The Executive Flashcards
(48 cards)
Which article outlines the roles and powers of the president?
Article II
What does Article II Section 1 say about the president?
Election by electoral college
Oath of office to uphold constitution
Eligibility (must be 35, US born citizen and 14 years resident in US)
Limited to 2 terms after 22nd amendment
Compensation
What does Article II Section 2 say about the president?
Commander in chief
Power to appoint officials, judges and ambassadors
Negotiate treaties with foreign governments
Power to grant pardons and reprieves (only federal crimes)
What does Article II Section 3 say about the president?
State of union address
Power to make legislative recommendations
Can adjourn congress and call it into special sessions
Power to veto legislation
Receives ambassadors
What does Article II Section 4 say about the president?
Provides removal of president from office through a process of impeachment by congress for ‘treason, high crimes and misdemanours’
3 presidents have been impeached, Clinton, Johnson and Trump
Informal powers of the president
Position as party leader, agenda setter and national/world leader
Chief legislator also not in constitution but in budget act of 1921
When was it a limited presidency?
1789-1932
Except for brief periods of a strong president e.g. Lincoln during the Civil War
Congress was generally the dominant branch until the early 1930s
When was the modern presidency?
1932-45
F D Roosevelt set the standard of the activist
When was the imperial presidency?
1945-73
Truman to Nixon
Presidents as world leaders during the Cold War but eventually led US to disastrous Vietnam War
When was the Imperilled presidency?
1973-80
Nixon to Carter
When was the post-modern presidency?
1981-2001
Reagan to G W Bush
What are the 2 constitutional functions of the Vice President?
To keep breathing in case the president happens to stop
President of the Senate, casts deciding vote if deadlocked
What is the relationship like between the president and the VP?
President has to choose someone to run with them and support them
Needs to be someone that will appeal to voters
Political ideology also matters
Role of VP is entirely down to the president
How is the Cabinet decided?
Cabinet been around since 19th century
There are 15 major departments and the president select the heads of these to make up the cabinet with senate approval
What power does the cabinet have?
No governing power but advises the president on a daily basis
Says a lot about the president in who they choose as the secretaries (heads) of each department
What’s the relationship like between the president and their secretaries?
Often a challenging relationship because the secretaries are often torn between multiple roles
Have to choose between the department and the president
Who created the Executive Office of the President?
FD Roosevelt and the 1939 Executive Organisation Act
What is the Executive Office of the President?
4000 staffers appointed by and loyal to the president
Most don’t need to be approved by the Senate (unless to do with the budget)
Additional bureaucratic muscle for the president
How did the National Security Council come about?
Inception under Truman in 1947
Up to the president how much they use it
What is the National Security Council?
One of the most important aspects of the Executive Office of the President
Advises and assists the president on national security and foreign policies
Who are the statutory members of the National Security Council?
President
Vice President
Secretary of State
Secretary of Treasury
Secretary of Defence
Secretary of Energy
What does the Secretary of State do?
Heads the state department, created in 1789
Secretary of State vs National Security Advisor
Lots of tension between the 2
NSA initially just an administrative role but has evolved into a major policy making role under Kennedy
Challenges the position of SofS
When was the National Security Council at its prime of power?
When Nixon was president, the NSC was at its largest in terms of staffing and influence
Kissinger (NSA) had far more power than the SofS
