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What are the formal qualifications to be president?
natural born citizen, at least 35 years old, US resident for last 14 years
What are the informal qualifications to be president?
Previous gov’t experience (since 1900 most have been former senators or governor), moderate political views (usually), (most) have been middle class, white, Protestant, financially successful
Why do presidential candidates need financial support in order to run?
candidates spend tens of millions to run for President (6.6 billion in 2020)
What are some leadership skills the president needs?
Understand the public
Communication skills
Sense of timing: know when to introduce a new policy
Ability to Compromise
Political Courage: go against public opinion to do what they think is right
Which amendment limits the president to 2 consecutive terms?
22nd
What is the president’s salary before taxes?
$400,000
What are some other monetary benefits the president gets in office?
$100,000/year travel allowance (non taxable) & $50,000/year expense account (non taxable)
What are some other benefits the president gets?
Air Force One (airplane), Marine One (helicopter), limo (The Beast), White House with staff, free medical & dental coverage
What are benefits the president gets while in office and out of office?
Lifetime pension of $199,700/year; free office space and $96,000/year office help, free mailing services, lifetime Secret Service protection, $20,000/year pension for widowed spouse (plus $500,000 annual travel expense)
What are the Vice President’s constitutional duties?
take over in case of death, disability or resignation of President; preside over Senate and act as tie-breaker; help determine whether president is unable to carry out their duties
What are some of the Vice President’s duties often assigned by the President?
create legislative policy, represent the U.S. in foreign relations
What does a president consider when choosing a running mate (VP)?
candidate’s expertise, voter appeal, geographic appeal, gender, race, age, etc
Have there been VPs that have succeeded to presidency after the death/resignation of the president?
yes, 9 have done so
Have there been VPs that have elected president after their terms as Vice President?
yes, 5 have done so
How many presidents have died/resigned in office?
8 presidents died in office, 1 resigned
Which amendment clarified the order of succession?
25th Amendment
What is the general order of succession if the president dies/resigns?
VP, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of Senate, Cabinet heads
specific order of succession if the president dies/resigns?
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security
If the president is disabled, the VP is what?
Acting President
How would the VP become Acting President?
President informs Congress of a disability, VP & majority of Cabinet inform Congress of disability
If the president regains their faculties what happens?
VP & Cabinet determine if President can resume the duties; if not possible, Acting President would be sworn in as new President
What is the Electoral College?
voters choose electors to officially elect President
What is the issue around the reason for the Electoral College?
are voters informed enough to choose a candidate?
How many electoral votes are there and how many are needed to win?
538 electoral votes; 270 needed to win
What is the winner-take-all system?
candidate who receives most popular votes in a state wins all electoral votes in that state
Which two states allocate electoral votes by each district?
Maine & Nebraska
What are Political Action Committees (PACs)?
organizations formed to collect money & provide financial support for candidates
What do exploratory committees do?
solidify candidate’s position, develop campaign slogans, recruit campaign workers
What do presidential candidates need to do before they can run?
register with Federal Election Commission (FEC)
What is the Federal Election Commission (FEC)?
independent gov’t agency who enforces federal election laws; all fundraising and expenditures must be reported to FEC
Where do presidential candidates need to win first before they can run in the general election?
state primaries/caucuses
What are state primaries/caucuses?
political party members vote to select which candidate will run in general election
During state primaries/caucuses what will candidates discuss?
issues important to that state or region (examples: arming issues in Midwest, immigration in Southwest, infrastructure issues in cities, etc.)
What does each party do to officially nominate candidates based on the results of primaries/caucuses?
a national convention (running mate is also announced here)
What happens in the campaign for the General Election?
candidates campaign across nation, focusing on swing states; 3 presidential debates & 1 vice presidential debate
What happens on Election Day?
voters go to the polls and cast their votes; media reports results as the night progresses; winner usually declared overnight
When does the Electoral College meet to cast official votes?
December
When is the President-elect sworn in?
at noon on January 20th of year following election
What is the issue with the winner take all method (electoral college)?
Losing candidate gets no electoral votes in a state with millions who voted for that candidate (2016: 3 million Texans voted for Clinton, 4 million Californians voted for Trump)
Issue: Popular vote loser can still win electoral vote and become President (like in 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, 2016)
What issues can 3rd party candidates pose in the electoral college system?
could win enough electoral votes to prevent either major party candidate from winning; 3rd party candidate could bargain to release electoral votes to a major party candidate
If the election is ties or neither candidate received 270 votes what happens?
the election is decided by the House
What is the process of electing the president in the House in event of a tie?
small states have as much weight as larger states, if state’s representatives can’t agree on a candidate, the state loses its vote, 3rd party candidate could also force a House tie
What are some Electoral College reform ideas?
