POLS Ch. 11

How much of the Senate is needed to vote for impeachment?

2/3

Why is it difficult for Congress to overcome presidential opposition to a bill?

2/3 is threshold is higher than the majority vote needed to pass a bill in the first place

What does the veto power serve as?

A gateway for presidential influence in the legislative process

What does a clemency include?

A pardon and a commutation (shortening of a federal prison sentence) A pardon is considered more of a clemency than commutation

What is needed first in order for bully pulpit to be successful?

A receptive audience

How has public opinion shifted in regards to foreign affairs?

Against intervening in foreign conflicts = less support for presidential military action on foreign soil

Which 2 presidents have been impeached?

Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton

Who was Imperial Presidency suggested by?

Arthur Schlesinger

Pocket Veto

Automatic veto that occurs when Congress goes out of session within ten days of submitting a bill to the president and the president has not signed it

What is a president likely to do as a lame duck?

Chart an unpopular policy course because he doesn't have to face voters

Who forms the bridges between Congress and the president?

Chief of staff

What are 2 key characteristics the public likes to see in the president?

Communication and negotiation

Who has general oversight of the executive branch?

Congress

What is the result of the public looking inward and focusing on domestic policy?

Congress and the president stand on more balanced scales

What other flaw exists besides the 90 day limit?

Congress doesn't have the power to end military conflict except by denying funding

What two types of signing statements exist?

Constitutional and nonconstitutitonal

What are some forms of presidential directives?

Executive Orders Proclamations Military Orders

New Deal

FDR's program for ending the Great Depression through government intervention in the economy and development of a set of safety-net programs for individuals

Entitlement Programs

Federal programs, such as Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, that pay out benefits to individuals based on a specified set of eligibility criteria

Pardon

Full forgiveness of a crime

How did the Great Society expand the idea of the New Deal?

Further connected the individual to the federal government

What are president's more likely to do in giving pardons?

Give them in their first term of office to seem tougher

Where does impeachment begin?

House of Representatives

What is the one crime the president cannot forgive?

Impeachment from federal office

What does the impeachment process with Richard Nixon show?

Impeachment is rarely used but a powerful instrument to hold the president accountable

In what conditions are presidents most likely to use presidential directive?

In conditions of divided government or interbranch policy conflict

What is important about being commander in chief?

It is an ELECTED position rather than an appointed military officer

How does presidential term limit act as a gate?

It keeps people from voting for a popular president

How does the War Powers Act serve as a gate?

It stands in the way of the president launching war without congressional support

Great Society

LBJ's program for expanding the federal social welfare programs in health care, education, and housing and for ending poverty

Commander in chief

Leader of the armed forces of the United States

What are lawmakers likely to do towards "lame ducks"?

Less likely to cooperate/compromise with him

What is the advantage of lame duck status?

More presidential political freedom

What is a constitutional statements?

Mores serious statements to indicate a disagreement with Congress (challenges Congress' authority)

As the chief executive power grew, what was it focused on?

National defense and economic growth

What is unique about the 2 presidents impeached?

Neither was convicted and both remained in office

Bully pulpit

Nickname for the power for the president to use the attention associated with the office to persuade the media, Congress, and the public to support his policy positions

Are signing statements required or authorized by the Constitution?

No

Do presidential directives require congressional approval?

No

Is Executive Privilege absolute?

No

Is the president required to give the State of the Union address at a specified periodical time?

No Also not told he has to address in person

Presidential directive

Official instructions from the president regarding federal policy

When does the 90 day limit begin?

Once the president has officially reported the troop engagement to Congress

Omnibus Bill

One very large bill that encompasses many separate bills

Chief of staff

Person who coordinates and oversees interactions among the president, his personal staff, and his cabinet secretaries

Imperial presidency

Power of the president to speak for the nation on the world stage and set the policy agenda at home

What is the disadvantage of lame duck status?

President less directly responsive to public opinion

Executive Privilege

President's right to engage in confidential communications with his advisers

How are the war powers divided?

President: direct war efforts Congress: officially declares war and funds it

Executive Order

Presidential directive that usually involves implementing a specific law

What two things create tension between the president and Congress and between the president and the judiciary?

Presidential directives and signing statements because they are an expansion of presidential power

Impeachment

Process whereby the House brings charges against the president or another federal official that will, upon conviction by the Senate, remove him or her from office

What does the high threshold signify?

Reinforces power of the president in blocking congressional action

State of the Union address

Speech on the condition of the country given by the president to Congress every January

What is a non constitutional statement?

Symbolic statement or provide technical instructions

Lame Duck

Term-limited official in his/her last term of office

Who holds the trial for impeachment?

The Senate

What 2 things is the president in regards to foreign policy?

The face and the authority

What did Schlesinger say the president was?

The most important figure in American politics as long as he is engaged in military conflicts to promote and protect the nation's interests

What is Congress' ultimate check on the president?

The power to remove him from office

What is the justification for Executive Privilege?

The president must make difficult choices and many not receive or deliver the fullest information in the course of his deliberations

What is the most direct way that the president checks the power of Congress?

The veto

Why is the omnibus bill costly to the veto power?

They affect a wide range of voters and generate a lot of public support (so its easier for Congress to negotiate with the president)

Head of state

Title given to the president as national leader

What is the key to bully pulpit?

To explain the policy in simple and accessible terms To get the public's attention To frame the issue in a favorable way according to their policy

What 2 ways does a president use a veto?

To prevent a bill from becoming a law and to pressure Congress into changing a bill to being closer to his policies and views of the national interest

What does presidential term limits enforce?

Turnover and opportunity for new leadership

What type of power is the presidential directive?

Unilateral power

What does Congress do to get around the threat of a presidential veto?

Using the Omnibus bill

What two events expanded the authority of the president?

WWII and the Cold War

Signing Statements

Written remarks issued by the president when signing a bill into law that often reflect his interpretation of how the law should be implemented

Is the State of the Union address authorized/required by the Constitution?

Yes

Veto

authority of the president to block legislation passed by Congress. Congress can override a veto by a two-thirds majority in each chamber

What do presidents use the State of the Union address to do?

opportunity to outline a broad policy agenda for the nation

War Powers Act

the 1973 act which provides that the president cannot send troops into military conflict for more than a total of ninety days without seeking a formal declaration of war, or authorization for continued military action, from Congress