The Presidency

Presidents must be at least how old?

35 years old

Twenty-second Amendment

Passed in 1951, the amendment that limits presidents to two terms of office.

The executive branch can make treaties with other nations but they require...

Ratification by a 2/3rds super-majority of the Senate

War Powers Act

Passed by Congress in 1973: (1) presidents must notify Congress of any overseas troop deployment within 48 hours; (2) such deployments are limited to a sixty-day period unless Congress explicitly gives its approval for a longer period; (3) Congress can demand troop withdrawals by passing a concurrent resolution

Executive Order

An order issued by the president that has the force of law, but which can be overturned by the courts or reversed by a president's successor.

Constitutional Theory of Presidential Power

Executive power includes only enumerated powers (those explicitly defined in the constitution) or delegated powers (those provided by congressional legislation), no inherent powers.

Stewardship Theory of Presidential Power

The president can do anything not explicitly forbidden by the Constitution or federal law.

Prerogative Theory of Presidential Power

The presidential prerogative is a broad power to act in the national interest, or general welfare, of the U.S.A. during time of a very serious national crisis or extreme emergency even if in violation of the Constitution

Going Public

A strategy whereby a president seeks to influence policy elites and media coverage by appealing directly to the American people.

Honeymoon Period

The short period (days or months) following an election when a president's popularity and ability to influence Congress is at its highest.

Rally around the flag effect

the increased popular support given to the president in times of crisis.

Natural born citizen

a requirement for anyone to become president: must be born in the United States or a U.S. commonwealth, or to parents who are U.S. citizens

Advice and Consent

Terms in the Constitution describing the U.S. Senate's power to review and approve treaties and presidential appointments.

Veto Power of the President

Power giving presidents the ability to prevent

bills passed by Congress from becoming law. It

may be overridden by a 2/3 vote in each

congressional chamber.

Pardon Power

Power of the president to forgive a federal offense without penalty or grant release from a penalty already imposed.

Head of state

the apolitical, unifying role of the president as symbolic representative of the whole country

Head of government

the political role of the president as leader of a political party and policy maker

Divided government

one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress; diminishes the influence of a president