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100 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the executive branch of government? |
1) The executive the the core the of the government where policy is formed and executed 2) In the USA there is a presidential executive 3) The paradox of the US presidency is that despite the omnipotence of the office there's much evidence for political weakness |
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What does Article 2 in the US Constitution lay out?
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1) The popular election of the president through the electoral college for fixed terms of 4 years 2) Removal of the president through impeachment |
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What does the 22nd Amendment do to the President?
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Restricts them to 2 terms in office |
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What did Neustadt argue?
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He argued the president only has the power to persuade: - no garantees that the powers they posses can be exercised |
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______ is a constitutional power of the American President. The Exec branch is controled by the President and he is responsible for the federal budget, setting out and impelmenting policy agenda.
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Chief Executive
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The formal, enumerated contitutional powers of the President are? |
1) Commander in chief. Leader of the US armed forces 2) Chief diplomat. Power to make treaties with other countries, though increasingly presidents use executive agreements to avoid having senate ratification |
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He has the power of the regular veto over legislation and the pocket veto at the end of a congressional session. The threat of the veto can be more powerfull than its use. This implied power makes him the ______. |
Chief legislator |
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What are the other implied powers the President has?
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1) World leader. US's huge international status. 2) Party leader. They aren't elected. they cannot always command or even rely on support of their party in Congress |
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What factors have caused the growth of Presidential power? |
1) The president is the only institution capable of acting quickly and decisively in a crisis 2) President is the only elected politician speaking for the national interest 3) Particular presidential styles or decisions have set precedents for their successors |
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How can Congress constrain the power of the President? |
1) Amend, delay or reject the presidents legislative proposals 2) Refuse to fund any of his proposals (Obama trying to shut down Guantanamo Bay in 2015) 3) Refuse to confirm his appointments (Bork 1987) |
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How can the supreme court constrain the power of the Presidency? |
Use the power of judicial review to declare the presidents actions unconstitutional: - US v Nixon 1974 - Hamdan v Rumsfeld 2006 |
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How do pressure groups limit the President's powers? |
1) They can mobilise public opinion: - Clinton faced resistance from the Health Insurance Association of America when trying to pass his healthcare reforms, who ran a series of 'Harry and Louise' commercials which turned public opinion and therefore Congressional opinion against the reforms |
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How does the public opinion constrain the power of the President? |
1) The president need the public support to deal with congress 2) Clinton discoverd how important approval ratings are because his high approval ratings allowed him to survive his many scandals. Bushes ratings were 86% after 9/11 but then fell away and were down bellow 30% in 2008 |
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How does the federal bureaucracy limit the presidents power? |
1) Getting the federal bureaucracy to do something is a challenge 2) Many federal government are implemented by state and local governments and some southern state governors frustrated Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson over civil rights reforms |
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How does the media limit the presidents powers? |
In the era of the 24 hour media cylcle media reports can increasing limit what presidents can do |
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What other factors limit the President's power? |
Level of unity displayed by the presidents party: -Clinton would have got his healthcare reforms through if the Democrats had united behind him |
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How can a crisis limit or increase Presidential power? |
The 1980 election day coincided with the day marking the Iranian Embassy hostage's first year in captivity so the media spent alot of time talking about the crises instead 2) GWB's popularity sky rocketed after 9/11 |
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Why is the President known as the 'two Presidencies' on domestic and foreign policy? |
1) All presidents try to keep a high profile in foreign policy because they have difficulty enacting domestic policy 2) This is called a Bifurcated presidency - weak in domestic policy, stronger in foreign policy |
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How does the President attempt to achieve his legislative and policy goals? |
1) Power of persuasion or successful coalition building skills 2) Effective use of his Congressional Liaison Offie in the West Wing |
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What variables does the success of the Presidents persuasion skills rely on? |
1) Whether or not he has clear priorities to place before Congress, leadership vision and a governing strategy 2) Public approval ratings which are closely linked to the state of the economy and foreign policy |
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What is the new 'imperial presidency'? |
1) The aftermath of 9/11 and the subsequent war on terror saw more concentration of power in the executive 2) Congress was more docile and was dominated by the Republicans which helped because they supported Bush's demands and wishes concerning national security |
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How did Bush address concerns of National Security?
