The President and The Bureaucracy

Qualifications to Be President

at least 35 years old, natural-born U.S. citizen, lived in the U.S. for 14 years

Chief Executive

carries out, enforces, and administers federal laws

Executive Order

directive issued by the president to the executive branch that has the force of law

Ordinance Power

authority of the president to issue executive orders

Appointment Power

authority to appoint ambassadors, cabinet members, federal judges, agency directors, U.S. marshals, and attorneys

Two-Step Appointment Process

president nominates and the Senate confirms

Senatorial Courtesy

tradition where senators from the nominee’s state suggest candidates and the president defers to their choices

Removal Power

authority of the president to remove executive officials but not federal judges

Recommend Legislation

president suggests laws for Congress to consider

Approve Legislation

president signs a bill into law

Veto

president rejects a bill and sends it back to Congress

Line-Item Veto

power to cancel specific parts of a bill

State of the Union Address

annual speech in which the president outlines priorities and proposes legislation

Special Session of Congress

meeting of Congress called by the president for urgent matters

Reprieve

temporary postponement of a sentence

Commutation

reduction of the length of a sentence or fine

Pardon

full legal forgiveness of a crime

Amnesty

blanket pardon granted to a group of people

Treaty

formal agreement between two or more countries that requires a two-thirds Senate vote

Executive Agreement

informal agreement between the president and a foreign leader that does not require Senate approval

Recognition Power

authority of the president to officially recognize foreign governments

Commander in Chief

role of the president as head of the U.S. military

War Powers Resolution

law requiring the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops and limiting combat to 60 days without approval

Executive Privilege

president’s right to withhold information from Congress or the courts

U.S. v. Nixon

Supreme Court case that limited executive privilege

Impoundment of Funds

president’s refusal to spend money appropriated by Congress

Budget Reform Act of 1974

law requiring the president to spend appropriated funds unless Congress approves deletion within 45 days

Signing Statement

written explanation of how the president interprets and will enforce a law

Election Mandate

claim that the president has authority based on winning an election

Bully Pulpit

ability of the president to use the media to influence public opinion

Impeachment

process by which Congress formally charges a president with wrongdoing

Impeachable Offenses

treason, bribery, and high crimes and misdemeanors

Articles of Impeachment

formal charges brought by the House of Representatives

Presidential Removal

removal from office by a two-thirds vote of the Senate

12th Amendment

established separate elections for president and vice president

20th Amendment

moved Inauguration Day to January 20

22nd Amendment

limited the president to two terms in office

25th Amendment

established procedures for presidential succession and disability

Executive Office of the President

Advisors and assistants who report directly to the President and perform various tasks.

Vice President

The only person permitted to preside over the Senate and is next in line to break a tie or take over if the President is unable to serve; advises the President.

Chief of Staff

Directs the White House office and advises the President.

Cabinet

Is a large advisory body made up of the heads (secretaries) of 14 departments; appointed by the President and approved by the Senate.

Cabinet Secretaries

Have day-to-day operations of their department; are an external, informal advisory council to the President; no statute is purely discretionary.

Bureaucracy Intro

A hierarchical organization of executive women/men/employees that take care of the federal government's business.

3 Primary Tasks of the Bureaucracy

implementation, administration, regulation

Legislative Powers of the Bureaucracy

Creates more narrow industry-specific laws.

Judicial Powers of the Bureaucracy

Deals with adjudicating disputes, enforcement, and compliance (quasi-judicial); agency rule-making (regulations) and oversight (inspections)

Cabinet Departments

Largest part of the bureaucracy; heads almost every department and agency of the bureaucracy; is led by a presidential appointee.

Cabinet

Must visible aspect of bureaucracy; makes up about 60% of all federal gov. spending; must visible aspect of 90% of all federal gov. employees; must serve at the pleasure of the president.

Independent Agencies

Agencies outside the cabinet that administer a law; serve a major government function; provide specific, non-cabinet executive roles.

Independent Regulatory Agencies

Led by a board of 5-7 members; appointed by president and confirmed by senate; quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial with no or very little presidential oversight and control; deals with a specific economic sector. (Examples

Independent Commissions

Agencies outside the cabinet that administer a law and provide specific non-cabinet executive roles.

Government Corporations

Agencies that operate like a private company; are government-owned and run; offer a product or service; sometimes subsidized by president, sometimes not; more freedom than most agencies. (Examples

Bureaucratic Discretion/Authority

The power to interpret legislation to create rules; given to lower-level departments/agencies to a greater degree (e.g., EPA, FDA).

Discretion

Delegates power to agencies to carry out the law.

Iron Triangles (or Sub-governments)

Forces of expertise in their field; mutually beneficial; join forces to create policy.

Issue Networks

The temporary alliance of an interested set of actors (groups, institutions, public relations specialists, lawyers, etc.) whose relationships are due to technical expertise; laws/rules are changing and are technical expertise

Patronage

The support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows upon another.

Pendleton Act

Established a merit-based system of selecting government officials; restricts political activities of most federal employees to prevent coercion; ensures non-partisan government based on merit.

Civil Service Reform Act

Establishes merit-based practices based on an open, competitive written exam; examines regulations and processes, allowing the government to be more efficient and less costly.

National Performance Review

Examines regulations and processes, allowing the government to be more efficient and less costly

Congressional Oversight

Supervision by committees; supports investigations; requires appointees to testify under oath.

Committee Hearings

Supervision/investigation by committees; requires appointees to testify under oath.