choose electors from districts (Maine & Nebraska): candidate with most votes in a district wins its electoral votes; then the candidate with most districts in a state wins two additional electoral votes
assign electoral votes based on winner of nationwide popular vote; it would require a total number of states totalling 270 votes (National Popular Vote Interstate Compact)
17 states and Washington, D.C. have enacted this law
Candidates would win a proportional share of a state’s electoral votes as they received of a state’s popular votes
Example: Candidate wins 60% of the state’s popular vote gets 60% of the state’s electoral vote
Eliminate the Electoral College; direct election of candidates (would require an amendment)
Why is the executive branch needed?
carry out laws of Congress & distrust of direct participation by the people in decision making; protect liberty, private property, and businesses; check the legislature
What are the enumerated powers of the president (stated in the Constitution)?
execute laws, veto legislation, commander-in-chief, engage foreign leaders, make treaties (Senate approval), appoint ambassadors (Senate approval), appoint federal judges (Senate approval); State of the Union Address
What are the president’s inherent powers (not in Constitution, but claimed by presidents)?
Jefferson: Purchase land, T. Roosevelt: “Trust-busting”; resolve labor disputes, head of political party, Chief mourner/crisis leader
What are examples of things done by the president for their power of “immediate needs of the nation)?
Civil War: Lincoln suspended writ of habeas corpus, raised army without Congressional approval, blockaded southern ports
Great Depression: FDR created many economic programs, thus expanding executive branch
September 11th: Bush declared “war on terror”; created Department of Homeland Security
What is executive privilege?
right of presidents to withhold information and refusal to testify before Congress or the courts
What is mandate?
support of the people; may enable presidents to shape policy
What are some checks and balances of the executive branch?
Supreme Court can rule executive actions unconstitutional
Congressional override of veto; Congressional impeachment of presidents
Senate confirmation of presidential appointments
What does Head of State mean?
the president’s power as a ceremonial figure in international affairs; leader of the nation carries out ceremonial duties
What does the President do as Head of State (examples)?
Receive ambassadors and foreign leaders
Throw out the first pitch
Light nation’s Christmas tree and Menorah
Meet public figures (Olympic athletes or pro sports champions)
Give awards to business leaders, actors & artists
What does being Chief Executive mean?
the president’s power to implement congressional laws; appoints Cabinet leaders; directs executive branch employees to carry out the laws
What are some things the President does as Chief executive?
150 departments/agencies: FBI, air traffic controllers, Social Security agents, etc.
President appoints about 2200 federal officials to help run executive branch, including 15 Cabinet secretaries; can also fire officials they have appointed
Use of executive orders
Impounding funds: President refuses to spend Congressional funds
Grants reprieves, pardons & commutations & amnesty (example: draft evaders)
What are executive orders?
presidential directives that have the force of law without Congressional approval; can be reversed by another President
What are reprieves?
postpones legal punishment
What is amnesty?
pardon for group of people who have committed a crime against the government
What does Chief Diplomat mean?
the president meets with foreign leaders, appoints ambassadors, makes treaties; negotiate/sign treaties, sign executive agreements with foreign leaders
What can the president do as Chief Diplomat?
Congress can restrict or deny funding for foreign policy initiatives; pass diplomatic resolutions to pressure the President or foreign countries
President has more access to CIA, State Dept., Defense Dept., National Security Council
Executive Agreements
Recognizes foreign governments
What are executive agreements?
legally binding pact between two leaders; no Senate approval needed
What is the president to the military?
Commander in Chief (head of the military); Commands armed forces; Congress declares war and funds military
What is the War Power Act of 1973?
president can send troops into combat for 60 days without congressional approval, but Congress can order President to remove troops from an undeclared war
What is the Patriot Act of 2001?
executive branch given broad power to gather information about, and detain, suspected terrorists (wiretaps, data mining) without a warrant; created Dept. of Homeland Security to coordinate antiterrorism activities of U.S. intelligence -gathering agencies
What does it mean if the president is Legislative Leader?
gives State of the Union address, proposes legislation; signs/vetoes laws, call special session of Congress
What does it mean if the president is Economic Planner?
appoints economic advisors, meets business leaders, prepares annual budget
What does it mean if the president is Party Leader?
leads political party, rewards supporters with government jobs, campaigns and raises funds for party members
What does the President do as Legislative, Economic, & Party Leader?
Tries to influence Congress through State of the Union address, submitting a budget, negotiating with lawmakers & party leaders, giving out political favors
Veto power: president has 10 days to sign/veto bill
President appoints seven members of Federal Reserve System (the Fed) who direct central banking system
President submits annual economic report to Congress; Council of Economic Advisers studies economy & advises President on domestic/international policies; prepares annual budget
Fundraise for party members, plans future election strategies; patronage jobs for election supporters
What is a pocket veto?
if no action taken, bill becomes law with/without signature; if president takes no action & Congress adjourns during the 10 day period, bill does not become law
What is patronage?
appointment to political office
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Flashcard (27)