Unit 2: Executive Branch

Formal qualifications of pres

The requirements to become U.S. President. Must be natural born citizen or U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and 14-year resident in the U.S.

Informal qualifications of pres

Qualifications not stated in the article 2 of the constitution. President should be married, white, old, male, christian, and be in political service before elected.

Formal powers of pres

Powers delegated to the president in Article 2 of the Constitution. Power to veto, commander in chief, power of the sword, can grant reprieves and pardons (except cases of impeachment), make treaties with advice and consent and senate (2/3 vote), nominate and appoint ambassadors, public ministers, consuls, and judges of Supreme Court, and officers with advice and consent of the Senate, grant commissions to absences in Senate, call a joint session of Congress in case of disagreement, and give a state of union address.

informal powers of pres

Powers claimed over the years and are not explicitly stated in the Constitution. Signing statements, executive privilege, executive order, executive agreement, pocket veto.

Commander in chief

One of the roles of the president as supreme commander of the military forces of the United States and of the state National Guard units when they are called into federal service. Power of the sword.

chief executive (head of government)

One of the president’s roles which involves enforcing laws, overseeing the bureaucracy, making appointments, granting pardons/reprieves.

Chief diplomat

One of the roles of the president that involves appointing ambassadors, making treaties (both need Senate approval), and making executive agreements.

chief legislator

One of the roles of the president that involves the president utilizing their constitutional lawmaking authority. President can veto and pocket veto, issue signing statements, and executive orders.

head of state

One of the president’s roles involving hosting foreign dignitaries, parties, functions, and giving speeches. (symbolically representing U.S.)

chief of party

Face of the political party. One of the roles of the president where the president uses their presidency to speak out on any matter (Bully Pulpit).

executive order

A rule or order made by the president that has the force of law.

signing statement

A written comment issued by a president at the time of signing a law.

veto

The formal power of the president to reject the signing of a bill.

pocket veto

When the president takes no action on a bill for 10 days and the bill dies and is not signed into law. President does not formally veto bill.

override

An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority vote in both houses

treaties

formal agreements between nations

power of the sword

belongs to the president as commander-in chief. the power to utilize the military.

executive agreements

An agreement between the US and a foreign government that is less formal than a treaty and is not subject to the consent of 2/3 of the Senate.

executive privilege

the presidential privilege of withholding information for national security needs or to protect the privacy of white house conversations

checks and balances

Formal: Congress can override veto with 2/3 vote and can withhold funds for president projects. House of rep can vote impeachment charges against president. Senate can use advice and consent for treaties and nominations. Supreme court can use JUDICIAL REVIEW.

Informal: Must work with political parties, the voters can control results of elections, media can affect public support of president, foreign countries and organizations can affect foreign policys, PRECEDENTS.

appointments

A formal power of the president stated in Article 2 of the Constitution which allows the president to appoint and nominate ambassadors, public ministers, consuls, judges of the supreme court, and officers with the advice and consent of the Senate.

senate confirmation

A check on the president’s power. Senate has to confirm appointments and treaties made by president.

electoral college

The process to elect the president outlined in Article 2 of the Constitution. Voters vote for electors who cast their votes for candidates in the election.

electors

Make up the electoral college. There are 538 electors. They vote for the president and vice president (on the same ballot).

winner-take-all

an electoral process where the candidate who receives the most votes in a particular state wins all of that state's electoral votes.

primary

One of the methods used by political parties to select candidate for presidential election. Involves voters casting secret ballots to choose candidate.

caucus

One of the methods used by political parties to select candidate for presidential election. Involves gatherings where party members discuss and choose candidates openly.

imperial presidency

A U.S. presidency characterized by greater powers than the Constitution allows.

bully pulpit (agenda setting)

when the president uses their platform as the president to speak and persuade the public about legislative agenda. In turn, the media can pressure Congress to establish the legislation.

state of the union

A speech given time to time (article 2) about the current state of the union in terms of legislative agenda and national priorities.

partisan

strong support and loyalty to one political party.

social media platform

facilitates the sharing of content and allows the president to communicate with his constituency. Shapes political behavior.

approval rating

The percentage of survey respondents who say that they "approve" or "strongly approve" of the way the president is doing his job.

Fiscal Policy

The government’s use of spending and taxation to influence the economy.

revenue (taxation)

funds of the government that are raised by taxation

expenditures

spending of the government

mandatory spending

Federal spending required by law that continues without the need for annual approvals by Congress.

Entitlement Programs

Programs that allows benefits to be paid to all those who meet eligibility requirements according to federal law.

