executivr + elections Flashcards
(40 cards)
Where in the Constitution is the Executive Branch and the Presidency (& Vice Presidency) established?
article 2
How long is the term for President & Vice President? Which Constitutional Amendment put a limit on those terms?
- 4 years
- 22nd amendment
What are the eligibility requirements to be President
article 2, section 1
- 35 yrs old
- natural born citizen
- resident of the us for at least 14 years
What are the SIX (6) Constitutional powers given to the President? What does each one mean? How are any of them subject to checks and balances from the other branches?
- commander in chief (check: congress can declare war)
- pardoning (no check)
- veto (congress can override with 2/3 vote)
- appointment power (senate must confirm choices)
- convene and adjourn congress
- chief diplomat (senate must ratify treaties)
What is the difference between the spoils system and the merit system?
spoils: rewards political supporters with government jobs
merit: rewards jobs based on qualifications and performance, more professional
what impact did andrew jackson have on the federal bureaucracy
instituted the spoils system
what impact did james garfield have on the federal bureaucracy
- created the pendleton act
what impact did franklin d roosevelt have on the federal bureaucracy
- established the new deal
- established social security act
what impact did lyndon b johnson have on the federal bureaucracy
- established medicare+medicaid
- established job corps
cabinet departments
major administrative units that have responsibility for conducting broad areas of government operations
ex: department of defense, department of interior
independent executive agencies
narrower areas of responsibility. services rather than regulatory functions
ex: cia, nasa
regulatory agencies
made by congress to regulate a specific economic activity or interest
ex: federal reserve board, national labor relations board
government corporations
perform functions that could be provided by private businesses
ex: tva, amtrak
What are some ways that Congress, the President, and the Courts can ‘check & balance’ the powers of the Federal Bureaucracy?
congress: impeachment power, legislative oversight
president: executive orders, appointments
courts: judicial review, due process
What was the Pendleton Act?
established a merit-based system for federal employment
What is the difference between a primary election and a general election?
primary chooses political party’s candidate for a specific office, a general election chooses between the candidates from different parties to fill the office.
closed primaries
only registered members of a political party can vote to choose their party’s candidate for the general election
semi closed primaries
registered and unaffiliated voters can participate in selecting a parties candidate, but voters registered to other parties cant
open primaries
election where voters can participate in selecting a parties candidate regardless of their affiliation
jungle primaries
all candidates regardless of party affiliation compete for votes on a single ballot, top 2 advance to general election
What are the similarities & differences between an initiative and a referendum?
initiative - lets citizens propose new laws or amendments and have them placed on the ballot for a public vote
referendum - allows citizens to approve or reject laws or policies that have been passed by the legislative
What is the Electoral College? How does it work to elect Presidents?
- elects president via 538 electors
- voters in each state select electors who then cast their votes for president
- 270 votes to win
What are some of the arguments people make in support of the Electoral College?
- preserves federalism
- promotes stability
- protects smaller states influence
What are some of the arguments people make against the Electoral College?
- disenfranchises voters
- created potential for faithless electors
- encourages a focus on swing states
