AP Gov Unit 2-B (Presidency)

Agenda Setting

The process by which media and political actors influence the importance placed on issues in the public agenda.

Approval Rating

The percent of survey respondents who say that they “approve” or “strongly agree” of the president’s performance. Times when these are especially high include the honeymoon period and the rally ‘round the flag effect.

Honeymoon period

Early in a president’s first term. People tend to have higher approval ratings.

Rally ‘round the flag effect

When approval ratings are high during short-term military action.

Bully Pulpit

The ability to use the president as a forum to speak out about any matter and to have their views listened to. Goal is to persuade the public and garner popular support for their views and political agenda. Coupled with the SOTU, are tools of agenda setting.

Chief of Staff

Presidential adviser and White House Office manager

Clinton v. City of New York

Case where the Supreme Court (6-3) ruled the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 unconstitutional.

District plan

Alternative to the current electoral college system (specifically winner-take-all-system). Electors chosen from Congressional Districts (CDs). Candidate plurality in each CD gets electoral vote for that CD. Whoever wins the most CDs in the state OR the state’s popular vote would receive the extra 2 electoral votes.

Divided Verdict

Winner of the electoral college count loses national popular vote. Happens by winning big states by small margins and loosing small states by bigger margins.

Electoral college

The constitutional system used to elect the U.S. President and Vice President, consisting of 538 electors allocated to states based on population. Each state has the number of electoral votes as number of Congressional representation (# of representatives + 2 senators).

Electors of the Electoral College

Everyday citizens; cannot hold high office. Picked by the state’s party committee. Staunch party loyalists. Each party has a slate of potential electors who become official upon their party’s candidate winning that state.

Staunch party loyalists

Politician or voter with unwavering, intense allegiance to a political party, who consistently prioritizes the party’s agenda, candidates, and platform over their own personal beliefs, compromise, or constituents interests. Chosen as electors to try and avoid faithless electors.

Faithless electors

Electors that vote contrary to state popular vote results; staunch party loyalists are chosen to combat this issue. Have never swung an election in history.

Winner-take-all-system

Whoever wins each state’s popular votes wins ALL electoral votes. All states have this except Nebraska and Maine.

Executive agreement

A formal, legally binding pact between the U.S. President and a foreign head of state that does not require 2/3 Senate ratification, unlike a treaty. It allows swift foreign policy action, though it is usually only binding during that president's term. Falls under the role of chief diplomat.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Offices, Councils, and boards that help the president carry out the day-to-day responsibilities of the presidency. It also coordinates politics among different agencies and departments.

Parts of the Executive Office of the President

White House Office (WHO), National Security Council (NSC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), National Economic Council

Executive Order

Inherent power of the president to issue orders that carry the force of law. Manage federal government operations, having the power of the law without congressional approval. A famous example includes Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation (1863).

Executive orders are ____ written and _____ undone.

Easily, easily

What can’t an executive order do?

Create taxes or appropriate funds.

Federalist No.70

A paper where Hamilton argues that a strong, single executive (president) is safer and more effective than a group or a weak leader. There needs to be a president to blame so there aren't multiple fingers pointed in multiple direction, and so that power won’t be abused (one person held accountable).

Author of Federalist No.70

Alexander Hamilton

First Lady

Wife of the president. Office of this person has been defined by its occupants. Some are more active than others in term of policy, and they may often take up a specific cause.

Impeachment

Power to formally bring charges against elected officials. House draws articles of impeachment, then the senate holds a trial (2/3 majority needed for conviction and removal).

Offenses of impeachment

“Treason, Bribery, and other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” (Article 2 section 4).

Order of Presidential Succession

Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore, Secretary of State, then next executive cabinet position in the order they were created

Lame duck period

The time after an election, but before a new president or Congress takes office, where outgoing officials hold limited power.

Line item veto

The ability for the president to strike specific “lines” from an appropriations bill. Ruled unconstitutional by SCOTUS in 1997.

National Security Council (NSC)

Advises and assists presidents on key national security and foreign policy decisions and implementation. The president chairs this council.

NY Times Co. V U.S. (1971)

Case where SCOTUS ruled against the government’s (Nixon administration’s) use of prior restraint regarding the Pentagon Papers, establishing that "national security" does not automatically override First Amendment press freedoms unless a direct and immediate threat is proven.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Creates the president’s annual budget, which is submitted to Congress each January. Once approved, this group manages the budget’s execution by federal departments and agencies. The director is appointed by the president, and has a staff of about 600 career civil servants.

Pentagon Papers

Classified 7,000-page document on US involvement and policy in Vietnam. IN 1971, it was leaked by Defense Department employee Daniel Ellsberg. Led to NY Times and Washington Post running a series of articles, which Nixon and Department of Justice blocked. Led to the case of NY Times Co. V U.S.

Expressed powers

Powers of the president enumerated in the Constitution. Formal.

Inherent powers

Powers of the president that are implied in the Constitution (Take Care Clause). Informal.

Statutory powers

Powers granted to the President by Congress. Ex: Line-item-veto.

Emergency powers

Broad powers exercised by the President during times of national crisis.

Presidential Succession Act 1947

Established the current line of succession following the Vice President. Signed by president Harry Truman.

Pocket Veto

Passive, absolute veto exercised by the US President when Congress adjourns during the 10-day period allowed for signing a bill. By not signing the bill while Congress is away, the President prevents it from becoming law, and Congress cannot override this action.

Press Secretary

A senior official responsible for acting as the primary spokesperson for the U.S. Executive Branch, managing communication between the President and the media.

Roles of the president

Chief legislator, chief economist, party leader, chief diplomat, commander-in-chief, chief of state, chief executive.

