Chapter 14 study guide
12th Amendment
-regular separate ballots for president and vice-president -ties or no majority for president are decided by the HOUSE from among the top three candidates -ties or no majority for VP are decided by the SENATE from among top two candidates
Problems with the Electoral College
-winner takes all -vote does not actually count -electors vote counts
3 audiences that the president speaks to
1. Audience of Washington DC is of great importance in affecting how much defense the president's views receive, which leads to how much power is able to be wielded. 2. party activists and office holders outside washington want to president to exemplify their principles, trumpet their slogans, appeal to their fears and hopes, and also help them get re-elected. 3. the public: really many publics, each with different views and interests
3 differences between a president and a prime minister
1. US- president is elected for the people, by the people. Prime minster is chosen by the legislature, and he or she in turn selects the other ministers from members of Parliament. 2. Prime ministers are selected by other members already in parliament (insiders) in the US, candidates want to show voters that they are not part of "the mess in Washington" and they are outsiders. 3. presidents do not have a guaranteed majority in the legislature prime ministers party always has the majority in parliament.
3 structures for a president to organize his staff
1. pyramid structure 2. circular structure 3. ad-hoc structure
3 constraints on the president's ability to plan a program?
1. sheer limit of his time and attention span 2. unexpected crisis 3. the federal government and most federal programs, as well as the federal budget, can only be changed marginally, expect in special circumstances.
20th Amendment
Congress begins on January 30th; President starts on January 20th "Lame-duck" Amendment
Presidential powers in Article II
Formal : 1. commander in chief and commission officers 2. grant reprieves and parsons for federal offenses 3. appoint and receive ambassadors 4. sign or veto legislation 5. convene special sessions of congress 6. negotiable treaties 7. appoint cabinet officials and federal judges 8. create budget 9. provide state of the union address 10. execute (enforce) the law informal (not in the constitution): 1. executive privilege- the president may keep secrets (but not if it involves the legislation of. a crime). 2. executive orders- a directive that has the effect of a law 3. executive agreements- agreement between the president and foreign leaders. (can be ended by either country) 4. undeclared wars- presidents take military action without a declaration of war by congress (limitation: the war powers resolution 1973) 5. imperial presidency- the steady increase in presidential powers since the 1930s. occurs most often during a crises or war. 6. bully pulpit- using the news media and social media to take a message directly to the public and gain their support on issues.
What are the constitutional and practical limits on a US president?
He has to advise the Senate to make treaties and appoint judges and ambassadors. Although the president is the commander of the army, he cannot declare war. The practical limits are that he must keep the public happy by doing whatever pleases them.
22nd Amendment
Limits the president to two terms.
25th Amendment
Presidential Succession; Vice Presidential Vacancy; Presidential Inability
How did the creation of the Electoral College allay the fears the Founders had about electing the president?
The electoral college makes electing the president fair. Electoral votes are proportionately distributed but make sure that all states still have a vote. -compromise so that small states would be protected with at least 3 EV -serves as a "check" on a candidate who is popular but may have evil intent -seemed unlikely that citizens would be educated enough to cast informed votes. -forces candidates to carry states and popular vote
pyramid structure
a president's subordinates report to him through a clear chain of command headed by a chief of staff
16th Amendment
income tax
what 4 groups have input on a president's program?
interest groups, aides and campaign advisers, federal bureaus and agencies, and outside, academic, and other specialists and experts.
divided government
one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress
what is the role of political polls in decision making?
political polls show politicians what direction the public is leaning on policies
if we abolished the electoral college...
popular vote- there would have to be a runoff election among the two leading candidates if neither got a majority. this would encourage third parties such as jesse jackson party.
circular structure
several of the president's assistants report directly to him
ad hoc structure
several subordinates, cabinet officers, and committees report directly to the president on different matters
Gridlock
the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government. It may be caused by the fact that Americans know that if there is a gridlock, there is a chance policies they dislike may be prevented, and Americans are interested in maintaining this protection. Another explanation is the result of a representational democracy; compromise is necessary to accommodate the desires of all citizens, as public opinion is often divided.
explain the effect of the president's popularity on getting congressional support for programs
the more popular the president, the more likely the courts will pass their bill.
unified government
the same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress.
why does the popular vote not count?
the winner of the popular vote in each separate states lets the Electors know how they should cast their votes. the electoral college (the states) ultimately elect the president
what is the present line of succession if the president should die in office?
vice president, speaker of the house, then the president pro tempore
