Government ch 13 and 14

There might be questions about presidents that i didn’t put on here

Executive article

Article II- outlines the powers of the presidency

Whats the debate over the powers of presidency?

* supporters of strong presidency or supporters of a weak presidency
* Debate is caused because the Constitution gives a loose definition of executive power

Ordinance power

Gives the president the right to administer laws

Presidents removal power can be

Easily abused

Treaty

International agreement, requires senate approval

What is the difference between a treaty and an executive agreement?

A treaty requires senate approval while an executive agreement does not; an executive agreement also involves less people than a treaty

Whats an executive order

A directive, rule, or regulation made by the president

Power to issue executive order comes from what power

Ordinance power

* President can set policy without congressional approval

Pocket veto

When a president sits on a bill/law near the end of a Congressional session; once congress adjourns, the bill dies

Whats an executive agreement

A pact between the president and a foreign state

* does not require senate approval

Whats the power of recognition

President can accept another country as equal in the family of nations

The president’s military powers are

Shared with congress

The president can

Use armed forces abroad at his/her own discretion

War Powers Resolution of 1973

Limited presidents power to make undeclared war

Commutation

Can be granted by president to shorten a criminals sentence

Pardon

* Legal forgiveness of a crime
* Can be used before a person is charged w/ crime

What’s the Vice President’s only constitutional duty?

To preside over the Senate

Who follows the VP?

Speaker of the house

How long can a president serve?

2 terms of 10 years (22nd amendment)

How do the states choose their electors

Popular (citizen’s) vote

Determines how/when VP becomes President if the President becomes disabled

25th amendment

The process of temporary disability

Requires action by the VP and the majority of the Cabinet

* requires a trial


* president can deny, VP and Cab. Still have to check

What are the qualifications of becoming president?

* must be at least 35 y/o
* Be a natural born citizen
* Have been a US resident of the last 14 years

Separated votes for President and VP so there wouldn’t be a tie for presidency

The 12th amendment

Election of 1800

Electoral system broke down due to the rise of political parties

Electorate

The mass of people who actually cast votes in an election

Framers of the Constitution called for the president to be elected by

A body of electors (not yet called the electoral college)

Direct popular election plan

Most widely supported plan for reform of the electoral college

Platform

Basic statement of the party’s policies and principles

Balance the ticket

Presidential candidate chooses a running mate with characteristics different from his/hers appeal to more voters

Keynote address

The speech given by an important party member at the first session of the national convention

What do national conventions consist of

Listening to party speeches and reports W

Winner-take-all system

Candidate who wins preference vote in a primary automatically wins the support of all the delegates chosen in the primary

Democrat’s proportional representation rule

Caused most states to change their primary laws

Iowa caucus

First and most widely publicized state caucus today

Presidential succession

Plan by which a presidential vacancy is filled

What presidential term do some propose

Limiting to a single 6 year term to free the president from the demands of campaigning for a 2nd term

President’s role as commander in chief

Head of armed forces

Presidents role as chief administrator

Head of the large government orginization

Presidents role as chief executive

Holds broad power in domestic and foreign affairs

Presidents role as chief of state

The president is the symbol of all the people of the nation

If an incumbent is running,

That’s normally who the party nominates

If several candidates are competing for nomination,

Political battles are more likely to occur in that party (the party that’s out of power at that time)

Electoral college

* makes formal selection of president
* Winner of popular vote does not guarantee the win the presidency

State’s electors are

Closed by popular vote

The least number of presidential electors a state can have

3

Upon receipt of a bill, the president can

Veto the bill or sign the bill to make it a law

The Federal system

Comes into play with reprieves and pardons

Growth of presidential power has occurred due to

* the # of laws that the president must execute
* Nations complex economic life
* Need for decisive action during national emergencies

Appointment power

Gives president the most influence over federal employees he’s appoints

Examples of positions president appoints

Attorney general, Supreme Court justices, secretary of state

President’s cabinet has

Come about through custom and tradition

President appoints cabinet members with

Senate approval

Sequence of events in the appointment process

Nomination, senate committee hearings, senate debate, confirmation