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1) Passage of the patriot act 2) Guantanamo bay and setting up of millitary commissions to try enemy combatant cases 3) Setting up of the homeland security department |
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What did Bush do during his second term?
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1) Increased use of executive orders and claims of executive privilege 2) Bush also added signing statements to bills before he signed them into law he could voice his disapproval which was a line item veto in all but the name |
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What happened after the 2006 mid-terms? |
1) Democrats took control of Congress 2) Bushes approval ratings were under 30%, labelled ''lame duck President'' from 2006-08 3) Alienated many Republicans through growing budget deficits |
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How did Obama start his Presidency? |
1) A huge personal mandate 2) High approval ratings but also sky high expectations of hope and change 3) Political and personal charisma and the power to persuade |
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What problems did Obama face?
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1) Continuing war in Afghanistan 2) Economic depression, high and rising unemployment and a rising national debt 3) Criticism from the Republican right for going tro far to the left and critisisms from the Democrat left from not going far enough |
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What is the role of the Vice President? |
1) The VP balances the ticket 2) They preside over the senate and broker tied votes. Cheney cast 8 casting votes. In a situation where the senate is split 50/50 the VP becomes very important so in the current era of partisanship and divided government they is more influential |
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What is the Presidential Cabinet ? |
1) The USA has a singular executive with no collective decision taking or collective responsibility 2) The cabinet contains 15 heads of fderal government departments, the director of the office of management and budget and the Vice President |
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What are Cabinet members responsible for?
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The departments they head
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What are the functions of the Cabinet? |
1) Implement the presidents agenda in their specialist area 2) Appear before the Congressional Committees to represent the president get funding and support for the presidents policies |
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How is the Cabinet selected? |
1) Presidents select their cabinet secretaries when the spoils of office are distributed 2) They will be policy specialists chosen for their expertise. They may not be politically experienced but will need some political skills to carry out there role |
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Who confirms Cabinet member appointments?
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The Senate
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If approved by Senate and the member takes their position in the Cabinet, what must they do?
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Resign from office as they can not be in the Separation of Powers
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How important is the Cabinet to the President? |
1) Power of the cabinet is not fixed, it depends on variables such as the personalities involved or the governing style of the President 2) For an inexperienced Washington outsider President they will be willing to delegate to strong experienced cabinet members e.g GWB |
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What is EXOP? |
EXOP (Executive Office of the President) is an umbrella term covering the various offices that developed after the observation of the 1937 Brownlow Committee |
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How does EXOP function?
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1) EXOP has been described as the principal instrument of presidential government. 2) EXOP is used to direct and control the executive branch 3) Presidents personal bureacracy- loyal only to him as the appointments aren't ratified |
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What is the White House Office (part of EXOP)? |
1) 'Invisible presidency', its made up of the presidents closest aids 2) The key figure is the head of staff but it also includes the presidents speech writers , congressional liason team and press officers |
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What are the functions of the White House Office?
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1) Acting as a gate keepers, controlling access to the president( Nixons key aides 'Berlin Wall') 2) Decide policy strategy and priorities for the President 3) Build support for the President's proposals in Congress |
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What is the National Security Council? |
1) Head by the National Security Adviser 2) Advises the president on foreign policy and 3) Competes with the State Department and the Defence Department for the ear of the President |
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What is the Office of Management and Budget (part of EXOP)?
