AP Gov Topic 5 Quiz

22nd Amendment

President has limit of 2 terms

25th Amendment

The Vice President becomes the President if they and members of the cabinet determines that the President is unfit of unable to serve

Formal (Constitutional) powers

Outlined in Article 2 of the Constitution

Examples:

• Commander-in-Chief of military

• Appoints ambassadors to foreign nations - go and represent United States

• Negotiates executive agreements

• Vetos bills

• Must regularly inform Congress in the State of the Union

Informal Powers

Naturally taken by the presidents in order to carry out constitutional duties

• take care clause can be used to set up some of the Presidents informal powers

Executive Agreement

An informal contract w/ foreign leaders that don’t require senate approval because they are not written in paper

Ex: ending the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis

(INFORMAL)

Take Care Clause (Article 2)

President must “take care that the laws be faithfully executed” (FORMAL)

• allows the President to oversee the executive branch to make sure that laws are implemented and enforced right

Take Care Clause (Article 2)

President must “take care that the laws be faithfully executed” (FORMAL)

• allows the President to oversee the executive branch to make sure that laws are implemented and enforced right

Veto

The President can reject or stop a bill from being passed

• most of the time vetoed bills get rewritten and re-passed by Congress

(FORMAL)

Pocket Veto

If the President does not sign a bill within 10 days and Congress is adjourned, the bill automatically dies

Line-Item Veto

Veto only certain parts of a bill

The President CAN NOT do this

• can issue Signing Statements instead

Signing statement

Since Presidents can’t line item veto, they will add commentary to object certain parts of bills or how they plan to implement the law

Commander-in-Chief Role

The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the military and can …

• deploy troops into conflicts

• maintain defense alliances

• oversee military decisions

(FORMAL)

War Powers Resolutions (1973)

Allows flexibility while also controlling the President’s authority to commit troops into conflict without the consent of Congress

• Congress has the power to declare war but with this allows the President to send troops without consent

• HAVE TO inform Congress within 48 hours

• Troops can be withdrawn within 60 days unless Congress declares war or declares an extension

Impeachment

charging and removing a President from office for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors”

• HOUSE IMPEACHES & SENATE HOLDS TRIAL

Cabinet

The executive branch is divided into 15 departments that are each run my a secretary (appointed by President). The secretaries of each department make up the President’s cabinet.

Jobs:

• oversee the implementation of laws within their department

• help the President make policy decisions

• conduct research to advise the President

• help guide the Presidents work in specific policy areas

Executive Office of the President

A collections of offices and agencies that directly support and advise the President

• overseen by the White House chief of staff (appointed by President)

White House Staff

A group of non-political staff members that assist the President with various tasks

• have NO role is policy

• the President can choose anyone without Senate consent

Bully pulpit

A tactic used by Presidents to try and influence policy using the media

• President uses media to pitch ideas to the people who can in turn call on Congress to take action

Lame Duck period

A period usually later is the President term

• law approval ratings are low

Honeymoon period

Early in a President's term when they are more liked by the people because they haven’t had as much time to make policy mistakes

• higher policy approval rates