Congress by the president of the United States, in which he describes the condition of the country, outlines the nation's most serious problems, and proposes his annual program of legislation.

What the State of the Union Address does

encourages congress to pass key legislative agenda.

Ment to address everyone to mobilize public support & pressure members of Congress to act

How the State of the Union Address has changed over the years.

It speech aspect is relatively new, from Thomas Jefferson - Woodrow Wilson it was sent as a written report.

How else does the President shape the legislative Agenda.

The President works with Party Leaders

What can the President do as with bills as President

The president can veto bills

Veto

a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

How congress overrides a Veto

2/3 vote in both chambers.

Pocket Veto

An informal veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

What can Vetoes mean when proposed

Vetoes are rare, but when proposed, it usually results in reshaping.

Commader in Chief

term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces.

The President is at the top of the military chain in command,

What's under the President's authority as the Commader in chief.

Army, Navy, Milita of several states and Nuclear forces

The president will be held accountable for the country's rediness to meet an enemy's assult.

Classified plans, and codes to launch missles

How the Framers limited the President's ability to declare war

Gave the power to declare war to congress,

However when congress is not in session, the President was also given a role in rational war making.

Presidential Pardons

The constitution allows the President to issue pardons.

President's authority to forgive an individual and set aside punishment for a crime and reprives

Except for impeachments

Reprives

A postponement of punishment for a crime.

Temporary leave due to external factors

How pardons are controverial

Most people parponded are close to the president. These pardons also usually occur during the last weeks/days of office

Unitareal Presidential Actions

The president can also act unitarily to influence domestic and foreign policies, with little to no contraints by congress or the judiciary.

A way presidents have used Unitareal Presidential Actions

They have tried to enlarge that power, leading to questions about what powers remain seperate.

Executive Privilege

a right claimed by presidents to keep certain conversations, records, and transcripts confidential from outside scrutiny, especially that of Congress

Also have the important ability to control information

A way the President can use Unitary powerss

Instead of treaties as national policies, they can sign executive agreements without the Sentate's ratification.

Executive Agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

The details can be held with secrecy, and bypass Congress's Senate, approval and advice to shape policy

How can the President use Unitary powers on bills

They can sign a bill and add comments to how agencies should execute it.

Signing solutions

Signing Solutions

a text issued by the president when signing a bill into law, that are political or reasons which may be by the President's interpretation.

Why signing solutions are added

For the president to show a

Record of support to an issue
or
Call attention to

How have signing solutions been argued

The interpretations by the president have been argued to overreach congress's ability to make laws.

Executive Orders

policy directives issued by presidents that do not require congressional approval

Usally under congressional authority

Includes instructions on how the executive branch agancies should implement laws or policies

Makes major chnages in public policies

How unitary powers help the President

Allows the President to enforce policies first,

How does unitary powers burden congress.

Places the burden of reusing a new political landscape to congress & judiciary.

Formal Requirements

35 years old,

natural born citizen,

resident for 14 years

Informal Requirements

White

Male

Married - for image, not gay, trust and procreate
Kids

6 feet tall

Pets