Chapter 12

What is the only formal duty of the vice president?

To preside over the Senate

Which constitutional amendment required that the president and vice president be chosen separately?

Twelfth Amendment An amendment to the Constitution, adopted in 1804, that requires the separate election of the president and the vice president by the electoral college.

What states that if a president believes that he or she is incapable of performing the duties of office, the president must inform Congress in writing and then the vice president serves as acting president until the president can resume normal duties?

Twenty-fifth AmendmentA 1967 amendment to the Constitution that establishes procedures for filling presidential and vice-presidential vacancies and makes provisions for presidential incapacity.

Which function includes the president's requirement to fill specific government offices or positions, such as vacancies on the Supreme Court?

Appointment power

How are candidates for president and vice president nominated?

Candidates are nominated at national conventions every four years.

The ability of the president to make agreements with foreign nations come from which function of the presidency?

Chief diplomat power

Who has the power to impeach the president?

House of Representatives According to the Constitution, the impeachment process begins in the House, which impeaches (accuses) the federal officer involved. If the House votes to impeach the officer, it draws up articles of impeachment and submits them to the Senate, which conducts the actual trial.

If both the president and vice president die, resign, or are disabled, who will become president?

If the president and vice president die, resign, or are disabled, the Speaker of the House will become president, after resigning from Congress.

What is true regarding the president's veto power?

If the president vetoes a bill, Congress can override the president's objections with a two-thirds vote.

Which president(s) were impeached, convicted, and removed from office?

None

If you loyally served on new President Jones' campaign and raised vast amounts of donations by hosting fundraisers in your community, you might receive a presidential appointment within her cabinet. What power would you be benefiting from in this scenario?

Patronage

Any U.S. citizen, who is at least thirty-five years of age and has been a U.S. resident for at least fourteen years, meets the constitutional requirements to service in which office?

President

Which scenario best describes a president's role as commander in chief?

President Clinton's ordering of missile attacks on terrorist bases

In 1868, President Andrew Johnson issued a blanket amnesty to all former Confederate soldiers. Which presidential power is this an example of?

Reprieves and pardons

Which statement regarding the president and "going public" is correct?

Since the early 1900s, presidents have spoken more to the public and less to Congress.

The president is required by the Constitution to act as chief legislator by setting the congressional agenda and communicating his goals to the American people. How does the president communicate this message?

State of the Union messageAn annual message to Congress in which the president proposes a legislative program. The message is addressed not only to Congress but also to the American people and to the world.

What is the president's formal advisory group, usually made up of the heads of major governmental departments, as well as others chosen by the president?

cabinetAn advisory group selected by the president to aid in making decisions. The cabinet includes the heads of fifteen executive departments and others named by the president.

Presidential powers that are derived from statements in the Constitution but are not law are an example of what type of powers?

inherent powers A power of the president derived from the statements in the Constitution that "the executive Power shall be vested in a President" and that the president should "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed"; defined through practice rather than through law.

If Congress presents a tax bill to President Trump, but he perceives portions of the bill to be unconstitutional, he can still sign the bill, but highlight sections he believes are unconstitutional. What is this an example of?

signing statementA written declaration that a president may make when signing a bill into law. Such statements may point out sections of the law that the president deems unconstitutional.

If Candidate A, a Republican, Candidate B, a Democrat, and Candidate C, an independent, are running for president, but no candidate wins a majority of votes in the electoral college, then who chooses the president?

ty. At that point, the House of Representatives takes over, and the president is then chosen from among the three candidates having the most electoral college votes

A power created for the president by a law enacted through Congress, such as the ability to declare a national emergency, is which type of power?

Inherent power

What is the most common previous occupational field of presidents in the United States?

Lawyer

Which statement regarding the president's cabinet is true?

The Constitution does not require the president to consult with the cabinet.

Which organization provides staff assistance for the chief executive, helps to coordinate the executive bureaucracy, and contains offices such as the Office of the Vice President and the White House Office?

The Executive Office of the President

Who does the president share the power with when negotiating treaties with foreign nations?

The president has the sole power to negotiate treaties with other nations. These treaties must be presented to the Senate. A two-thirds vote is required in the Senate for approval, or ratification. After ratification, the president can approve the treaty as adopted by the Senate.