Unit 4 Short Answers

How has the role of the Cabinet changed over time?

The cabinet has grown from 4 to 16 members. In recent years, presidents have relied less on their cabinets for advice because today they have other advisory bodies such as the Executive Office of the President.

What are the main roles modern presidents fulfill? How does he fulfill each?

1. Chief of State This role requires a president to be an inspiring example for the American people. As the American Chief of State, the president is a living symbol of the nation. It is considered a great honor for any citizen to shake the president's hand. Examples of Responsibilities: Awarding medals to the winners of college scholarships Congratulating astronauts on their journey into space Greeting visitors to the White House Making a patriotic speech on the Fourth of July 2. Chief Executive The president is the "boss" for thousands of government workers in the Executive Branch. He or she decides how the laws of the United States are to be enforced and chooses officials and advisors to help run the Executive Branch. Examples of Responsibilities: Appointing someone to serve as head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Holding a Cabinet meeting to discuss government business Reading reports about problems of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 3. Chief Diplomat The president decides what American diplomats and ambassadors shall say to foreign governments. With the help of advisors, the president makes the foreign policy of the United States. Examples of Responsibilities: Traveling to London to meet with British leaders Entertaining French diplomats in the White House Writing a message or a letter to the leaders of Russia 4. Commander-In-Chief The president is in charge of the U.S. Armed Forces: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. The president decides where troops shall be stationed, where ships shall be sent, and how weapons shall be used. All military generals and admirals take their orders from the president. Examples of Responsibilities: Inspecting a Navy yard Deciding, in wartime, whether to bomb foreign cities Calling out troops to stop a riot at the request of the state's legislature or governor 5. Legislative Leader Only Congress has the actual power to make laws, but the Constitution gives the president power to influence Congress in its lawmaking. Presidents may urge Congress to pass new laws or veto bills that they do not favor. Examples of Responsibilities: Inviting members of Congress to lunch in the White House Signing a bill of Congress Making a speech in Congress 6. Chief of Party In this role, the president helps members of his or her political party get elected or appointed to office. The president campaigns for those members who have supported his or her policies. At the end of a term, the president may campaign for reelection. Examples of Responsibilities: Choosing leading party members to serve in the Cabinet Traveling to California to speak at a rally for a party nominee to the U.S. Senate 7. Chief Economic Leader In this role, the president is concerned with such things as unemployment, high prices, taxes, business profits, and the general prosperity of the country. The president does not control the economy but is expected to help it run smoothly. Examples of Responsibilities: Meeting with economic advisors to discuss ways to reduce unemployment Meeting with business and labor leaders to discuss their needs and problems

Describe Framers' original plan for selection of the president and vice president

According to the Framers' original plan, the President and Vice President were to be chosen by a special body of presidential electors. These electors would be chosen in each state. Each state would have as many electors as it has senators and representatives in Congress. These electors would each cast two electoral votes, each for a different candidate. The person with the most votes would be President. The person the second largest number of votes would become Vice President. The Framers believed the electors chosen by each state would be informed and respected citizens.

What are informal sources of presidential power?

Along with the office's formal powers are given by the Constitution, the President also has various informal powers including the ability to enact a legislative agenda, executive orders, sending out troops without a declaration of war, and conducting foreign policy initiatives.

What powers does the Constitution grant to the executive branch and the president?

Article II of the U.S. Constitution gives the executive branch the power to enforce laws. Although government agencies, such as the FBI, CIA, and FDA are all included in the executive branch of government, the ultimate power and responsibility to enforce our nation's laws belong to the president. While our president has the power to enforce the laws of the government, he must make sure he doesn't overstep his authority and do things that the other two branches of the government are responsible for. The president must also make sure that the other two branches of government do not try to do things that only the president can do. The process of one branch of government overseeing other branches of government is known as checks and balances. Presidential powers explicitly listed in the U.S. Constitution include: Being able to veto, or reject, a proposal for a law Appoint federal posts, such as members of government agencies Negotiate foreign treaties with other countries Appoint federal judges Grant pardons, or forgiveness, for a crime

How did historical events lead to changes in the way the POTUS and VPOTUS are selected?

Because of a tie between Jefferson and Burr in the Election of 1800, the 12th Amendment separates the presidential and vice presidential choice

What role does the Cabinet serve?

Established in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, the Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office. The members of the Cabinet also run the Executive Departments, besides the Vice-President and any other advisors.

How does the electoral system work today?

In the Electoral College system, each state gets a certain number of electors based on its total number of representatives in Congress. Each elector casts one electoral vote following the general election; there are a total of 538 electoral votes. The candidate that gets more than half (270) wins the election.

What are the formal and informal qualifications to be president?

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and has had fourteen years of residence. Some informal qualifications are importance and experience in the government or the military.

How does Congress the role of the president in acting as the Commander in Chief?

Only Congress can declare war and sign treaties.

What are the functions of the 15 cabinet departments in the executive branch?

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments-the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.

Describe the Executive Office of the President and major agencies in the Administration.

The Executive Office of the Presidents' job provide the President with the support that he or she needs to govern effectively, the Executive Office of the President (EOP) was created in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Why did the Framers devise an indirect method for electing the President of the United States?

The framers created the Electoral College, because they didn't trust the people to make electoral decisions on their own. Barely anyone was educated and information barely spread. They wanted the president chosen by what they thought of as "enlightened statesmen".

What are the strengths and weakness of the Electoral College System?

The main weakness of one candidate winning the popular vote and the other the electoral vote is the effect such a result can have on the presidency. A considerable part of the president's power comes from the mandate he or she receives through popular election. One strength is that the smaller states get their voices heard and states like California don't have millions of more votes.

How is the president's role as 'Chief Executive' limited by the legislative and judicial branches?

The president can veto any bill passed by Congress and, unless two-thirds in each house vote to override the veto, the bill does not become law. Much of the legislation dealt with by Congress is drafted at the initiative of the executive branch.

How does the president fulfill his role as Chief Diplomat?

The president decides what American diplomats and ambassadors shall say to foreign governments. With the help of advisors, the president makes the foreign policy of the United States. Examples of Responsibilities: Traveling to London to meet with British leaders Entertaining French diplomats in the White House Writing a message or a letter to the leaders of Russia