3.1, 3.2 - formal and informal sources of the presidents power

Question 1

What part of the Constitution outlines presidential powers?

Answer 1

article 2

Question 2

what formal powers are outlined in article 2 of the constitution?

Answer 2

• commander in chief
• negociate treaties
• appoint government officials, ambassadors and juctices
• to grant pardons
• to require in writing the opinion of each executive officer
• state of union adress

Question 3

what presidential power is in article 1 of the constitution?

Answer 3

the power to veto legislation

Question 4

give an example of when the role as ‘head of state’ was significant.

Answer 4

After 9/11, Bush was seen ad the face of america

Question 5

give examples of policies that were intoruduced based on presidents electoral mandate.

Answer 5

• obama- ACA 2010
• bush- no child left behind 2001
• biden- inflation reduction act 2023

Question 6

approximately how many appointments does the president make to federal posts?

Answer 6

3000

Question 7

what are the congressional checks on presidents power?

Answer 7

• authorise federal appointments
• overide a presidential veto with a 2/3 majority
• ratify treaties
• congress has the sole power to declare war
• congress has the power of the purse

Question 8

give an example of when the supreme court overruled an executive order.

Answer 8

• youngstown sheet & tube co v sawyer
• roosavelt had ordered the production facilities of private steel producers to be siezed to avoid the effects of striking workers
• court ruled that the presidents position as commander in chief did not extend to labour dispures

Question 9

what are the presidents informal powers?

Answer 9

• power of persuasion
• cabinet
• executive orders
• executive agreement
• signing statements
• executive priviledge
• EXOP

Question 10

give some examples of trumps executive orders.

Answer 10

• ‘muslim ban’- ban on immigration from certain muslim majority countries
• 2017 executive order to withold funding from sanctuary cities

Question 11

give an example of a significant executive agreement.

Answer 11

2021- biden rejoined the paris climate agreement, reversing donald trumps withdrawl

Question 12

what are the methods of powers of persuasion?

Answer 12

• through their vice president
• through cabinet
• through relationships with party leadership
• through offering perks and photo oppertunities to members of congress
• bully pullpit

Question 13

give an example of when the ‘power of persuasion’ was significant in contributing to the passage of legislation.

Answer 13

ACA
- biden and his contacts (as an ex congress person)
- obama worked closely with speaker of the house nancy pelosi

Question 14

give an example of presidents working with congress/party leaders in order to pass legislation.

Answer 14

Biden has worked closely with Chuck Schumer (senate majority leader) in order to aid in the passage of the american rescue plan

Question 15

give an example of when a presidents endorsement of a congress person up for re-election played a significant role.

Answer 15

• donald trump put his support behind candidate ted cruz of texas in the 2018 mid terms
• cruz was facing significant competition, and this supported aided in his campaign

Question 16

give a significant example of a presidents use of the bully pulpit

Answer 16

• Donald trump used twitter to directly call out congresspersons who opposed his health care reform plan
• trump was highly effective at mobilising suppport from voters- as a threat for congresspersons

Question 17

give an example of a member of trumps cabinet who was able to have significant impact.

Answer 17

Jeff Sessions (attorney general) helped to implement the ‘zero tolerance policy’ which lead to the seperation of families at the US- mexico boarder

Question 18

how often does the cabinet meet with the president, how does this compare to EXOP?

Answer 18

• cabinet meets on average 1 a month with the president
• EXOP have access to the president on a daily basis

Question 19

what is the national security council (NSC)?

Answer 19

• provides advice to the president on national seccurity issues
• significant role in managing the response to crisis

Question 20

give a recent example of when the NSC was significant.

Answer 20

• the NSC has been significant in providing Biden with key inteligence regarding the conflict in isreal gaza

Question 21

give a less recent example of when the NSC was significant.

Answer 21

• NSC was critical in the planning and execution of obamas raid that resulted in the death of Osama bin laden in 2011

Question 22

what is the OMB? what are its functions?

Answer 22

the office of management and budget
- helps the president develop the federal budget to send to congress
- reviews the regulation proposed by executive agencies
- oversees exective agencies

Question 23

give an example of when the OMB was significant.

Answer 23

• under bush the OMB played a significant role in the financial crisis
• particularly in managing the troubled asset relief program

Question 24

what are the roles of the white house office.

Answer 24

• advisors
• administration
• liason to congress