Chapter 9: Presidency Flashcards
- What are the formal requirements to become elected President of the United States?
Be a natural-born citizen of the United States. Must be at least 35 years old, cannot be any younger. And must be a resident of the states for 14 years.
- What is the source of formal powers, and describe at least three of these formal powers
of the president.
The Source of formal powers comes from the constitution. One of these powers is being the commander in chief, meaning they have control of the military. Another power is the ability to create treaties and appoint members of the supreme court, cabinet, and other spots. Another power is the ability to call Congress in or out of session, funny enough Congress can do whatever they want when the president does force them in or out of session. And of course, they can veto any legislation that passes through Congress and lands on the presidents desk.
- What is the source of informal powers, and describe at least three of these informal powers of the president.
The source of these implied powers comes from individual presidents seeing what they can get away with as they act on rather vague clauses or statements in the constitution. One of the informal powers is their role in foreign policy in which they can make executive agreements, almost a treaty with other governments without having to get congressional approval. Another personal power is an executive privilege which is the ability to withhold information from institutions or the public for the sake of national security. Another informal domestic power is executive orders which are essentially orders to maintain the executive branch, for the most part, but sometimes executive orders institute huge policy change that bypasses Congress.
- What is the role of the president in international affairs?
For the framers, this was the primary role for the President, and hoped that they would put more of their focus in this area. The president’s role is to of course handle those affairs to their best judgment. Although we’ve seen change, for the most part Congress and the rest of the nation would give their full support to the president’s foreign affairs decision. Often not playing politics in this field but this has changed and now Congress plays more of a hand in it.
- How did the framers envision the relationship between Congress and the president?
How did the framers envision the powers of the presidency?
The vision was for the two to have shared institutional power. And the president was almost seen as the head who set a legislative agenda, and it was up to Congress to carry it out. But of course the Congress can be divided so the president won’t always have it easy, and of course comes the issues of different constituencies. This leads to both limiting one another and if anything is to be done both must cooperate with the President having to do their best to remain favorable and be charismatic to earn support.
- What are the main causes of the rise of presidential power since its founding?
Increased due to unprecedented events or situations such as world wars, civil wars, civil unrest, racial conflicts, economic growth, decline, or instability, land acquisition, and so on.
Generally speaking these unprecedented events or changes call for a rise a power in order to deal with the new issues that these events bring. And often it’s the president who will make strives to gain power, and these powers can stay if the Supreme Court or Congress don’t push back.
- What is the War Powers Act? How has this impacted the relationship between Congress
and the president?
Essentially a limitation on the president’s commander in chief power during war times. Does so by reducing the days before the president has to ask Congress to continue sending troops and thus the war down to 60-90 days. This really strains the relationship as it brings into question who who governs. Since both have some power in the military, and this action can violate the separation of power for it gives more commander in chief power to Congress.
- What are the formal powers of the Nevada governor?
Patronage, meaning they are able to determine who is the head of state agencies that carry out the laws. Creates the budget, dictating where money goes. They are able to veto legislation but of course the legislature can override the veto. And finally the can call in the legislature into session for special tasks.
- What are the informal powers of the Nevada governor?
The governor can of course go public with a policy or issues, directing the message to the public to gain support. They also handle the day-to-day stuff, holding power there. And finally they can issues executive orders but since they already decide who is the head of each agency this power is mostly unnecessary.
- What are the main differences between the Nevada and Federal executive branches?
This first is in enforcing laws, fed only enforce federal laws, states enforce state laws. The next is economic influence, federal executive branch has a huge impact while the states have a weaker impact on their states economy leaving most of it to the private sector. Next is foreign affairs, fed deal with foreign relation and affairs dealing with other government, while the states governor is the commander in chief of the states national guard. And of course another difference is their relationship with their legislature, the federal executive branch has a strained relationship with Congress, while the state legislature doesn’t have to deal with the legislature often as they are not in session all the time.
