Unit 3 Study Guide - Political Institutions - The President

What is a veto?

The President's power to reject a bill and send it back to congress

How has the use of vetoes changed over time?

In the beginning they were used rarely but it has been increasing a lot and acts as a negative force against Congress.

What is an executive agreement?

An international agreement between the POTUS and another leader

Executive agreements versus executive treaties?

Agreements DON'T require senate approval to do while treaties are legally bonding and require senate consent to be put into effect

Example of agreement vrs treaty

Agreement - The Paris Agreement

Treaty - NATO (North Atlantic TREATY Organization)

What is the Cabinet

A group of advisors in specific areas like treasury or defence

What is the leader of the Department of Justice called?

Attorney General unlike the Secretary title that all other cabinet departments get

How is the electoral college counted?

Each state has a total number of points which is equal to the their members of Congress so HoR + Senators in each state

If the electoral college ties how does the POTUS get chosen?

The HOUSE OF REPS chooses the President

What is the current term limit rules for POTUS

2 terms, 4 years each or 10 years if the V.P. holds office for less than half of the original president's term

What amendment changed the rules on POTUS term limits?

The 22nd amendment established the current rules for presidential term limits

What was the old POTUS term limit rules

President could run and be elected as many times as they wanted or could. The 22nd Amendment changed this.

How has the power of the President changed from the 1800s to now?

The President's power grown a loootttt

What makes someone choose their VP

The VP's job is to help the POTUS get elected and to balance the ticket

Ex. Kamala Harris as a VP appealed to different demographics then Old white East Coast Joe

Roles of the VP

To get the POTUS elected and break ties in the Senate as well as some ceremonial stuff but the POTUS really decides how much power they get

What are the checks the POTUS has over the Judicial Branch?

The POTUS appoints government officials including Supreme Court Justices

Roles of the POTUS

Commander in Chief, Chief Diplomat, Chief of State, Chief Jurist, Chief Economist, Chief Legislature, Chief Executive

Commander in Chief?

POTUS is the head of the armed forces but Congress declares war and decides how much money to give to the military

Chief Diplomat?

Sets overall foreign policy, appoints ambassadors, negotiates treaties and executive agreements

Congress can reject appointments and Power of the Purse

Chief of State?

Ceremonial head of government like bestowing medals of honor this takes up a lot of their time

Chief Legislator/lobbyist ?

DOES NOT MAKE LAWS proposes legislation, can veto and tells Congress how he intends to enforce laws

Chief Executive?

enforces laws, treaties, and court decisions and issues executive orders and appoints officials

Chief Jurist?

appoints federal judges, issues pardons, commutation and amnesty

Senate can reject appointments

Chief Economist?

President is responsible for the overall health of the economy but can't really do much about it except influence Congress

Who leads political parties?

The President even though political parties are NOT in the Constitution

What are the Constitutional powers of the President?

Make treaties (senate approval needed)

Veto or sign bills

Represent our nation in foreign countries

Appoint government officials with approval of Senate

Commander in Chief

Grant Pardons

Laws that limited the POTUS's power

War Powers Resolution, National Emergencies Act, and Budget and Impoundment Act

Parts of the War Powers Act

To limit the power of the POTUS this law says if the POTUS sends troops into battle without a declaration of war they must be withdrawn within 60 days 30 if safety of the troops require it (all of this relates to if the law is enacted)

Impeachment

When the HoR impeaches the President for a crime they did and then the Senate will try to find them guilty or not to remove them from office

What is the Cabinets influence over the POTUS?

Their roles is to advice the President however in today's world they more care about their own personal interests rather than the President so their influence is LIMITED

What is a Presidential Mandate?

Mandate from the people after winning election by a large margin. Gives them the power to carry out their policy more easily

Requirements to be President

Natural born citizen, 35 years old and a resident of the US for 14 years

What is the POTUS line of succession

POTUS

VP

Speaker of the House

President Pro Tempore

Secretary of state all the way down through the cabinet

Does the POTUS make laws?

NO THE POTUS DOES NOT MAKE LAWS

What is an executive order?

IS NOT A LAW but has the force of one they do not need Congressional Approval and they can be UNDONE by the next president or be struck down by the courts

How often do Cabinet members meet?

They meet irregularly at call to the President

What factors influence the selection of Cabinet members?

They are selected based on how easy they would be to get confirmed, diversity, and other factors

Does the POTUS have a lot of influence over the Cabinet dept.

The President doesn't have much influence over the departments because they have little control over the the employees

Where do the loyalties of a Head of a dept. lie

In various areas like Congress or interest groups or their employees so not much help in advising the POTUS if they care about other things more