APGOV Unit 2 Review: Executive Branch

policy agenda

every president has a set of policy issues that he campaigns on

formal powers

powers explicitly given to the executive in Article II of the Constitution

power of the veto

president can veto any bill that comes across the president’s desk

__ can override the veto with 2/3 vote

Congress overrides veto with a __ vote

__ has 10 days to sign a bill once it arrives on his desk

president has __ days to sign a bill once its on his desk

foreign policy

president is the commander-inc-chief of the US armed forces

2 formal powers of the president

veto, foreign policy

informal powers

executive powers not mentioned in the Constitution

bargaining and persuasion, executive order, signing statement, executive agreement

4 informal powers the president has

bargaining and persuasion

president talks to the people to pressure legislators to pass legislations in line with his policy

executive order

Instructions from the president that have the force of federal law, but are not actually a law; a way for him to direct the bureaucracy or move money around or whatever

signing statement

An additional optional statement from the president when signing the bill that informs the nation how he interprets the law, and how he intends to execute it

executive agreement

agreement between the president and another head of state

needs Senate approval

executive agreements needs what approval

Senate’s power of advice and consent

presidential appointments have to be approved by the senate

ambassador

diplomats who are assigned to foreign countries to organize the US presence there and help the relationship between the US and that nation

without

president has the power to appoint white house staff with or without senate approval?

impeachment, 22nd Amendment

two checks on executive branch

state union address

required from the president; it happens at the beginning of every year, where he makes policy recommendations to Congress