Questions and Answers
What term refers to the president as commander of the nation's armed forces?
Commander in Chief
Which of the following are diplomatic powers of the president? (Select all that apply)
What can the president do with a bill passed by Congress?
Veto
What power does the president have under the Appointments Clause?
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What does the pardon power allow the president to do?
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What is an executive agreement?
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What role does the president have in setting the legislative agenda?
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What is an executive order?
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What is executive privilege?
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Which of the following are formal powers of the president? (Select all that apply)
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Which of the following are informal powers of the president? (Select all that apply)
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What are the emergency powers of the president?
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What is the president's war power?
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How did the War Powers Resolution attempt to resolve conflicts between the president and Congress regarding war powers?
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How have presidents used their emergency war powers in the past?
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How does the reprieve/pardon power fit into the system of checks and balances?
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Study Notes
Formal and Informal Powers of the President
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Commander in Chief: Title designating the president as the leader of the armed forces.
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Diplomatic Powers: Responsibilities include appointing ambassadors, negotiating treaties, meeting with foreign leaders, granting diplomatic recognition, and receiving foreign dignitaries.
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Legislative Powers: The president can veto Congressional bills; overriding requires a two-thirds majority in both houses.
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Judicial Powers: The Appointments Clause empowers the president to appoint federal officials, judges, and ambassadors, needing Senate confirmation.
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Pardon Powers: The president can grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses, except during impeachment cases.
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Executive Agreements: International agreements made by the president without Senate ratification, typically involving heads of foreign states.
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Setting Legislative Agenda: The president can initiate laws and influence Congress but cannot directly start legislation.
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Executive Orders: Rules issued by the president that have the force of law, used to enforce statutes, treaties, or administrative practices. Must be recorded in the Federal Register.
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Executive Privilege: Allows executive officials to refuse to provide information to legislative committees or courts.
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Formal Powers: Includes veto, command of armed forces, pardon powers, appointment powers, treaty-making authority, and the ability to convene Congress.
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Informal Powers: Encompasses public persuasion, making executive agreements, signing statements, levying executive orders, utilizing bureaucracy, and impacting legislation through personal leadership.
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Emergency Powers: Inherent powers exercised during crises, such as declaring federal disaster areas, or historically suspended civil liberties to manage national emergencies.
Conflict of War Powers
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President’s War Powers: As Commander in Chief, the president commands troops and engages in military action (e.g., killing Osama Bin Laden). However, these powers are often implied rather than explicitly stated.
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Congress's War Powers: Congress holds the authority to declare war, allocate funds for military actions, and approve military leaders. Conflicts can arise between the president's military actions and Congressional authority.
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War Powers Resolution: Enacted post-Vietnam to limit presidential control over military operations; requires the president to notify Congress 48 hours prior to troop deployment and seek funding after 60 days.
Historical Use of Emergency Powers
- Presidents have historically utilized emergency war powers during national crises, such as President Bush's military response after the 9/11 attacks.
Reprieve/Pardon Power and Checks and Balances
- The president’s ability to grant pardons for federal crimes reinforces the system of checks and balances, though Congress and courts cannot overturn these decisions (with the exception of impeachment).
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Description
Explore the formal and informal powers of the U.S. president through this set of flashcards. Learn key terms such as Commander in Chief and Diplomatic Powers, along with their definitions and implications. Perfect for understanding the role of the president in shaping national and foreign policies.