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Government > Executive Branch > Flashcards

Executive Branch Flashcards

1
Q

What article of the constitution is the executive branch written

A

the second

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2
Q

major function of executive branch

A

To enforce the law

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3
Q

Roles of the president: (8)

A
  • Chief of State
  • Chief Executive
  • Chief administrator
  • Chief diplomat
  • Commander in chief
  • Chief Legislator
  • Chief of Party
  • Chief citizen
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4
Q

Chief of state:

A

ceremonial head of the government & symbol of the American people

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5
Q

Chief executive:

A

power to enforce the law (most powerful position in the world)

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6
Q

Chief administrator

A

CEO of the federal government (employs about 4 million people)

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7
Q

Chief diplomat

A

architect of foreign policy (relationship with other countries)

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8
Q

Commander in Chief

A

head of the US armed forces (1.4 million)

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9
Q

Chief Legislator

A

architect of public policy (ideas for laws)

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10
Q

Chief of party

A

leader of their political party

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11
Q

Chief Citizen

A

the representative of all the people of the USA

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12
Q

7 powers of the President:

A
  • Appointment Power: (Cabinet, Federal judges, etc.) – about 4,000 positions
  • Power to convene Congress: (State of the Union Address – special session)
  • Power to make treaties: (agreement between two or more countries)
  • Executive Orders: (a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law) – like a law within the executive branch
  • Veto power: (reject legislation/reject laws)
  • Commander in Chief Power: (head of the Armed forces)
  • Pardoning Power: (grant releases to criminals)
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13
Q

Formal qualifications:

A

Be a “natural born citizen”
Be at least 35 yrs old
Have lived in the USA for at least 14 years

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14
Q

Oval Office

A

place where the President does their work! West wing of the White house

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15
Q

Presidential Salary:

A

400,000

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16
Q

Presidential Fringe Benefits (9)

A
  • $50,000 per year expense account
  • white house – 4 main floors, 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 3 kitchens, 55 thousand square feet
  • Camp David - summer home
  • Air Force One – (2) – over 4,000 sq. ft home!
  • Cadillac One - The Beast
  • Marine One – Helicopters
  • Free health care
  • Pension ($200,000)
  • Lifetime secret service protection
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17
Q

Cadillac 1 nickname

A

The Beast

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18
Q

The 25th amendment deals with

A

Presidential Succession and Disability

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19
Q

What is Presidential Succession

A

Becomes President in the event of death, disability, or resignation

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20
Q

First 5 levels of Presidential Succession

A
  • Vice President
  • Speaker of the House
  • President Pro-tempore of - the Senate
  • Secretary of State
  • Secretary of Treasury
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21
Q

Disability: (2 reasons)

A

Vice President will become acting president if:
- The President informs Congress, in writing, that he/she is unable to perform their duties
- The vice president and the majority of the cabinet inform congress, in writing, that the president is unable to perform duties

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22
Q

Impeachment

A

The charge of high crimes and misdemeanors covers allegations of misconduct by officials

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23
Q

2 formal duties of VP:

A
  • Preside over the Senate
  • Help decide disability of president
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24
Q

What the VP does in the Senate: (2)

A
  • Can’t debate
  • Only vote to break a tie
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25
Q

Who chooses VP and how?

A
  • Chosen by presidential candidate
  • Chosen to “balance the ticket”
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26
Q

Today’s unofficial roles:

A
  • Spokesperson for the president!
  • Represent president at important events/ceremonies
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27
Q

Formal Qualifications for VP

A

Same as president

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28
Q

Why is VP and President qualifications the same?

A

VP could be the president at any time

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29
Q

VP Salary:

A

230,700

30
Q

VP’s D.C. Residence

A

US Naval Observatory

31
Q

Presidential selection: 2 steps

A

Popular Vote (people)
Electoral College

32
Q

Electoral College: (electors)

A

A group of people chosen from each state to formally select the President & Vice President

33
Q

Representation in the Electoral College is based on:

A

number of representatives

34
Q

How many representatives are in the electoral college?

A

538

35
Q

Can the electoral college vote against the popular vote?

A

Yes but rarely do

36
Q

What happens to the candidates that win the popular vote in a state?

A

They take all of the electoral votes

37
Q

How many electoral votes does a candidate have to get in a state to win?

A

270

38
Q

Why is Electoral College important? (3)

A
  • Protects against the tyranny of the majority
  • Discourages voter fraud
  • Gives a voice to both the large and small states
39
Q

Four divisions of the Executive branch:

A
  • President
  • Vice President
  • FederalAgencies/*The Cabinet
  • Independent Agencies/Commissions
40
Q

Federal/Executive agencies under direct control of:

A

the president

41
Q

How did the Cabinet start and by who?

A

Started as a “custom” by George Washington

42
Q

Originally there were how many members of the President’s cabinet?

A

4

43
Q

Who/what were the original four cabinet members?

A
  1. Dept. of State – Thomas Jefferson
  2. Dept. of Treasury – Alexander Hamilton
  3. Dept. of Defense – Henry Knox
  4. Dept. of Justice – Edmund Randolph
44
Q

How many executive departments are there today?

A

15

45
Q

Each agency/department is headed by a secretary with the exception of the:

A

Department of Justice

46
Q

Who is the head of the Department of Justice?

A

the Attorney General

47
Q

How is the Attorney General hired: 2 steps

A
  • appointed by the president
  • confirmed by the senate
48
Q

what are the jobs of the 15 department leaders? (2)

A
  • Administer their department/agency
  • Advise the president
49
Q

Oldest executive department:

A

Dept of state

50
Q

largest executive department:

A

Dept of defense

51
Q

Newest executive department:

A

Dept of Homeland Security

52
Q

What group does the dept of homeland security involve?

A

the Secret Service

53
Q

job of the Secret Service:

A

Protect the president

54
Q

Who works closest w/ the president?

A

Sec. of Defense and Sec. of State

55
Q

What are Independent Agencies/commission?

A

Agencies that run outside the cabinet departments: not under direct control of the president

56
Q

Why are some agencies independent agencies agencies?

A

Keep them away from political pressures/influences

57
Q

6 examples of independent agencies:

A
  1. Nasa
  2. Federal Reserve
  3. EPA
  4. FDA
  5. USPS
  6. CIA
58
Q

what is NASA

A

National aeronautics and space Administration

59
Q

What is the federal reserve?

A

US Banking

60
Q

What is EPA

A

Environmental Protection Agency

61
Q

What is CIA

A

Central Intelligence Agency

62
Q

Wife of the president is called

A

the First Lady

63
Q

What is The first lady’s official role in the government?

A

No official role

64
Q

What are the first lady’s unofficial roles? (3)

A
  • Involvement in political campaigns
  • Management of White House
  • Hostess for all White House parties/dinners
65
Q

How many personal white house staff are there?

A

500

66
Q

top 6 positions of the personal white house staff:

A
  1. Chief of Staff
  2. Press Secretary
  3. Executive Office of the President (EOP)
  4. National Security Director
  5. Director of National Intelligence Agency
  6. White house counselor - lawyer
67
Q

Chief of staff

A

President’s private secretary (White house manager) – top position

68
Q

Press secretary

A

President’s public spokesperson

69
Q

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

A

main advisor on foreign and domestic policy (experts)

70
Q

National Security Director

A

In charge of nation’s security

71
Q

6 examples of the 3-4 thousand employees that work in and around the white house:

A
  1. Secret Service
  2. Secretaries
  3. Butlers
  4. Housekeepers
  5. Cooks
  6. Gardeners

Government (9 decks)

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