US Presidency

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  • Created by: evekav
  • Created on: 29-03-22 20:52
What is a head of state?
The chief representative of a country
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Examples of the impact of head of state.
Bush - symbol of American resolve and pride after 9/11 but criticised for not visiting areas hit by hurricane Katrina in 2005.
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Who does the president have under their direction?
*The Cabinet and each 15 cabinet departments
*EXOP
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How many appointments to federal posts does the president make?
3000
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What do the president's 3000 appointments include (needing senate approval)?
*Cabinet and junior cabinet posts
*Ambassadors
*Agency heads
*Members of regulatory commissions
*All federal judges
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What is the president known as, which makes them responsible for relations with other countries?
Chief diplomat
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What are informal powers?
Powers of the president not listed in the constitution but exercised anyway.
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Examples of informal powers
*Electoral mandate
*Executive orders
*National events
*Cabinet
*EXOP
*Powers of persuasion
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What is the electoral mandate?
Permission granted to a political leader or winning party to govern and act on their behalf.
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When does the president achieve most of their important goals?
In the first 2 years of office
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When is the president's mandate strongest?
Before midterms - first 2 years
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What are executive orders?
President creates a legal order which can bypass Congress - creates a law
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Where are most executive orders traced to?
An Act of Congress
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What is the example of Obama's use of executive order?
He issued an executive order to stop the CIA operatives carrying out what he saw as methods of torture as one of his first presidential acts.
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What are the limitations of executive orders?
*President has to show their use is directing the executive that does not fall under the legislative role of Congress
*Strong public and congressional outcry and presidents have to be mindful of popularity to maintain power
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How can national events impact a president's policy?
They can limit the time they have to devote to their policies.
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What is the example of national events effecting a president's policy?
2008 banking crisis and economic collapse meant Obama had to prioritise an economic stimulus package and he was almost unable to pass his flagship healthcare policy.
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Example of 9/11 on Bush's presidency.
His power dramatically surged and public support increased.
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Who does the Cabinet include?
The VP and heads of 15 executive departments as well as Cabinet-level officials.
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How does the Cabinet effect policy?
They can play an important role in helping to make and execute policy, individual members can act as policy advisors.
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Does the cabinet have a lot of power?
As a collective group, they have limited power. Their meetings are limited.
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What status does Cabinet not have, what does this mean for decisions in policy?
No constitutional status, meaning the president has the final say on executive policy
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Who are the most influential for the president?
EXOP
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What is the VP's main power as a member of the Cabinet?
Influence presidential thinking
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Who were the recent influential VPs?
Pence, Biden and Chaney
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What was Biden described as in his role as VP?
The last guy in the room - suggesting a closeness to the president that others did not have.
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What are the powers of persuasion?
Informal power of the president to use the prestige of their job and other bargaining methods to get people to do as the president wishes.
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What is the case study on Obama's personal powers?
Governing style criticised for being too aloof, perfectionist and passive towards key issues. Budget shutdown negotiations in 2013, some argued he was not taking charge - not 'presidential' enough. Others-his willingness to devolve to Congress was better
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What did Richard Neustadt say about presidential power?
'Presidential power is the power to persuade' - suggesting they have limited constitutional power to enforce political change.
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What does EXOP stand for?
The Executive Office of the President
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Why was EXOP created-what report began it?
Brownlow Committee reported the president was seriously understaffed and needed substantial administrative support.
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How does EXOP advise policy?
Its presidential agencies provide advice, help, co-operation and administrative support eg OMB advises president on budgetary issues.
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How does EXOP manage the president?
Chief of staff oversees actions of White House staff and manages the president's schedule, deciding who the president meets and what policies to prioritise.
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How does EXOP oversee departments?
Senior members of EXOP are often charged with taking control of Cabinet and government departments to make sure they follow presidential priorities.
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How does EXOP have relations with Congress?
Specialist advice and support in dealing with Congress is important in a president's success in achieving policy goals eg Office of Legislative Affairs develops strategies to advance initiatives.
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How does EXOP have specialist functions?
Some presidents have created offices with a specific mandate related to their special interests eg Obama and the Office of Faith-based and Neighbourhood Partnerships.
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What is does the National Security Council (NSC) advise the president on?
National security and foreign policy issues.
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Who comes into conflict with the national security advisor (NCA)?
Secretary of state
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Who was Trump's NSC and why was he criticised?
Steve Bannon - he was seen to distort the advice of the NSC
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How many employees does the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have?
500 - largest office
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What are the 2 main function of the OMB?
*Advise the president o the allocation of funds for the annual budget.
*Oversee spending in all federal departments and agencies.
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What is the example from 2015/17 of Obama and the OMB?
2015-budget=$4 trillion
2017-Mick Mulvaney given role of coordinating attempts to repeal Obamacare
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What title do senior EXOP staff have?
'Assistant of the president'
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Who, generally, is the president's most important advisor?
Chief of Staff (head of White House Office)
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What must the chief of staff be as the most important advisor?
Flexible, open minded and a honest broker.
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Who was seen as a failure as Obama's chief of staff, why?
Bill Daley - struggled to gain command and respect of the west wing, criticised for giving too much ground to Republicans in budget negotiations.
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How can separation of powers limit the president?
*President and Congress receive separate mandates
*President has limited patronage power over individuals in Congress
*Possibility of bipartisan control or divided government between President and Congress
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How does the President and Congress receiving separate mandates limit the president?
Congress is likely to be an active legislative branch and unwilling to respond to presidential demands. Congress can claim a stronger mandate which can be renewed every two years.
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How does the President having limited patronage power over individuals in Congress limit the president?
The president does not work alongside a team within Congress so cannot promote or demote like a prime minister does.
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How does the Possibility of bipartisan control or divided government between President and Congress limit the president?
President usually controlled by one party but likely for at least one chamber to be control by another=conflicting agendas
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Who is in a stronger position to claim a national mandate to set the national agenda?
The president
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How can the president dominate the agenda?
Through veto power, signing a bill, speaking directly to Congress and meeting individual members of a legislative body.
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What does agenda setting allow the president to do?
Act as the driving force of US politics
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How is the president not all powerful in setting the political agenda?
Congress can set a national agenda as it has its own mandate and it is common for them to develop a set of policy priorities of its own.
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Where does the president's only formal power over the Supreme Court lie?
Nominations
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Who did Obama nominate to the Supreme Court in 2016 but did not get approval?
Merrick Garland
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Why do Supreme Court nominations have little impact?
They have virtually no influence over the justices who make a decisions and presidents can't threaten removal as they have life tenure.
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What is the example of Trump's clash with the judiciary?
He attacked the judge who halted his immigration ban - called District Judge Robart a 'so called judge' and instructed the public to blame the judge if anything went wrong.
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What are the 4 factors affecting presidential power?
*Events
*Midterm elections
*Presidential election cycles and lame duck
*Presidential popularity
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What happens to presidential popularity as the term progresses?
It often declines over a term.
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What can a president be strongly affected by?
Major events
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What is the example of Bush's presidency affected by major events?
9/11 = experienced a huge increase in his power
Iraq war = led to a reduction in Bush's power
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What is a midterm election?
Congressional elections in the middle of a president's term, typically brings a defea to the president's party.
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What is a lame duck presidency?
The president's office finds it hard to achieve policy goals as their term come to an end.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Examples of the impact of head of state.

Back

Bush - symbol of American resolve and pride after 9/11 but criticised for not visiting areas hit by hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Card 3

Front

Who does the president have under their direction?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How many appointments to federal posts does the president make?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What do the president's 3000 appointments include (needing senate approval)?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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