REVIEW TOPIC #6

1. REVIEW TOPIC #6 THE PRESIDENCY

2. CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS

3. FINANCING CAMPAIGNS • Pres. Campaigns only ones to receive Fed money • Must conform to FECA and FEC rules • In recent elections some candidates not taking public funds for primaries because they can raise more funds privately • Still generally use Fed money for general election • Obama became first candidate not to use Fed money for general election

4. 1999 QUESTION • Public monies are used to help finance which of the following campaigns? • Presidential • Congressional • Gubernatorial • I only • II only • I and II only • II and III only • I,II, and III Answer: A

5. VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CHOICES • Often an effort to please some constituency within party (Ex. region, ideology) • Can add balance and appeal to ticket (Ex. Cheney because of strong foreign policy background; Palin because she was conservative and a woman)

6. 1999 QUESTION • When selecting a vice-presidential candidate, a presidential nominee is usually concerned primarily with choosing a running mate who • Has significant personal wealth • Adds balance and appeal to the nat. ticket • Comes from the same ideological wing of the party as the Pres • Can serve as the most important domestic policy advisor to the Pres • Can effectively preside over the Senate Answer: B

7. ELECTORAL COLLEGE • Formal const election of Pres. • Winner-take-all in 48 of 50 states • System can result in win in EC but loss of pop vote (ex. 2000) • Also means a candidate with plurality of pop vote can win • Candidates focus on competitive and highly populated states

8. 2002 QUESTION • Which of the following is a result of the electoral college system? • The winner of the presidency often lacks a majority of the pop. Vote • Candidates focus on one-party states in which they can win most of the electoral votes. • The House of Reps frequently chooses the Pres from the top three candidates • Candidates focus on the states with the largest populations • Campaign spending increases because candidates emphasize television advertising Answer: D

9. PRESIDENTIAL POWERS

10. NATIONAL SECURITY/FOREIGN POLICY

11. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF • Founders wanted civilian leader of army • Irony: Pres with little or no military background have been more aggressive (ex. Bush vs. Eisenhower) • Power has broadened with expansion of military technology

12. DEPLOY TROOPS • Implied in commander-in-chief power • Can deploy troops without Congressional approval • War Powers Act was Congressional response to increasing deployment of troops since WW2 (details later)

13. NEGOTIATE TREATIES • Pres has sole power to negotiate treaties • Senate must confirm and sometimes refuses (ex. Treaty of Versailles)

14. APPOINT AMBASSADORS • Done with approval of Senate • Importance of key countries (plum book)

15. 2002 QUESTION • The Pres can do which of the following without seeking the consent of either the House or the Senate? • Ratify a treaty • Appoint ambassadors • Appoint district court judges • Deploy troops • Declare war Answer: D

16. WAR POWERS RESOLUTION • 1973 law requiring Pres to consult Congress prior to using military force if possible • Withdraw forces after 60 days unless declaration of war or extension given • Pres often ignores; would probably be found unconstitutional

17. 1994 QUESTION • The War Powers Resolution (1973) was designed to • Allow the Joint Chiefs of Staff to advise the Pres during period of conflict • Allow Congress to suspend certain civil liberties during times of war • Require a congressional declaration of war before allowing military forces to be used overseas • Assure congressional involvement in decisions committing military forces in hostile situations overseas • Ensure funding for military operations lasting more than 60 days Answer: D

18. EXECUTIVE AGREEMENTS (informal power) • Pres negotiates with heads of foreign govts • Do not require Senate ratification (as treaties do) • Most are over routine and informal matters (ex. Food transport) • Occasionally controversial (ex. Vietnam peace agreement) • May require Congressional funding

19. 1994 QUESTION • Which of the following is true of an executive agreement made between a US Pres and another head of state? A. It does not require Senate approval, but may require congressional allocation of funds for implementation B. It does not require congressional funding because the Pres can use the power of the purse to raise implementation funds C. It has more legal force than a treaty D. It is binding on all succeeding Presidents and Congresses E. It has been used extensively to end armed conflicts

20. CONT’D Answer: A

21. LEGISLATIVE • State of the Union Address (sets political agenda) • Convene both houses of Congress/Adjourn Congress • Veto

22. ADMINISTRATIVE • “faithfully execute laws” • Nominate cabinet heads and other officials (with confirmation of Senate)