Discretionary spending

A government spending category that is not set (military, transportation, education, etc) so amount of money can change

House ways and means committee

A committee that initiates all new taxes and is only in the House of Representatives.

Power of the Purse

The power of Congress (legislative branch) to raise and spend money.

Office of Management and Budget

white house organization that prepares the president’s budget proposal for Congress, assists president in preparing the federal budget and implementation of the budget.

Executive office of the president

The EOP helps president carry out its responsibilities. It contains the Council of Economic Advisors, office of management and budget, national security council, and white house office/staff.

executive departments

Departments (15) in the executive branch managed by a member of the cabinet. Each department is responsible for managing a specific area of policy.

executive agencies

Agencies operating under executive departments or independently, focusing on specific tasks such as regulation and enforcing federal programs.

iron triangle

A relationship made to influence public policy that includes three entities: a government agency, congressional committee, and interest group

issue network

short term alliances between interest groups, government officials, and other groups to promote a common agenda in a way that influences government policy (media, think tanks, local government, etc).

. (shorter than iron triangles)

Political patronage

Providing government jobs or other benefits to individuals in exchange for political support. System change during 1800s as a result of corruption.

civil service system

A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle.

merit system

Hiring and promoting government employees based on skills and abilities instead of patronage.

spoils System

A system where after winning an election, a political party rewards its supporters with government jobs or other benefits

compliance monitoring

The process of ensuring that individuals, businesses, and organizations are following laws and regulations.

fed 70

An essay written by Alexander Hamilton in 1788 claiming that the US requires a strong, energetic executive; a plural executive is dangerous because of finger-pointing and loss of political efficacy.

US Constitution Article 2

A section in the Constitution that establishes the power and functions of the executive branch and the president.

Amendment 12

The president and vice president are on the same ticket.

Amendment 16

allows the federal government to impose and collect income taxes

Amendment 25

If president dies, vice president replaces, if vice president dies, president nominates new vp with advice and consent of both Congress houses.

Amendment 22

President can only serve two terms of 4 years

Rule making authority (regulations)

Congress writes laws but they don’t give instructions on how to carry it out. Therefore, the bureaucracy establish regulations that provide more specific guidance on how government programs should operate.

rule adjudication

The role of bureaucrats to measure the intended and unintended consequences of their rule making. It includes the ability to punish individuals or businesses who do not comply with their rules.

Appropriation (bureaucratic action step 1)

draft a budget and send to OMB. (president) - lobby/testify congress for that money

Implementation (bureaucratic action step 2)

Have administrative discretion to use their expertise and judgement when determining how to implement policy. (aka discretionary authority) - rule making authority to implement public policy

evaluation (bureaucratic action step 3)

assess the intended and unintended effects of policy implementation (compliance monitoring). Punish individuals or businesses who do not comply with rules

red tape

excessive bureaucracy or adherence to rules and formalities that can hinder efficient decision-making and action.(complex process and regulations)

sunshine laws

regulations requiring public disclosure of government agency meetings and records. Sunshine laws require specific businesses and government agencies to maintain transparency and disclose their activities to the public.

sunset laws

requiring the Congress and president to reauthorize the program

congressional oversight (This function is crucial for maintaining accountability within the executive branch, particularly over the bureaucracy and its rule-making authority, while also serving as a check on presidential power.)

Dept heads can be impeached. Power of the purse (approves budget), committee hearings to investigate agency activities, senate confirmations of appointees, create or abolish agencies and departments, house impeaches and senate holds impeachment trials of leaders of bureaucracy, can write laws to change agency function, sunset clause

executive oversight

president can dismiss members of branches, appointments of leadership, proposes budget (OMB),executive order

Judicial oversight

bureaucratic actions declared unconstitutional (judicial review)

citizen oversight

sunshine laws

keynesian economics

governments use fiscal policy (taxation and government spending) and monetary policy (controlling the banking system- Federal Reserve Bank!) to control inflation and unemployment. (spending more money when in a recession and cutting spending when there is inflation)

Impeachment

The act of charging a government official for crimes and misdemeanor. It is the first step to removing them from office.

government corporations

government owned company. overlaps a private sector. (USPS

independent agencies/commissions

Independent agencies of the United States federal government are those agencies that exist outside of the federal executive branch. (police/conducting research on policy area, regulate area so people are following laws)

delegated discretionary authority

Delegating discretionary authority refers to the process by which decision-making power is assigned to lower-level officials or agencies, allowing them to make choices based on their judgment within the framework of established laws and policies. (experts)