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1) OBM constructs the Federal Budget thus co-ordinating the legislative priorities and spending plans of the Federal Government departments and agencies 2) OMB can be in conflict with the treasury secretary or the council of economic advisors |
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Why is EXOP so important to the President? |
The president relies on the advice and expertise of EXOP as an alternative to the cabinet secretaries, who may have conflicting interests |
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What criticisms are made of EXOP? |
1) The president can become remote, isolated and overprotected from the realities 2) EXOP is unelected and unaccountable, only a few of its members are subject to senate ratification |
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What is the role of the Federal Bureaucracy? |
Consists of the officials in the federal government departments, executive agencies and regulatory commissions who are employed by the state to advise on and carry out the policies of the political executive, thus exercising bureaucratic power |
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What factors make for an effective President? |
1) High popular vote mandate at the last election and approval ratings between elections 2) Party control of both houses of Congress 3) Charismatic on Television and in the media |
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The presidents relations with Congress |
1) Neustadt said 'the presidents power is the power to persuade' 2) The founding fathers desire for cooperation and compromise between these two branches of government 'ambition must counteract ambition' but it often leads to inaction and gridlock |
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Who and how can the President use people to persuade for him or her? |
1) Use the Vice President. The VP is the President of the senate so they have a foothold in Congress 2) Members of the Office of Legislative Affairs who work as full time lobbyists for the president on Capitol Hill |
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What perks of the President can be used for persuasion? |
1) Personal phone calls. e.g Clinton calling Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky to cast the crucial 218th vote for the passage of his budget 2) Might offer help with legislation that benefits the constituents of a member of Congress |
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What are the results of Presidential persuasion? |
1) Presidential support score measure how often the President won in recored votes 2) Presidential support tends to decline during the term and is higher if the President's part controls both houses of Congress |
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What are the score limitations of Presidential persuasion? |
1) It doesn't measure the importance of the votes 2) The score does not count votes that fail to come to a vote on the floor of either house. Carter announced a position in over 300 votes wheras Obama only annouced a position in 184 in 2011 |
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Why's the job of getting support for the President legislation become harder? |
1) Declining levels of party discipline in Congress 2) Higher levels of partisanship in Congress 3) Members of Congress are now more aware of their constituents wishes |
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What was the partisan Presidency's relations with Congress in the past? |
The system used to be characterised by biparisanship and cooperation because Republicans could get support from conservative Democrats and visa versa, with cross party support. 37 House Democrats voted for Reagan's 25% tax rate cut
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What's the partisan Presidency's relations with Congress now? |
Weak cohesion between the parties. No Republicans voted for Obamacare and only 3 Republican Senator voted for the economics stimulus package and only 3 Republicans in the Senate and 3 in the House voted for the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform act |
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What's partisanship done to voting at elections? |
The president no longer receives votes from across party lines. In 1976 20% of Democrats voted for the Republican incumbent Ford. However since 2000 no Democrat candidate has received less than 86% of the Democratic vote and no Republican candidate less than 90% |
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What's partisanship done to the Presidential approval rating? |
1) Second year of Carter's presidency 58% approval rating in in Democrats and 28% in the Republicans 2) In GWB's 4th year he averaged a 91% approval rating amongst Republicans and only a 15 % amongst Democrats. This shows greater difference now then in the 1970's |
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What is partisanship's effect on the White House? |
1) Presidential aides and advisers were known for their neutral competence. White House staff were known for having a passion for anonymity 2) Now they are more categorised as ideological salesman rather than as neutral administrators |
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What is partisanship's effect on the media? |
1) The old media was largely objective with 'Uncle Walter' (Cronkite) of CBS Evening News once named the most trusted man in America 2) Now the alternative media is characterised by partisan political reporting. With the electorate listening to stations that suit there ideology |
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What are the effects of the partisan Presidency? |
Makes life harder for the President. Because the number of persuadable minds in Cngress and the country has sharply declined |
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An international agreement reached by the president with one or more foreign heads of state and does not require senate approval, though most of these deal with routine matters such as minor trade agreements. What is the extra constitutional powers of the President that relates to Foreign policy? |
Executive agreements |
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The President does this through set speeches, the inaugural address or the of union address. E.G GWB talking about the axis of evil in the 2002 state of the Union address following the 9/11 attacks. What is the extra constitutional powers of the President that relates to Foreign policy?
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Setting the tone |
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Some to the executive branch have foreign policy implications, such as secretary of state, secretary of defense, secretary of homeland security, director of the CIA and all the ambassador whom the president appoints. What is this extra constitutional powers of the President that relates to Foreign policy?
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Appointments
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What is Congress' relationship with foreign policy? |
1) Congress has the power to declare war and agree to budgets and to investigate 2) The Senate has powers to confirm appointments and to ratify treaties 3) The War Powers Act was largely ineffective |
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What are the four broad categories the Federal Bureaucracy is made of?
