Executive Branch Quiz

Formal

Veto (Formal or Informal)

Informal

Executive agreement (Formal or Informal)

Formal

Commander in Chief (Formal or Informal)

Informal

Executive order (Formal or Informal)

Formal

Appointment power (Formal or Informal)

Informal

Negotiate legislation (Formal or Informal)

Formal

Negotiate treaties (Formal or Informal)

Formal

Pardon (Formal or Informal)

Formal

Chief Executive - “Take care that laws are faithfully executed” (Formal or Informal)

Formal

Pocket veto (Formal or Informal)

Informal

Power of persuasion (Formal or Informal)

Formal

Chief Diplomat (Formal or Informal)

Informal

Signing statements (Formal or Informal)

Formal

Supreme Court/Federal court appointments (Formal or Informal)

⅔ vote

Overturning veto in Congress (⅔ or majority)

⅔ vote in Senate

Negotiate treaties (⅔ or majority)

⅔ vote in Senate

Ratify treaties (⅔ or majority)

Majority vote

House impeachment (⅔ or majority)

⅔ vote

Senate removal of of impeached official (⅔ or majority)

Majority vote in Senate

Approving executive officers (⅔ or majority)

Majority vote by the Senate

Approving ambassadors and diplomats (⅔ or majority)

Majority vote by Senate

Full Senate vote for nomination (⅔ or majority)

Checks on the President for Congress

• Senate - Approve appointments

• Senate - Ratify treaties

• Override vetoes

• Impeachment

• Lawmaking

  • Limit executive power with direct legislation

  • Power of the purse (congress controls fiscal policy)

• Oversight - congress has the authority to make sure legislation is being implemented as intended

  • Hearings/Testify

Veto

The power to reject or block a proposal or law

• Strong legislative power

• Assists in helping the president negotiate with Congress

  • No line-item veto - president must sign or veto the entire bill; cannot veto just certain parts (lines) of a bill

Power of persuasion

Party leader - use Congressional party members to introduce and push presidential agenda

• Fight for united government

• Midterm elections - test of presidential approval

Negotiate legislation

• Threaten veto

• Use strong public opinion to gain support, especially during honeymoon period (start of presidency when public opinion is often highest

• Lame duck period - very end of a presidency - very little gets done

Chief Diplomat

• Meet with foreign leaders and diplomats

• Negotiate treaties (approved by the Senate)

Executive agreements

Agreements with foreign government (no Senate approval)

Commander-in-chief

• Civilian leader of the military

  • Responsible for the safety and security of the United States and citizens

    • “Defend the Constitution”  - implied that the president can use force when he deems necessary

  • Conflict with Congress - Congress declares war v. president “defends” the country

    • War Powers Act - congress limits presidential power to make war

      • Inform Congress within 48 hours

      • Pull troops out within 60 days

Chief Executive

“Take care that laws are faithfully executed”

Executive order

Allow the president to manage the federal government and are implied by the president’s Constitutional powers and/or by enforcement of existing laws

• orders have the force of laws

  • No Congressional approval needed

Signing statements

Written statement by the president when signing a bill

• Indicates how the bill should be implemented

• Indicates aspects of the bill the president views as unconstitutional

• Sometimes statements to gain public support

Appointment power

Leaders who will assist the president in executing policies (foreign and domestic policy)

Executive officers

Cabinet leaders and other executive positions; serve at the will of the president - approved by the Senate

Ambassadors and diplomats

Assists the president with interacting with foreign countries; serve at the will of the president - approved by the Senate

White House staff

Closest, most trusted advisors; most not Senate approved

President Nomination Process

1. President appoints (nominates) based on proper experience/background to fulfill responsibilities of the position

• Executive Officers/Cabinet/Diplomats - implement legislation and fulfill president’s agenda

2. Senate committee “vets” the nominee (committee hearing)

3. Full Senate vote (majority needed for confirmation)

Supreme Court/Federal Court appointments

• Life tenure establishes a presidential legacy - assumedly, the justices will make decisions based on presidential beliefs

Pardon

Forgive federal crimes

Judicial review

• Block executive orders as unconstitutional/illegal

• Force the president to impeachment policies as dictated by law/Constitution