President Flashcards
(32 cards)
Constitutional Requirements:
You have to be a natural-born US citizen (this is stricter than Congress where you only have to be a US resident)
You have to be 35 and lived there for 14 years
22nd amendment: can only serve 2 terms
Presumed Requirements:
Political experience: usually comes from the senate or a governor: Exception: Eisenhower: never elected before, head of the army,Trump
Major party endorsement: Only 4 times in the last 100 years have a third party or independent presidential candidate gained more than 10% of the vote.
Weakth: securing the party nomination
Enumerated powers of president
Submit the annual budget: Congress has to pass the budget
Negotiate treaties: senate ratifies with 2/3s majority, rejected 7 treaties during the 20th century
Nominate Federal Judges: Appointments must be confirmed by a simple majority in Senate
Nominate executive branch officials: Approved by majority vote in Senate ->Neera Tanden Nomination (2021) for Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Reason for Withdrawal: Tanden’s nomination faced significant opposition due to her past tweets and social media activity. Many senators, both Republicans and some Democrats, were concerned about her sharply critical remarks directed at lawmakers across the political spectrum, which created doubts about her ability to work collaboratively with Congress.While the Senate did not formally vote on Tanden’s nomination, the opposition was clear enough that she withdrew her nomination before a vote could take place
Propose legislation: Does this through his annual State of the Union address every January.
Veto legislation: a president can veto (refuse) - and send it back -
Pardon - biden pardoned his son
Role as Head of State:
The President as Head of State becomes a focal point in times of national crisis. From this, they can gain huge levels of authority which gives them greater influence to carry out policy goals
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Biden led the U.S. and NATO response:
Delivered national addresses, met world leaders, rallied public and congressional support for major aid packages.
Role as Head of Government:
The president has absolute constitutional control of the executive branch. They have a complex network of departments and agencies to take control of policy-making
Role of Commander in Chief:
As Commander in Chief, the president has the power to direct the military in times of war. However, it is Congress who have the power to declare war- this has led to major conflict between each party.
- Trump ordered the bombing of Syria, only wanted the bombing to go much further than it did
Supreme Court opposed:
2023: Biden’s plan sought to cancel up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt for borrowers earning under $125,000 per year.
The 6-3 ruling effectively cancels the plan, which would have forgiven about $10,000 (£7,800) per borrower - and up to $20,000 in some cases.The decision affects the loans of more than 40 million Americans
An Imperial Presidency:
Coined by Schlesinger
Anyone who goes above their power as president
Refers to the abuse of presidential power, and the unequal balance of power between the executive and the legislature
An imperilled presidency
Coined by former President Gerald Ford
Ford argued that the pendulum had swung the other way, and now the office of President and was not powerful enough. -> led to an ineffective Presidency - unable to carry out their constitutional power
Ford gave two reasons for these changes: erosion of party leadership in Congress, the inability of successive presidents to control the federal bureaucracy
Foreign Policy:
The constitution grants the president the power to act as commander-in-chief and also to negotiate treaties
However, it also allows Congress to check these, as they have the power to declare war and control the purse strings
Limitations on Presidential Power:
Congress: Checks and Balances = removal from office (impeachment) - not easy to remove
Supreme Court: can declare actions to be unconstitutional.
The media: he media’s detailed coverage of the Capitol insurrection and Trump’s role in encouraging supporters led to widespread condemnation.This increased pressure on Congress to pursue impeachment and limited Trump’s influence in his final months.
Pressure groups: can mobilise public opinion for or against the president and his policies - NRA
Public opinion: Trump’s approval ratings usually hover between 40% and 50%, with strong support among Republicans but low support among Democrats and independents
Professional reputation: more support for talented individuals, Biden
The quality of staff: the ability to do things
Level of unity in the President’s Party: no whipping system -> hence the need to persuade, democrats of division over Biden as candidate
Trump imperial
Extensive use of executive order, ignoring supreme court, lack of congressional overisght
Biden imperilled
Biden tends to work within established norms and checks and balances more than Trump did, Difficulty passing major legislation, like parts of his Build Back Better plan.Some key initiatives watered down due to moderate Democrats and Republicans opposing them. Biden has also faced criticism and pushback from the Supreme Court. Lame duck
Factors influencing Presidential success:
Electoral mandate: Donald Trump won the 2024 U.S. presidential election, defeating Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. He secured 312 electoral votes to Harris’s 226 and won the popular vote with 49.8% - is legtimate strengthening his mandate.
