Key Concepts of Presidential Powers and Responsibilities

Pocket veto

President ignores it for 10 days and congress is in session, it is law. If the president is out of session, it is vetoed.

Line-Item veto

The president can veto specific parts of the bill. They are unconstitutional in America because they would become too powerful.

Presidential Honeymoon

When people like the president/have high ratings when they are first elected. It starts up high and then declines. They take advantage of the honeymoon period to get things done.

The Executive Office of the President

Specialized on certain things. Advisors only, don't have power to enforce. Office of management and budget is very important, help him make the budget. Not confirmed by the senate.

Office of Management and Budget

Office of management and budget is very important, help him make the budget.

Chief of staff

Gatekeeper to the president, set the agenda, calendar, go through them to get to the president. They don't have power to enforce policy so they don't have to be confirmed by the senate.

Rally point

A tragedy that brings Americans to forget about party affiliation, and bring people together. Increases approval rating, giving them more power. After that, it goes back down.

Impeachment

When a president commits a crime. Majority in the house, then ⅔ in the senate.

State of the Union address

Speech by president that tells congress what to focus on.

Executive privilege

Withhold information from everyone else, national security (implied).

Executive agreement

An agreement between the United States and a foreign government that is less formal than a treaty and is not subject to the constitutional requirement for ratification by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate.

Joint Resolution

Agreement between a country and the president that has to go through both house and senate. Simple majority.

War Powers Resolution

Also the president can use the troops for 60 days but once they arrive, they only have 30 days. Congress has to be informed 48 hours after the president deploys any troops.

Pardons & Reprieves

Enumerated, when the president can pardon anyone who has committed a federal crime.

Bully Pulpit

When the president goes out and makes a speech to convince the public for what they want to do and the public pressures congress.

Signing Statement

Something a president will attach to a law, signing it into law, not vetoing it because that makes you look like a tyrant, so they sign it. The signing states state the level of enforcement.

Divided Government

When congress and the president have different parties. Any time any chamber of congress is a different political party than the president.

Federalist 70

Hamilton saying that we should have a president, 1 person, have power for times of crises.

Stewardship Theory

Use all of their powers and not wait for congress to tell them what to do.

Executive Order

Executive order carries the force of law, coming directly from the president. They can exert power without working with congress. A directive from the president to the bureaucracy.