Chief Legislator

Role of the president. Proposes and signs bills into law (OR vetoes); sets overall shape of Congressional Agenda. Lobbies Congress to support/oppose pending bills. Presents agenda in annual State of the Union address.

Chief economist

Role of the president. Submits annual budget to Congress. Establishes the regulatory and economic environment in which businesses must operate. Appoints members of “the Fed” and the Fed chair. Monitors unemployment, inflation, taxes, general economic welfare of the nation. Does not run the economy.

Party leader

Role of the president. Symbolic leader for the party members. Asserts influence in the party’s operations. Selects the national party chair. Serves as the party’s premier fundraiser. Promotes reelection of candidates nationally. Party head in the day-to-day operations of the Executive branch.

Chief Diplomat

Role of president. President and advisers shape and administer nation’s foreign policy. Negotiates treated and other international agreements with foreign countries. President has the authority to enter into an executive agreement with other nations.

Commander in Chief

Role of president. Supreme military commander of the U.S., Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force. Decides when to send troops into battle. Sets and directs overall military strategy in times of both peace and war. Doesn’t declare war, only Congress can formally declare war!

War Powers Act (1973)

A federal law designed to check the U.S. president's power to commit armed forces to hostile foreign conflicts without congressional consent. Passed over President Nixon’s veto, it requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops and mandates their withdrawal within 60-90 days unless Congress authorizes continued action.

Chief of State

Role of president. Main representative/symbol of America, especially during special occasions and ceremonies. Also chief citizen: Represents all people, supposed to work for and represent public interest over many different and competing private interests.

Chief executive

Role of president. Seeing that laws of Congress are carried out. Director/Administrator of federal government; appoints executive branch leaders. Oversees a bureaucracy of more than 4 million government employees, including the members of the military.

Veto

The power of the president to formally prohibit or reject a decision, bill, or action proposed by another body, such as a legislature.

Recess Appoitments

A constitutional power (Article II, Section 2) allowing the U.S. President to temporarily fill high-level vacancies—such as cabinet secretaries, agency heads, or federal judges—without Senate confirmation when the Senate is in recess. These appointments last until the end of the next Senate session, bypassing the standard confirmation process.

Signing Statement

Written message president issues upon signing a bill into law as a way to influence how it should be administered (not legally-binding).

State of the Union

When the president explains the economic, military, and social state of the nation, proposes new policies, and explains how government programs are being administered. Rooted in Article II, Section 3.

Take Care Clause

Article II, Section 3. Mandates that the President "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed". Gives president inherent powers.

12th Amendment

This amendment requires that electors cast separate ballots for President and Vice President (1803). The president and vice president are a package deal, and both have the same eligibility rules.

20th Amendment

This amendment moved the inauguration date from March 4th to January 20th. (1933).

22nd Amendment

This amendment requires a two-term limit for Presidents and 10 years possible.

23rd Amendment

This amendment awarded D.C. 3 electors in the electoral college (1961).

25th Amendment

This amendment outlines presidential succession through disability, and what to do in a VP Vacancy (1967).

What happens in the event of a VP vacancy?

President appoints new VP, who must be confirmed by BOTH houses of Congress (simple majority). If the president-elect dies before taking office but after Electoral College votes, VP-elect becomes president.

What happens if a president needs to be replaced?

The president must notify Congress if they are unable to fulfill their duties. VP becomes the acting president until the president can resume authority or VP and cabinet majority notify Congress and VP becomes acting president. If the president is perceived to be unfit to reassume the duties of both office, a 2/3 vote of Congress (both houses) allows the acting president to remain.

U.S. v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp.

Supreme Court case affirming that the President has broad, inherent power to conduct foreign affairs. The Court upheld an arms embargo, ruling the President acts as the "sole organ" of the nation in international relations, with authority exceeding domestic legislative constraints.

U.S. v. Nixon

(1974) was a landmark Supreme Court case ruling that unanimously (8-0) required President Richard Nixon to release tape recordings of his Oval Office conversations to a federal district court. The Court rejected Nixon's claim of "executive privilege" as an absolute defense, affirming that no president is above the law.

Watergate Scandal

Began when President Nixon’s administration burglarized the Democratic National Headquarters to spy on political enemies, leading to a massive executive cover-up and denial of involvement. The event ultimately exposed a broader pattern of illegal activities and abuses of power by the Nixon administration, including wiretapping, bribes, and harassment of political opponents.

White House Office (WHO)

The President’s “Inner Circle”. Staff members who develop policies favored by the president and protect the president’s legal and political interests. Includes Chief of Staff, Press Secretary, and the White House Counsel (lawyer). The President’s Secretary and appoitments Secretary are also influential WHO employees.

White House Counsel

A senior staff appointee who serves as the chief legal advisor to the President of the United States, providing guidance on constitutional, regulatory, and ethical issues related to the office. They advise on policy, judicial appointments, pardons, and conflicts of interest/

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Established in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the New Deal, it was the largest U.S. federal relief agency of the Great Depression. It employed over 8.5 million people to build public infrastructure like schools, roads, and airports, while also funding arts, theater, and writing projects.

Presidential requirements and qualifications

Must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and at least a 14-year resident.

Executive cabinet

The group of experts chosen by the president. Article 2, section 2. Comprised of the VP and the heads of the executive departments.

Role of Vice President

Presides over Senate, first in line of succession to the presidency if the president should die or become incapacitated.

Proportional Plan

Alternative to the current electoral college system. Candidates win the same share of the state’s electoral votes as they received of its popular vote.

Eliminate the Electoral College Completely

Alternative to the current electoral college system. This option would mean a national, direct, popular election.

First executive cabinet position

Secretary of State

Second executive cabinet position

Secretary of Treasury

Third executive cabinet position

Secretary of Defense (war)

Fourth executive cabinet position

Attorney General