informal sources of presidential power USP Flashcards
(47 cards)
how is the electoral mandate an informal power of the president
- significant election victory is seen as giving president a mandate to enact the key policies of their campaign
- puts pressure on congress as well
explain the impact of trumps electoral mandate on US politics
- used it as justification for restrictive immigration policies
- used executive orders to do as much as he could as congress would not allow him to build the wall
explain the impact of bidens electoral mandate on US politics
- used to justify swift actions and policies in response to COVID [especially the American Rescue Plan Act 2021]
- focused on climate change intiatives, rejoined paris agreement and passing the ‘Inflation Reduction Act’
what are executive orders
decisions made by the president which give federal officials instruction to take certain actions
how many executive orders did trump signed during his first term and explain one of them
- 220
- one placed a 3 month ban on entering the US for citizens from 7 majority Muslim countries
- 4 month ban on refugees as well
what was biden’s executive order which directly correlated to a supreme court decision
- executive order = Protecting Access to Reproductive Healthcare Services
- response to the overturning of ROE v WADE
- order instructed government officials to protect access to reproductive healthcare services as much as possible
what are executive agreements
agreements made between the president and other nations [without the need for senate’s approval that treaties require]
- easily repealed by future presidents
example of executive agreements under the first trump term
- agreement with the Taliban in Afghanistan to begin reducing hostilities
- in exchange for withdrawal of US troops within 14 months, Taliban agreed to have open talks with the Afghan government and to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghanistan to attack US or its allies
what are signing statements
documents issued by President upon signing a bill into law [ often outline President’s interpretation of the law and how they intend to enforce it ]
how many signing statements did Clinton sign compared to Trump’s first term
- Clinton = 381
- Trump = 29
what is executive privilege
allows the president and other members of the executive branch to withhold certain information from the legislative and judicial branches
what was executive privilege under trump like
- resisted congressional requests for his tax returns, arguing that they were private matters and not subject to oversight
- prevented key aides from testifying during House impeachment inquiry
what was executive privilege under biden like
- invoked it over certain classified documents related to the origins of COVID
how are national events an informal source of US Presidential Power
- provided opportunities to lead, shape public opinion and enact policies
- ‘rally around the flag’ = after 9/11 attacks
how were national events seen under trump 1st term
- COVID created a ‘rally around the flag movement
- used daily public briefing in response to decisions
how were national events seen under Biden
- not as much happened under his administration due to the events of Covid
- was pivotal in addressing the issues which came with the overturning over ROE v WADE and capitol riots
how is ‘power of persuasion’ an informal role which the president holds
- ability to effectively communicate
- influence public opinion
- garner support for their policies
how is ‘personal relationships and negotiation skills’ a method of presidential persuasion
- presidents/ VPs often use personal relations to persuade congress
- VP Mike Pence frequently met with congress members over legislation (Tax Cuts and Jobs act)
how is ‘EXOP/Cabinet’ a method of presidential persuasion
- lobbies congress in behalf of the president
- advocates for legislation which impacts their departments
- office of legislative affairs instrumental in coordinating repeal and replacement of ACA (even though it failed, shows power)
how is ‘party leadership within congress’ a method of presidential persuasion
- presidents work closely with party leaders in congress to facilitate passage of legislative agenda
- Biden and Chuck Schumer worked closely on American Rescue Plan
how is ‘perks/photo opportunities’ a method of presidential persuasion
- key positions in committees/ photo opportunities for them to support legislative manifesto
- coat-tail effect
- Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas re-election was facing competition, after Trump’s endorsement aided campaign
how is ‘bully pulpit’ a method of presidential persuasion
- ability to use position to command public attention
- especially effective if they gained a large mandate
- Trump with building the wall and rallying public interest
- Biden and his speeches involving about getting American Rescue flowing after covid
how did OBAMA use power of persuasion
- exceptional orator and had ability to connect with people very well
- had success in rallying support for ACA despite political opposition
- worked with congress people (pelosi and reid)
- didn’t use bully pulpit and persuasion during second term (seen through DREAM Act and closing Guantanamo Bay)
how did 1TRUMP use power of persuasion
- direct and forceful rhetoric through Twitter
- use approach and public opinion to push policies through
- however, this still meant that he could not get the funding needed to build the wall