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1) Independent Regulatory Commissions 2) Executive Agencies 3) Government Co-operations 4) Executive Departments |
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They are administratively independent of the branches of federal government. They operate behind barriers created by Congress to shield them from direct presidential control. What category of the Federal Bureaucracy is this? |
Independent Regulatory Commissions |
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These provide commercial functions such as the United States Postal Service. What category of the Federal Bureaucracy is this?
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Government Co-operations, they are split in to 2 tiers: -Executive agencies -Regulatory commissions |
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The heads of these are designated as the secretary with the exception of the justice department. They are made up of two tiers, the first tier comprising of state,treasury, defence and justice and the second tier comprising of all the rest. The first tier is the most prestigious. What category of the Federal Bureaucracy is this?
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Executive Department
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They are very similar to executive departments except their head are called directors. A number of these have been upgraded to executive department. What category of the Federal Bureaucracy is this?
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Executive Agency
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Explain the main problems with the Federal Bureaucracy? |
1) Agencies tend to serve who they are supposed to be overseeing 2) Agencies tend to be parochial, having narrow interests on their own goals 3) Most agencies are know for acting slowly and cautiously |
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How did the Federal Bureaucracy develop? |
They have grown in the 20th century, brought about by industrialisation, immigration, westward expansion, the New Deal and the development of modern means of communication such as road, rail and air as well as telephone, radio and other electronic media. Also the USA role as a world superpower has added to those responsibilities. |
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Define the Federal Bureaucracy? |
The unelected, administrative part of the executive branch of the federal government, made up if departments, agencies and commissions that carry out policy on a day to day basis. The word bureaucracy has overtones of red tape, systems dedicated to routine, resistance to change and inefficiency |
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What are the functions of the federal bureaucracy? |
1) Executing laws 2) Creating rules 3) Adjudication |
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The federal bureaucracy make sure that laws are carried out. For example mail delivery through the Unites States Postal Service,This is the principal function of the executive departments. What is this function of the Federal Bureaucracy? |
Executing laws
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Legislators usually establish broad principals of policy. Bureaucrats write the specific rules that decide how the laws will be executed. What is this function of the Federal Bureaucracy?
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Creating rules
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In executing laws and creating rules disputes will inevitably arise the federal bureaucracy adjudicate such disputes. What is this function of the Federal Bureaucracy? |
Adjudication
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Who are the personnel of the Federal Bureaucracy? |
1) 1978 civil service reform act established the office of personal management to manage those who work within the federal bureaucracy. It overseas the evaluation, investigation, training and retirement programmes 2) However civil service recruitment is more decentralised and politicised |
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What is an Iron Triangle? |
An iron triangle is a strong relationship between special interests, congressional committees and the related agency in a given policy area for the mutual benefit of the 3 parties. |
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What is an example of an Iron Triangle?
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The relationship between defence contractors, The House and Senate armed services committees and the Defence Department which results in a large national defence budget |
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Define going native? |
A term used to refer to a political situation in which political appointees cease to be advocates of the politician that appointed them and instead become advocates for the bureaucracies and the special interests associated with their policy area |
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How can going native be prevented?
