Formal sources of presidential power

What are formal source of power?

Powers granted to the president in the constitution

What three actions can a president take on a bill?

1. Ignore it and take no action
2. Sign the bill
3. Veto the bill

What opportunity does a president signing a bill allow?

A media opportunity/ceremony so that the president can show of their achievement

What type of tool is the veto ?

A blunt political tool

What happens if congress overrides a veto?

Makes the president look weak

What two things limit the power of the veto?

1. Congress can overturn it
2. The president relies on congress to pass their agenda and so cannot use it to often

How many vetoes did Obama have overridden ?

1/12

How many vetoes did Bush have overturned ?

4/12

By threatening the veto what can the president do?

Shape legislation before it gets to him

Who threatened to veto the keystone Pipeline bill in 2015 and then did over turn it?

President Obama

What is a “pocket veto”

If a president leaves a bill for 10 days and congress is no offer in session then the bill “dies”

What bill did Obama allow to become law without his signature?

The renewal of the Iran Sanctions Act (1996)

What is the state of the union?

The annual address delivered by the president outlining their legislative agenda to congress

Who decides what from the speech is passed ?

Congress

What did Obama ask congress to legislate on every year in the state of the union yet failed every time?

Immigration reform

How many appointments can the president appoint?

4,000

How many of the 4,000 appointments need senate approval ?

1,200

Which Supreme Court justice did the senate refuse to hold a hearing for under Obama?

Merrick Garland

What are recess appointments?

temporary appointments of the president made without senate approval

When do recess appointments expire ?

At the end of the next session of senate

How many recess appointments did President Bush make?

171

How many recess appointments did Obama make?

32

What does the vague phrasing of the opening of Article II allow a president?

“Executive power”

How is “executive power” interpreted ?

1. Organise EXOP
2. Carry out a range of “executive actions”

What are the three things the president can do under “executive power” which doesn’t require consent of congress?

1. Executive order
2. Signing statements
3. Issuing Presidential memoranda

What is an executive order?

directions to the federal bureaucracy telling them how a law (new or existing) should be carried out

What can the pres not use executive orders to do?

Create new legislation

What did President Truman, famously use an executive order to do in 1948?

Desegregate the US armed forces

How many executive orders did Trump use in his first year in office despite advocating against them?

58 executive orders

What did trump use executive orders to do?

1. Separating families that are crossed the US border illegally
2. “Muslim travel ban”

What do executive memoranda’s do?

Delegates tasks that congress gave to the president to members of his executive branch

Who do presidential proclamations give orders to?

People outside the executive branch

What did the emancipation proclamation of President Lincoln do?

Freed slates

How many proclamations did President Clinton make ?

554

What did Obama use to introduce DACA?

Executive memorandum

What is a “signing statement”?

A statement issues by the president regarding a bill that he has signed into law

What issues did Obama highlight in the “National Defence Authorisation Act 2011”?

1. The “detention, interrogation and prosecution” of terrorist suspects
2. Restrictions on presidency which conflicted with separation of powers

What does the power of the pardon allow a president to do?

Forgive a person of a federal crime

What is the only crime that cannot be forgiven ?

Impeachment

Why does this explain why Reagan resigned ?

Because he was never impeached- he could be forgiven by his successor

What do commutations allow the president to do?

Reduce the sentence issued for a crime

On his last day in office, how many commutations did Obama issue for people convicted of drug offences ?

330

What does the president have the power to do if Congress is in recess ?

Convene special sessions of congress

What does commander in chief mean the president is constitutionally ?

The head of the army, navy and airforce etc

What bill was passed to allow congress to regain control over military ?

War powers resolution act

Who does the president share the power of creating treaties with?

The senate

What can the president use to agree agree to treaties without approval of congress?

Executive orders

In what two circumstances did Obama use executive orders to agree to treaties?

1. Iran Nuclear deal
2. Paris Climate change agreement

What congressional power can be used to limit the president in this way?

The power of the purse

Which treaty was rejected by the senate in 2012 under Obama ?

2012 convention on the rights of persons with disabilities

What can the president remove the US from without consent of the senate?

A treaty

Who does the president receive as head of state?

Ambassadors from foreign nations

What impact does receiving foreign ambassadors have?

president can decide who the US is prepared to work with

Who did Obama recognise in 2011?

Sudan- establishing diplomatic relations with them

What two roles does the president fulfil in comparison to other countries where the leader only fulfils one?

1. Head of state
2. Head of government

What roles does the head of state carry out?

Ceremonial roles with greater oversight on foreign policy

What does the head of government deal with?

Domestic policy, national b urgent and presides over cabinet

As head of state what events does he go to?

World summits and events as a representative of the USA and to b rocker deals and treaties on behalf of the US