Chapter 13/14 - Executive Branch Flashcards
President’s roles in government
- Chief of State - Symbolic figure of US
- Chief Executive - to execute laws
- Chief Administrator - deals w/ implementation of law
- Chief Diplomat - Spokesperson to international community
- Commander in Chief - head of rammed forces
- Chief of Party - leader of political party
- Chief legislator - able to pass or veto laws
- Chief Citizen - representative of the people
Formal qualifications to be president?
35 years or older
Natural born citizen
Lived in US for 14 years
What article of Constitution is presidency laid out?
Article 2
Why was there no 3rd term president?
Precedent set by Washington
What limited presidents to 2 terms or 10 years total?
22nd Amendment
Has Presidents called for repeal of 22nd amendment?
Yes; say it is undemocratic and limit free choice of the people
By what means could VP become President?
Death, removal or resignation of President
Which Amendment provides for Presidential succession?
25th Amendment in 1967; also dealt w/ temporary transfer of power in case of disability
What legislation establish current line of succession?
Presidential Succession Act of 1947; secretaries progress in order of creation
If Pres. Not dead, how can VP assume office?
1) President informs Congress he is unable to do job
2) VP and cabinet (majority) informs Congress of Presidents inability to discharge his duties
How can President reclaim office after disability period?
President informs Congress that disability no longer exists
What does VP do?
Preside over Senate
Decide Presidentsl disability (officially)
Assist President in policy initiates, prepared to assume Presidency (unofficially)
Presidental candidate chooses running mate that can help in an area w/ voters he may not have a great deal of appeal
Balancing the ticket
What 2 methods were the founding fathers against when it came to choosing the President?
Congress choosing President
Being directly elected by the people
What were objections to a general election?
People were too scattered in Nation and process would be too complicated
Or
Congress would put President under the legislative thumb
What group was created to choose President?
Electoral College
How does the EC choose President? ((at first))
Electors cast two votes each; highest votes becomes President, second highest is VP
How did Presidental selection get more difficult in 1796 and 1800
1796 - Growing factions led to opposing “parties” and a member of each was elected as President and VP (John Adams and Thomas Jefferson)
1800 - A tie; not big deal bc already had a system to deal with it (House of Reps.)
What changes were instituted after 1800 election?
- Party nominations for Pres. and VP
- Electors pledged to vote for party ticket, not individuals
- Automatic casting of electoral votes in line w/ party delegate pledges
What Amendment was added to Constitution after 1800 election?
And how many electors do the states get?
12th Amendment
The same number as their total number of Congressmen
What method was originally used to choose Presidental candidates?
The Congressional Caucus; a meeting of congressional party members that chose the candidate; used from 1800-1824
Why was first method of nomination discontinued?
It did not include voters and seen as undemocratic
What’s was created in place of Congressional Caucus?
The national nominating convention
What are the rules for Presidental nominating conventions?
With the national party committees; everything bout the conventions has been created by parties
