Show:
Constitutional Stuff
The Modern Presidency
Checks and Balances
Rule by desk (aka bureaucracy)
Wildcard
100

Who has the sole power to declare war? 

Congress

100

This act was an attempt by congress to put an additional check on the president's commander in chief duty

What is the War Powers Act of 1973

100
List 2 “political” (non-Constitutional) checks on the president.
Many examples exist: - Public Opinion (polling) - Media Coverage - Scandals - Economic status of nation - Fear of hurting re-election/party
100

Group of 15 individuals working closely with the president. Don't get these confused with the outdated term for an assistant

What is: Cabinet.

100
Define/explain "going public."
When a President takes his case directly to the people, bypassing Congress and others. Examples include President Clinton going on late-night TV, President Obama touring nation to help pass Affordable Care Act, etc.
200

This amendment describes what happens if a president dies or becomes unable perform his/her presidential duties.

What is the 25th Amendment?

200

This word describes what all Modern presidents (1973+) have said about the war powers resolution.

Unconstitutional

200

Describe one way that the Congress checks the President

1. A simple majority of the Senate must confirm presidential appointments. 2. 2/3 of the Senate must ratify treaties.

200

This word describes the responsibility of Bureaucrats, also what gives them their power 

What is: Implementation

200
What are signing statements?
When the President adds a comment to legislation that Congress passes; under Reagan/Clinton/Bush/Obama, became a tool for ignoring parts of laws and reinterpreting them (in effect, a line-item veto).
300

List the 2 out of the 3 constitutional qualifications for becoming president.

What are 1. Natural born citizen, 2. At least 35 years old, and 3. Lived in the US for the last 14 years.

300

Give an example of the president exercising legislative leadership

Possible answers: Giving the state of the union, coming up with an agenda, going public, signing or vetoing bills, working with legislative affairs.

300

How does a line-item veto work? Bonus- Is it legal?

The executive is able to veto PARTS of a spending bill without having to veto the entire bill. The SCOTUS declared this power unconstitutional in the case Clinton v. New York City.

300

The type of bureaucratic agency is in charge of protecting the public interests. Examples include the EPA, FCC, NRC

Regulatory Agencies

300
Name two examples of executive orders.
They include: - President Roosevelt creating Japanese internment camps - President Truman desegregating the military - Obama and undocumented immigration - Many others
400

Name all five constitutional roles of the president 

1. Legislative Leadership 

2. Chief Diplomat (foreign affairs) 

3. Commander in Chief 

4. Appoint/remove officials 

5. Executor of the law

400

These actions that seemingly break the spirit of  separation of power are actually an implied power of the president.

What are: executive orders

400

Describe one way Congress checks the President

1. confirmation of officials 

2. Impeachment 

3. War Powers

400

During which era did the modern Presidential/bureaucratic agencies emerge and why?

OMB, other agencies were created during the Great Depression; new agencies needed to oversee huge federal programs created by President Roosevelt

400

When does Presidential power tend to expand and why? *Bonus- when is this concerning?

During wartime - examples include post-9/11 and the Civil War. Presidents assume "emergency" powers during conflicts and do not encounter as much resistance from the public/Congress as they do during peacetime.

500
Explain how the 22nd Amendment limits the Presidency.
What is, the 22nd Amendment limits the President to only two terms in office?
500

The growth of the federal government explained by the basic principle of government that says the more laws we create the bigger the government gets... explains this trend of the president's branch

What is: Expansion of executive power 

500

Specifically describe the two steps to remove a president from office.

1. The House must vote to impeach with a simple majority (more than 50%) 2. The Senate conducts the trial and can convict an official if more than 2/3 of the Senate agrees.

500

This term describes the level of decision making power a bureaucrat has. The more of this... the more power  

Administrative Discretion 

500
List two provisions of the War Powers Resolution.
It is a big law, but the answer can include the following: - President can commit troops to another country, but must inform Congress within 48 hours - Forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30 day withdrawal period, without an authorization of the use of military force or a declaration of war.