Chapter 13: The Presidency Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does the President's role as Chief of State entail?

He is the ceremonial head of the government of the United States and the symbol of all the people of the nation.

What is the President's role as Chief Executive?

The Constitution vests the President with the executive power of the United States.

What is the President's role as Chief Administrator?

Director of the United States government.

What is the President's role as Chief Diplomat?

The main architect of American foreign policy and chief spokesperson to the rest of the world. Signup and view all the answers

What does the President's role as Commander in Chief involve?

Complete control of the nation's armed forces. Signup and view all the answers

What is the President's role as Chief Legislator?

The main architect of the nation's public policies. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for the President to be Chief of Party?

Acts as the acknowledged leader of the political party that controls the executive branch. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the President as Chief Citizen?

Expected to be the representative of all the people. Signup and view all the answers

What are the qualifications to be President?

Must be a natural born citizen, at least 35 years old, and have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. Signup and view all the answers

How did the 22nd Amendment place limits on presidential terms?

It placed limits on presidential terms, prohibiting a President from being elected more than twice. Signup and view all the answers

What was the precedent set by George Washington regarding presidential terms?

Presidents traditionally limited their terms to two, a precedent set by Washington. Signup and view all the answers

What are the President's pay and benefits?

The President's salary is $400,000 a year, along with various allowances and benefits. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Constitution provide for presidential succession?

The 25th Amendment states the Vice President will become President if the President is removed from office. Signup and view all the answers

What is the order of succession following the Vice President according to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947?

Speaker of the House, President pro tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Vice President become an 'acting' President?

If the President informs Congress of his inability or if the Vice President and majority of the Cabinet do so. Signup and view all the answers

What are the Vice President's duties outlined in the Constitution?

Preside over the Senate and help decide presidential disability. Signup and view all the answers

What were the original provisions for choosing the President?

Chosen by a special body of presidential electors who each cast two electoral votes. Signup and view all the answers

How did the 12th Amendment change how the President and Vice President are chosen?

Electors must now pick both a President AND a Vice President. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Electoral College today?

Electors meet to cast votes for President and Vice President based on the popular vote in their State. Signup and view all the answers

What are three major defects in the Electoral College?

It can result in losing the popular vote, electors are not bound to vote with the popular vote, and elections can be thrown to the House. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two major strengths of the Electoral College?

It is a known process and it defines the winner quickly and certainly in most election years. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

President's Roles

Chief of State: Ceremonial head representing the nation and its people.
Chief Executive: Holds the executive power, ensuring laws are enforced.
Chief Administrator: Directs the functions of the U.S. government.
Chief Diplomat: Main architect of American foreign policy and spokesperson internationally.
Commander in Chief: Holds complete control over the armed forces.
Chief Legislator: Architect of national public policies.
Chief of Party: Leader of the political party controlling the executive branch.
Chief Citizen: Represents all citizens and leads by example.

Presidential Qualifications

Must be a "natural born citizen."
At least 35 years old.
Must have resided in the U.S. for a minimum of 14 years.

Presidential Term Limits

22nd Amendment (1951): Limits Presidents to two elected terms, or one term if they succeeded to the office.

Historical Precedents

George Washington established a two-term precedent, broken by Franklin D. Roosevelt who served four terms.

Presidential Compensation

Salary set by Congress, currently $400,000 per year.
Additional allowances: $50,000 for expenses, $100,000 for travel, $19,000 for entertainment, $10,000 for franking.
Resides in the White House and has access to additional benefits like Air Force One and a dedicated office staff.

Presidential Succession

25th Amendment (1967): Dictates that the Vice President becomes President if the sitting President is unable to fulfill duties.
Presidential Succession Act of 1947: Order of succession after the Vice President includes Speaker of the House, President pro tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, and Secretary of Defense.

Vice President's Role

Presides over the Senate and assists in determining presidential disability.

Presidential Election Process

Originally established by the Constitution to elect Presidents via a special body of electors casting two votes.
12th Amendment: Requires electors to cast separate votes for President and Vice President.

Electoral College Function

Most states use the popular vote to select electors, except Maine and Nebraska.
Electors meet to cast votes in December; results counted by the Senate on January 6.
If no majority (270 electoral votes), the House of Representatives decides the election.

Defects of the Electoral College

Winning the popular vote does not guarantee an electoral victory, as seen in four historical instances.
Electors are not legally bound to vote according to the state's popular vote.
If no majority is reached, the election can be decided in the House, which may disenfranchise larger populations.

Strengths of the Electoral College

Provides a tested process that is familiar, reducing uncertainty in presidential elections.
Typically ensures a quick and decisive election outcome.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the roles of the President of the United States with these flashcards from Chapter 13. Each card covers different functions and definitions related to the presidency. Perfect for students looking to understand the executive branch better.