3 ways President uses Cabinet
Team Spirit
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Debate
What did the Founding Fathers create the President to be?
Head of State & Government
Where is the Executive mentioned in the Constitution?
Article 2
Quote regarding where the power of the executive would be vested?
‘The executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States of America’
7 Formal Powers of President?
Propose Legislation Nominate Judges/heads of Exec Dept. Sign/Veto bills Act as Chief-Executive & Head of State Negotiate Treaties Presidential Pardon Submit Annual Budget
5 Checks & Balances of Presidents power by Congress?
Amend/Delay/Reject Legislative Proposal Override Veto Reject Nominations Investigate Actions & Policies Impeachment
Imperial Presidency
Misuse of power in regards to foreign policy & congress
Imperilled Presidency
Ineffectiveness & weakness as a result of a powerful congress
What & Where are the Presidents formal powers found?
inherited powers in article 2
4 things limiting power of the President?
Media & Public Opinion
Checks & Balances
Party support in Congress
Orientation of Supreme Court
Example of Presidential Pardon in use?
President Ford pardoned Nixon in 1974 following the Watergate Scandal
How many people did George W. Bush Pardon?
189
Example of Congress Amend/Delay/Rejecting Legislative proposal?
Rejection of Obamas gun control legislation 2013
Example of Congress refusing a Supreme Court Judge nomination?
Robert Bork - Nominated by Reagen in 1987
When was Clinton Impeached?
1998
How is Legislative power over the Executive limited?
House & Senate might be controlled by different parties
A supermajority is needed but usually impossible
2 Checks & Balances of Presidents power by the Judiciary?
Judicial Review - rule actions as unconstitutional
President Impeachment
Example of Judiciary ruling Presidents actions as unconstitutional?
1974
President Nixon actions in refusing to release the White-House tapes was unconstitutional as he was acting above his means of power
How is the Judicial power over the Executive limited?
Cases have to be brought to them
Can only look at a number of cases per year
Example of an imperilled president?
Ford/Carter - post watergate scandal, found there hands much more tied
When & Why was the Executive Office of the Presidency created?
1939 - ‘Brownlow Committee’ suggested an executive office to help president do his job better.
The White House Office
1939 - Overseen by Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney
Office of Management & Budgeting
Chaired by Mick Mulvaney as of 2017
- Budget execution & president assistance
National Security Council
Chaired by Trump, regards national security and foreign policy matters
Where & How is cabinet mentioned in the Constitution?
Article 2 Section 2
‘May require opinion in writing of the executive departments upon subjects relating their respective offices’
What is the cabinet?
15 heads of department nominated by the president and approved by the senate
Original 4 cabinet departments & current chairs?
Attorney General - William Barr
Treasury - Steve Mnuchin
War - (defence) Patrick Shanahan
State - Mike Pompeo
4 Functions of each cabinet council?
Coordinate domestic policy
Advise the President
Ensure policy initiatives are consistent
Represent policy to other branches of government
Examples of Vice President vacancy?
1973 -
Nixons VP Spiro Agnew resigned due to tax evasion - replaced by Gerald Ford
Nixon resigned - Gerald Ford became President and nominated Nelson Rockerfella as VP
Changes 25th Amendment made to Vice Presidents?
1967
- President can appoint new VP without congress majority
- VP acts as president when president is disables e.g. Dick Cheney 2007
Example of a balanced ticket?
2008 - Obama & Biden
Obama; black, 47, 4 years experience
Biden; white, 63, 36 years experience
How many times has the VP become President & for what reason?
9
8 - death (4 natural, 4 assassination)
1 - resignation
Cabinet Meetings
vary in regularity & diminish over time, Clinton held just 24.
Pyramid System
Executive office organisation with President at the top with only key advisors able to access them
Factors to consider when selecting cabinet ministers?
Relationship
United Factions - Obama nom Clinton after beating her in political race
Expertise - Arne Duncan as secretary of Education
Spokes of the wheel system
Executive office organisation with President equal & accessible to all
Where are cabinet members typically sourced from?
Congress - (Clinton 2009 as sec. of sate)
State Governors
City Mayors
Academia - (Steven Chu 2009 as sec of energy = physics professor)
Powers of Vice President?
Officer of the senate
Counting & Announcing of Electoral Votes
Becomes PM
Acts as PM
Joe Biden previous experience and time as Vice President?
Delaware Senator since 1973, 2009 - 2017
Dick Cheney time as Vice President?
2001 - 2009