23. JUDICIAL

24. APPOINT JUDGES • Senatorial Courtesy for district courts • Confirmation fights in Senate under divided govt • Best way for Pres to change direction of judicial branch

25. SELECTION OF JUDGES • Perhaps Pres’ most important legacy • Pres relies on Attorney General and Justice Dept to identify and screen candidates

26. EXECUTIVE BRANCH/CHIEF EXECUTIVE • Pres is head of entire branch of govt • Includes thousands of people

27. CABINET • Pres’ official advisors, though Pres goals can conflict with cabinet agencies • 14 secretaries and Attorney General • Not mentioned in Const, but all Pres have had a cabinet

28. 1999 QUESTION • Cabinet members often do not have a dominant influence on presidential decision-making because • Cabinet members generally maintain close independent ties to Congress • Cabinet members generally view their position only as a stepping-stone to further their own political ambitions • Cabinet members are not permitted to disagree publicly with the Pres • Presidential goals often conflict with the institutional goals of individual cabinet level agencies • Only half of all cabinet members can be members of the Pres’ party Answer: D

29. NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL • Post WW2 • Coordinates foreign and military policy • Pres, VP, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, etc • Managed by National Security Advisor

30. COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS • 3 member body appointed by Pres to advise on economic policy (ex. Inflation, unemployment) • Chosen because they are sympathetic to Pres’ philosophy

31. OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET • Consists of small number of political appointees and hundreds of career professionals • Prepare Pres budget

32. WHITE HOUSE STAFF • Also called White House Office/West Wing • Key aides the Pres sees daily (Chief of Staff, Press Secretary, etc) • 100s of others who perform routine services • Generally chosen for loyalty to Pres

33. 1994 QUESTION • In selecting members of the White House staff, Presidents primarily seek people who • Give the White House ideological balance • Are personally loyal to the Pres • Have extensive govt. experience • Will help the Pres develop a good working relationship with Congress • Can bring a nonpartisan perspective to policy deliberations Answer: B

34. WHEEL AND SPOKES • Many aides have equal status • Democratic but not efficient • Ex. Carter, Kennedy

35. HIERARCHICAL • Also called pyramidal • Only a small group get access to Pres • Chief of Staff sees that everyone is doing job • Efficient but not democratic • Ex. Reagan

36. PRESIDENT AS LEGISLATOR

37. CHIEF LEGISLATOR • Has ability to shape policy agenda (though does not have a vote in Congress)

38. SIGN A BILL • Makes it law • If it’s a bill that Pres strongly approves of, there is much “pomp and circumstance” • Ex. Civil Rights Act of 1964

39. VETO • Sends it back to Congress with reasons for rejecting it • Congress overrides fewer than 10% of Pres veto • Vetoed bills are often revised and passed in another form • Vetoes are often threatened

40. No line item veto • Would permit part of a bill to be vetoed • Clinton v. New York made them unconstitutional (because violates separation of powers) • Many governors have it • Might help control spending

41. POCKET-VETO • If Congress adjourns within 10 days of submission of bill

42. BECOMES A LAW WITHOUT SIGNATURE • After 10 days if Congress is in session

43. 1994 QUESTION • All of the following statements pertaining to the presidential veto are true except: • Congress overrides fewer than 10% of presidential vetoes • A vetoed bill is often revised and passed in another form • Presidents often threaten to veto bills to increase their leverage with Congress • A Pres may veto part of a bill • Congress often places provisions the Pres wants into a bill the Pres dislikes to make a veto less likely Answer: D

44. EXECUTIVE ORDER (informal power) • More informal than law • Regulations and requests that come from Pres and executive branch • Can carry force of law • No Congressional approval needed • Used increasingly since 1970s

45. PARTY AND PUBLIC SUPPORT

46. LEADER OF POLITICAL PARTY • Pres is natural leader of his party • Depends on influence to get legislation passed

47. APPROVAL RATINGS • Pres ratings tend to fall during term • Pres with low approval ratings find it difficult to influence Congress • High ratings mean much influence with Congress

48. HONEYMOON PERIOD • 1st few months of an administration • When there is often good will between Pres and Congress • Best time to pass legislation

49. CRISIS • Tendency of Congress and people to support Pres during crisis • Ex. 9/11 and Patriot Act

50. RALLY EVENTS • Events related to international relations • Specific, dramatic, focused