Presidential Powers
What is like a law but goes away when a president leaves office and doesn't require Congressional approval?
Executive order
How many executive agencies (Cabinet-level departments) are there?
15
Who elects the President?
Electoral College
Approximately how many people work for the federal government?
2.8 million
What Supreme Court case established judicial review?
Marbury v Madison
What is like a treaty but doesn't require Senate approval and goes away when a president leaves office?
Executive agreement
What title is given to the head of the Justice Department?
Attorney General
How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency out of a total of 538?
270
What are people who work for the federal government called?
Civil servants
How many justices serve on the U.S. Supreme Court?
9
Postponement of a punishment for someone accused of a capital crime.
Reprieve
which act changed federal hiring from patronage to merit-based civil service?
Pendleton Civil Service Act
If no candidate receives a majority in the Electoral College, which body selects the President and from how many top candidates?
House of Representatives - top 3 candidates
What is a government corporation? Give the best example of one of these.
Business owned by the government that provides a service for a fee - USPS
What is a Supreme Court Justice's term?
Life, in good behavior
What act says the President must notify Congress within 48 hours of committing troops; combat must end within 6060 days unless Congress authorizes a longer period; can extend an additional 3030 days to withdraw troops; Congress can end commitment with a concurrent resolution.
War Powers Act
Explain the Vice President’s formal role in the Senate?
Break a tie
How is each state's number of electors determined?
Number of Senators plus the number of House members
How are Cabinet members chosen and what Senate action is required for them to serve?
Cabinet members are nominated by the President and must be confirmed by a simple majority of the Senate.
Which amendment does not allow you to be tried twice for the same crime?
5th
Name two formal diplomatic powers the President has and identify which requires Senate approval.
negotiate treaties (requires Senate approval by 2/3) and make executive agreements (no Senate approval)
Who becomes president if the president and VP both die at the same time?
Speaker of the House
Explain the rule about how many years a Vice President who becomes President may subsequently be elected.
If the VP succeeds to the presidency and there are fewer than 22 years remaining in the original term, the VP may serve the remainder plus be elected to two full terms (maximum about 1010 years). If more than 22 years remained, the new President may only be elected to one additional full term.
Explain what the Pendleton Civil Service Act accomplished and why it was enacted.
Pendleton Civil Service Act: shifted federal hiring from patronage/spoils system to merit-based hiring and competitive exams to reduce corruption and favoritism.
Explain the difference between a bench trial and a jury trial
Bench trial: judge alone decides guilt; jury trial: a panel of peers decides