Ap gov chapter 14

After reading the handout on "Restraining the Imperial Presidency," make a list of the ways that the Congress tried to limit the president's powers in the past 30 years.

-Congress has tried to limit the president's powers in the past 30 years by...... -The right to wage war -The power to lift sanctions -The power to collect voting data

Explain the differences in the three audiences that the president speaks to.

-Washington and fellow politicians hold more weight in changing other people's opinions - party activists and politicians outside of Washington-president has to keep this group on his side because they fund his campaign and give him support -the public-each person has different beliefs. If the president has won the first two groups, this group will follow.

What 2 presidents have been impeached? What were the charges that were brought against them, and what were the results.

Andrew Johnson, and Bill Clinton, have been impeached. The charges brought against Andrew Johnson were that he fired someone who he did not have the right to fire, the result was that he was impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act. The charges brought against Clinton were that he had an inappropriate relationship with a white house intern. The result was that he was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice for lying under oath and misinterpreting the truth.

How does the difference between representative and direct democracy explain gridlock?

Gridlock is typically a consequence of representative democracy. This system causes delays in government and it often forces compromises.

Explain the reasons why the president's popularity does and does not have an effect on getting congressional support for his programs.

If the president is popular, the more likely his bills will pass through congress. But at the same time the president doesn't have an affect because he cannot give rewards or penalties to congressmen.

What is the opinion, of most politicians, about holding the position of vice president?

Most politicians think that the vice-president is a rather empty job

How did Nixon use impoundment and how did Congress respond?

Nixon used impoundment to reduce federal spending. Congress responded by passing the Budget Reform Act of 1974.

Why is there a tension between the White House staff and cabinet secretaries?

Staff members see themselves as extensions of the president's personality and ideals. Secretaries see themselves as repositories of expert knowledge. Staffers often take the position that they know the president will take instead of looking at what the experts say.

What are the three constraints on the president's ability to plan a program?

The 3 constraints are the sheer limit of his time and attention span, the unexpected crisis, and that the federal government and most federal programs can only be changed marginally.

What are the four groups that the book talks about who have input on a president's program?

The 4 groups that have an input on a president's program, are interest groups, aids and campaign advisors, federal bureaus and agencies, and outside, specialist, academic and other specialists and experts.

What has the Supreme Court said about executive privilege?

The Supreme Court says that executive privilege derives from the president's ability to carry out the duties he holds under the Constitution.

What concerns did the Founders have about the idea of having of president? How did the creation of the Electoral College allay those fears?

The founders fears both an anarchy and a monarchy. They feared that the president would use the military to overpower state governments, or that the president would be too strong or too weak. The electoral college cured some of the fears because they knew that with it, informed electors would always have the final say about the president.

Explain how much influence the president has over his cabinet officials and agency heads.

The president has a lot of influence over his cabinet. The president chooses who is in it, and can "request" that they resign.

List the differences between a president and a prime minister

The prime minister is chosen by parliament while the president is elected by voters, and the prime minister is an "insider" while the president is often an "outsider".

What are the problems of succession? How were they solved? What is the present line of succession if the president should die in office

The problems of succession are what if the president gets ill but doesn't die, and if the president steps up, who then becomes the new vice president. They are solved by the 25 amendment. The present line is that if the president should die, that the vice president should take over and appoint a new vice president.

What is the role of political polls in decision-making?

The roles of political polls in decision making are that because of them some politicians act on the basis of what their constituents want.

What are the three structures for a president to organize his staff?

The three structures for a president to organize his staff are the pyramid structure, circular structure, ad hoc structure.

Why do we still have gridlock, even with a unified government?

We can still have gridlock because there are still struggles between branches of government.