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Appoint close and trusted friends to key posts in the federal bureaucracy
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How the Federal Bureaucracy inefficient? |
1) The pay of federal civil servants is determined more by the length of their job than by job performance 2) FB's inefficiency was on display with its response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, because Bush had appointed the administrator of FEMA on the basis of cronyism |
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Who checks the power of the Federal Bureaucracy and how do they do it? |
1) Congress has legislative power to establish, merge or abolish departments and agencies 2) Congress can use the power of the purse to finance departments and agencies as well as its power of oversight to investigate federal departments and agencies |
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Define the cabinet? |
The advisory group selected by the president to aid him in the decisions and coordinating the work of federal government, membership of which is determined by both tradition and presidential discretion |
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What are the constraints on the President's power of appointment? |
1) Appointments have to be made in the two month transition period between Election and the Inauguration day 2) Recess appointments are only temporary, subject to Senate confirmation. Congress sat for 1 minute a week to stop Obama from making recess appointments in 2013 |
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What cases have effected the President's power of appointment? |
1) 1926 Myers v United States gave the President wide powers to remove executive branch employees 2) 1958 Wiener v United States, if an official sphere of responsibility include adjudicative functions the president cannot remove the official for political reasons |
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Examples of the power of reorganisation |
1) 1949 Reorganisation Act gave the president the power to reorganise and restructure the federal bureaucracy 2) 1978 Civil Service Reform Act cut some of the ties between senior bureaucrats, the departments and agencies and influencial interest groups |
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What are the delays in Presidential appointments? |
The process has been slowed down which leaves positions unfilled for long periods. Average confirmation time for nominees to the circuit Courts of Appeal was 64.5 days under Reagan for Obama it is over 227.3 days 2) Growing numbers of nominees have not only been delayed but blocked |
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Why does the Cabinet have little overall significance? |
1) President is the soul source of political authority 2) Cabinet has no formal or established role, and its not always trusted or respected by the President 3) President has more loyal members in EXOP |
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What are the tensions between the Cabinet and EXOP? |
1) Issue of geographic proximity as EXOP is located closer to the President 2) Members of the cabinet have to manage their departments while dealing with the demands of congress which determines their budget, which are pressures that EXOP staff avoid |
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What are the criticisms of Obama's appointments to the White House Office? |
Obama's West Wing is inexperienced: -22 of the 39 top positions in the White House Office are taken by people involved in Obama's Presidential campaign or transition team |
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What are Executive orders? |
Executive orders are directives, issued by the president to the federal bureaucracy in which they are given guidance on their role of executing and applying legislation |
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What are the limits on the Presidential Powers to issue executive orders? |
1) The US Appeals court ruled that executive orders were intended primarily as a managerial tool so it didnt give them the effect of law 2) Clinton issued executive order in 1995 that banned federal agencies using cotractors that replaced lawful striking officials, this clashed with the National Labour Relations Act |
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What are the highs of Obama's Presidency? |
1) Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, making him the first President to achieve comprehensive healthcare reform in March 2010 2) US forces killed Osama Bin Laden in May 2011, which pushed approval ratings up to 56% |
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What are the lows of Obama's Presidency?
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1) Congress blocked the funding necessary to suspend the operations of Guantanamo Bay 2) Democrats lost 63 seats in the House which was the highest loss for 80 years 3) US credit rating was downgraded for the first time in American history in August 2011 |
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What happened in October 2013?
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Government ran out of money and so shutdown for 16 days, US credit rating downgraded from A to A-
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Joe Biden's Vice presidency |
1) He balanced the ticket for Obama. 36 years in the Senate and chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, Catholic faith, race and average Joe personality 2) He has visited Asia which shows Obama has real faith in him as a diplomat |
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How powerful was the Bush Presidency? |
Neo imperial Presidency: - Signing statements which state how agencies and government commissions should interpret an act increased to 435 in Bush's first term. Some suggest that these represent a resurrected form of the line item veto but maybe this is going to far |
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How have expectations of Presidential leadership increased exponentially since 1933? |
1) The Presidents constitutional powers have remained the same but practical power and resources have increased substantially 2) Presidents invariably raise expectations of personal success in election campaigns, promising to be transformational rather than transactional figures |
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Define Clientelism? |
Where close links are developed between agencies and those they are supposed to be regulating ('agency capture') |
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What factors have increased presidential power? |
1) Laws passed by Congress have added to presidential powers. E.G 1946 Employment Act 2) Acquired emergency powers. 1976 Emergencies Powers Act 3) The elastic character of the constitution, especially on the general welfare of the USA |
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How often does Senate reject Cabinet appointments?
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Senate rejection of presidential nominees is rare and has only happened twice since 1945 the most recent being John Tower in 1989, however President have been known to withdrawn nominations they feel might be rejected like Susan Rice 2013
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How is the Cabinet selected?
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1) Presidents can choose their cabinet members from a much larger pool than in the UK 2) However Congress decides the size and the make up of the cabinet |