Public approval: The higher your approval rating with the public, the more political clout you have to be able to push through legislation - After his inauguration, Biden’s approval ratings were relatively high (around 55-60%). This public support helped him push through the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package quickly through Congress, even with a narrow Democratic majority
1st and 2nd term: It’s usually easier for a president to get their way in the first term rather than the second when they become a ‘lame duck’ - especially in the first 2 years.
Unified or divided government: - He has rolled back climate-related regulations, withdrawn from the Paris Climate Accord, and prioritized domestic energy production - limited congress pushback
How can the President use the Vice president to convince Congress?
The VP often acts as a key liaison between the White House and Congress, building relationships with senators and representatives to rally support. The VP’s personal connections and political capital can help negotiate compromises or push for the president’s agenda.
As the Senate was split 50-50 during Biden’s early term, Harris cast several tie-breaking votes on key legislation such as the American Rescue Plan and infrastructure bills, effectively deciding their passage. She frequently met with moderate senators to persuade them to support the administration’s agenda
What are some recent examples of the Staff of the Office of Legislative Affairs helping to influence congress?
In early June, OLA staff played a key liaison role between Senate leadership and the executive branch during Senate consideration of the GOP’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.
What are some recent examples of the cabinet helping the president to influence congress?
In Spring 2024, Congress was deeply divided over a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin personally lobbied key members of the House and Senate—particularly skeptical Republicans
Selection of vice president:
made by the Party’s presidential candidate around the time of the National Party Convention. They run together on a ‘joint ticket’
Will often be a balanced ticket - For example, a presidential candidate might look to balance his offerings with a different geographical region, political experience, age or ideology. E.g Obama and Biden - inexperienced President, experienced vice-president, Biden and Harris - inexperience with vast experience
Should the VP president become vacant, the President has the power to appoint a new VP, who must be confirmed by a simple majority vote in Congress. E.g - 1973, Spire Agnew resigned after a scandal involving tax evasion - and Nixon replaced him with Ford. After Nixon resigned, and Ford became President, Ford appointed former governor Rockefeller
Powers of the Vice President:
Presiding officer of the Senate. This role is rarely performed. Junior members of the chamber usually stand in
The Power to break a tied vote in the Senate.
Counting and then announcing the result of the Electoral College Votes,
Become the President upon death, resignation or removal of the President from office, This has occurred on 9 occasions, four times following the assassinations, four times following the natural death of the president and once following the resignation of a President
Biden as VP
Biden was head of the Middle Class Task Force which aimed to maintain the support of the middle class
“I give my word as a Biden’; was a summon expression meaning that he would promise what was necessary and ensure that a job was followed through
Cabinet - constitution
The cabinet has no constitutional status. It is not mentioned other than as a possible body of advisers the President may take advice from
Importance of Cabinet:
It depends:
Power is not fixed
Different personalities and governing style of Presidents will determine their use of cabinet
Experience of President in Washington politics is also key - Kennedy rarely called cabinet meetings as had been a senator. At the start of his presidency Reagan called 36 in the 1st year
Not important:
All executive power is granted to the president
No doctrine of collective responsibility. He is not the first among equals, simply first
Cabinet are not political rivals (not a stepping stone to the presidency)
Do not work in the white house - may see the president rarely
EXOP:
There is a lack of trust between EXOP and cabinetry -> as EXOP members tend to view cabinet members as distant and disloyal, cabinet members of cabinet view the EXOP as too close to the president
Cabinet members have other loyalties to Congress, and interest groups (iron triangles) whereas EXOP have only one loyalty to the President
To overcome these rivalries, cabinet councils have proved very useful. These councils are made up of both members of the cabinet and members of the EXOP
Problems with civil service:
Clientelism: agencies tend to serve the interests of those whom they are supposed to be overseeing
Imperialism: Agencies invariably seek to expand their powers and responsibilities at the expanse of other agencies
Parochialism: Agencies focus on their own goals rather than on the big picture, Departmental interest often triumphs at the expense of national interest.
Incrementalism: Agencies act slowly and resist change.
Waste: Don’t use resources efficiently
Iron triangles: Agencies form too close relationships with congressional committees and interest groups
Going Native: Agency staff become more loyal to their department’s agenda than what the President wants
