chapter 7

Article II of the Constitution

Establishes the executive branch and outlines the president's powers, duties, and qualifications.

Presidential qualifications

The president must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and a U.S. resident for at least 14 years.

Presidential term

A president serves a four-year term.

22nd Amendment

Ratified in 1951; limits a president to being elected twice, with special rules for someone who succeeds another president.

25th Amendment

Ratified in 1967; establishes procedures for presidential succession, vice-presidential vacancies, and presidential inability.

Presidential succession

If the president dies, resigns, or is removed, the vice president becomes president.

Acting president

The vice president temporarily exercises presidential powers when the president is unable to serve.

George Washington's two-term precedent

Washington established the tradition of presidents leaving office after two terms.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's four elections

FDR won presidential elections in 1932, 1936, 1940, and 1944, preceding the 22nd Amendment.

Impeachment

The House formally charges a federal official; the Senate conducts a trial and can remove the official upon conviction.

High crimes and misdemeanors

Constitutional grounds for impeachment and removal, alongside treason and bribery.

Political parties in presidential elections

Major parties provide candidates with organization, funding, and support; third-party candidates face major barriers.

Primary election

An election in which voters help select a political party's presidential nominee.

Caucus

A party-organized meeting where participants express preferences and help select candidates or delegates.

Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary

Traditional early presidential nomination contests highlighted in the lecture.

General election

The election in which voters choose among presidential candidates after party nominations.

Electoral College

The constitutional system of electors used to choose the president and vice president.

538 electoral votes

The total number of Electoral College votes.

270 electoral votes

The majority of Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.

State electoral vote allocation

Each state's electoral votes equal its House seats plus its two Senate seats.

23rd Amendment

Ratified in 1961; grants Washington, D.C., three electoral votes.

Winner-take-all system

The statewide popular-vote winner receives all the state's electoral votes in most states.

Maine and Nebraska exception

These two states allocate some electoral votes by congressional district rather than using a complete statewide winner-take-all system.

Popular vote versus electoral vote

A candidate can win the national popular vote but lose the Electoral College.

Battleground states

Competitive states that can determine the outcome of a presidential election.

Super PACs

Political committees that can raise and spend unlimited funds independently but cannot coordinate their expenditures with candidates.

Modern presidency

The expanded presidency associated with FDR and later presidents, involving stronger policy leadership and a larger executive branch.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidential transformation

FDR expanded presidential leadership through New Deal legislation, public communication, and executive administration.

First 100 days

An early presidential period often used to pursue major legislation and establish an administration's priorities.

Presidential honeymoon period

An early period when a new president may have greater political goodwill and opportunities for legislative action.

Imperial presidency

A description of presidential power expanding so far that the president can appear to govern like a monarch.

Presidential mandate

A claimed public endorsement of the president's political agenda following an election.

Presidential agenda-setting

The president's ability to focus public and congressional attention on selected policy priorities.

Public approval and presidential power

Higher approval can increase political influence; lower approval can weaken the president's bargaining position.

Unitary executive theory

A constitutional theory emphasizing the president's authority to direct and control the executive branch.

Hierarchy of laws

The Constitution is supreme, followed by statutes; administrative regulations must comply with higher law.

Statutory law

Law enacted by Congress and signed by the president or passed over a veto.

Administrative law

Rules and legal actions governing administrative agencies and implementation of laws.

Executive orders

Presidential directives used to manage executive branch operations and implement policy within legal authority.

Signing statements

Written statements issued when a president signs legislation, sometimes explaining interpretations or implementation.

Regulations

Detailed rules created by administrative agencies to implement laws passed by Congress.

Administrative Procedure Act of 1946

Federal law establishing procedures for agency rulemaking, including public notice and opportunities for comment.

Executive actions versus statutes

Presidents can often reverse executive actions more easily than Congress can repeal existing statutes.

Presidential budgets

Executive proposals outlining government spending priorities that require congressional action for funding.

Executive agreements

International agreements made by the president without the Senate's treaty-ratification process.

Treaty power

The president negotiates treaties, which require approval by two-thirds of senators present.

Commander in chief

The president's constitutional role as leader of the U.S. armed forces.

Congressional war powers

Congress has constitutional authority to declare war, fund the military, and exercise other checks on military action.

Enemy combatants

Individuals designated as participants in hostilities against the United States, raising questions about detention and executive authority.

Presidential pardon power

The president may grant pardons and reprieves for federal offenses, except in cases of impeachment.

Veto power

The president's constitutional authority to reject legislation passed by Congress.

Veto override

Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.

Pocket veto

A bill fails when the president does not sign it within ten days, excluding Sundays, and Congress adjourns in a way that prevents its return.

State of the Union

The president's constitutional communication to Congress about national conditions and recommended policies.

Cabinet

Heads of executive departments who advise the president and help administer federal policy.

Cabinet autonomy

Department heads have some discretion and institutional responsibilities even while serving under presidential leadership.

Federal bureaucracy

The agencies and government employees responsible for administering federal laws and programs.

Civil service protections

Employment protections that make it difficult for presidents to dismiss career federal employees solely for political reasons.

Presidential appointees

Officials selected by the president to lead or help manage federal agencies and implement administration priorities.

Schedule F

A Trump administration proposal to reclassify certain federal positions to increase presidential control over the workforce.

Independent agencies

Federal entities with varying degrees of independence from direct presidential control, such as the Federal Reserve and FCC.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Offices that provide the president with policy advice, administrative support, and management assistance.

White House staff

The president's personally selected advisers and assistants who support daily presidential operations.

Chief of staff

Senior White House official who manages staff, coordinates operations, and helps control access to the president.

Press secretary

White House official responsible for communicating with journalists and explaining administration positions.

Unified government

The president's political party controls both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Divided government

The president's party does not control both chambers of Congress, often complicating legislative negotiations.

Executive privilege

A president's claimed authority to protect certain executive communications from disclosure.

United States v. Nixon (1974)

Supreme Court case that rejected Nixon's absolute claim of executive privilege and required the release of Watergate recordings.