Voting Systems and Presidential Powers Overview

Plurality Voting System

A voting system where the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they receive less than 50% of the total votes.

Runoff System

A system where if no candidate breaks 50% in the first round, then there is a runoff election.

Rank Choice Voting

A voting method where voters rank candidates in order of preference, and if no candidate receives over 50% of the vote, the candidate with the largest coalition of voters wins.

Qualifications to Be President

Must be an American Citizen, have lived in the United States for the past 14 years, be 35 years old, and be a Natural Born US citizen.

President's constitutionally expressed powers

The five main categories are Military, Judicial, Diplomatic, Executive, and Legislative.

Military Power of the President

Commander in Chief.

Judicial Power of the President

Pardon power.

Diplomatic Power of the President

Making treaties.

Executive Power of the President

Appointing federal officers and judges.

Legislative Power of the President

Issuing vetoes.

Constitutionally implied powers of the President

Legislative Initiatives, Removal of executive officers, Executive orders.

Percentage needed to override a presidential veto

2/3rds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Impeachment

The most significant check on presidential power.

Impeachment process

The House charges an official with wrongdoing, the Senate votes to convict or acquit, and conviction requires a 2/3rds vote.

Presidents impeached

Three presidents have been impeached. No president has ever been removed from office.

Circumstances for Vice President to take over presidency

If the President dies, resigns, or is temporarily unable to perform duties.

25th Amendment

Allows the Vice President and a majority of the cabinet to invoke it if the president is physically or mentally unable to perform their duties.

Speaker of the House in presidential succession

3rd, after the Vice President.

Speaker of the House selection

Technically, anyone can be Speaker, but the House has always selected one of their own members.

Important skill for Speaker of the House

The ability to count votes.

Formal powers of the Senate Majority Leader

The Right of First Recognition and control over the Senate's calendar.

Steps for a bill to become law

Get out of committee, be allowed to the floor, pass both chambers, get 60 votes in the Senate, pass in identical form, not be vetoed.

Types of gerrymandering

Incumbent Gerrymandering, Racial Gerrymandering, Partisan Gerrymandering.

Sociological representation

When representatives have a similar racial, ethnic, religious, or educational background to their voters.

Delegate model of representation

When representatives promise to vote based on what their voters want.

Trustee model of representation

When representatives ask voters to trust their judgment and experience.

Defining features of Modern Congress

Hyper-partisanship, Low productivity, Decline in the passage of landmark legislation.

Term of office for a member of the House

2 years.

Term of office for a member of the Senate

6 years.

Senate elections structure

They are staggered, so only 1/3rd of the seats are up for election every two years.

Public good

Individuals can't be excluded from using it, and one person's use doesn't reduce availability for others.

Examples of public goods

Clean air, streetlights, lighthouses.

Rival public good

Can become congested or less useful if too many people use them at once.

Examples of rival public goods

Public roads, schools, hospitals.

Collective action problem

When everyone would be better off if they worked together, but they don't cooperate due to conflicting interests.