Presidential Powers and Executive Actions Overview

Veto

A bill passes Congress, and the president has 10 days to sign it into law. Congress can override a veto with 2/3 of each house approving the bill.

Divided government

One party dominates Congress, and another controls the presidency, corresponding to the increase in votes.

Executive order

Trump limits travelers entering the US from 6 Muslim Majority countries.

Executive privilege

Nixon tested the power to withhold info on national security from Congress during Watergate.

President: power

Policy Implemented.

Veto

Clinton rejected 37 bills in two terms.

Executive agreement

Cuban Missiles Crisis- JFK agreement with the USSR (Russia) to remove US missiles from Turkey if they remove Russian missiles from Cuba.

Executive order(2)

FDR ordered that people of Japanese ancestry be placed in internment camps during World War II.

Bargaining/ Persuasion

Truman's Tax and Jobs Act.

Commander and Chief

Obama authorized the killing of Osama Bin Laden.

Pocket Veto

The President can decide to neither sign nor veto. If the President receives a bill and does nothing with it for the last 10 days the bill dies.

Line item Veto

Eliminate a line spending from an appropriations bill, allowing the president to veto part, but not all of a bill.

Commander and Chief.

Head of Military. When defensive actions are needed the president can act quickly. Congress is necessary to declare war.

Informal Powers

Political powers interpreted to be inherent in the office to achieve policy goals. Ex: Threaten a veto causing Congress to rework the bill to avoid a veto.

Executive agreement

Resembles a treaty but does not require a Senate 2/3 vote. Cannot violate prior treaties or congressional acts. Not binding for succeeding president.

Executive order

Empowers the president to carry out the law or to administer the government. They have the effect of law. Ex: FDR EO 9066.

Executive Privilege

The right to withhold information or their decision-making process from another branch (Congress).

Policy agenda

Utilizes the president's formal and informal power to accomplish a set of issues that are significant to people involved in policy making. (What the president wants to accomplish and how they are going to accomplish it.)

Signing statements

Explain the interpretation of a bill and an understanding of what is expected of them to carry it out, or just a commentary on the law.