Am Gov executive branch – Flashcards
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Political asylum
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Safe haven for those persecuted in their home country
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Foreign aid
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Economic and military aid to other countries
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Regional security alliances
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Built on mutual defense treaties
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The UN security council
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Bears the UNs major responsibility for maintaining international peace
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Foreign policy
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All of the things we do in relation to other countries
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What part of the executive branch does foreign-policy fall under
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The department of state Headed by the Secretary of State
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Isolationism
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US policy on non-intervention in the affairs of other nations. concentration of efforts in domestic affairs
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Internationalism
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Proactive approach to dealing with issues of other nations. Concentration on prevention and diplomacy
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State department
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The executive branch department in charge of foreign-policy
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What are diplomats and ambassadors
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Official representatives of the US working traveling or living in a foreign nation
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Diplomatic immunity
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Diplomats cannot be tried under foreign law
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National Security Council
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Advisers to the president on all security and foreign matters
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Central intelligence agency
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Executive Agency responsible for foreign intelligence
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The department of defense
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Executive department handling all military matters
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Department of homeland security
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Newest department in charge of domestic and foreign threats
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What foreign policy did America practice for the first 150 years
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Isolationism
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What is the Monroe doctrine
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Europe stay out of western affairs
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What is the good neighbor policy
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The US will Protektor and defend its western hemisphere neighbors a.k.a. north and south America
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What is the open door policy
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New relations and trade with China
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What was America's stance during world war one
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Forced into war a.k.a. not and original partner in the war effort
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Collective security
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Strength in numbers and strong alliances discourage aggressive behaviors
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Deterrence
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Military strength discourages aggressive behaviors example teddy Roosevelt said walk softly and carry a big stick
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Ambassador
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Official representative of US appointed by the president to represent the nation and diplomatic affairs. assigned to a country
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Passport
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Certificate issued by a government to its citizens who travel or live abroad. Entitles it's holders the privileges of international custom
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Bureaucracy
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Large complex administrative structure that handles the every day business of an organization
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What are the three features of a bureaucracy
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Structural hierarchy. Job specialization. Formal rules of operation
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What is structural hierarchy
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Multi levels of increasing authority. Defined chain of command
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What is job specialization
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Specific duties at each level. Job titles
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What is the definition of formal rules of operation
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Identifiable policies and procedures. Processes, decision-making that follow certain guidelines
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List the executive division names
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Department, bureau, administration, agency, commission, Corporation/authority
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department
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Title exclusive to cabinet rank agencies
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Bureau
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Typically a subunit of a department
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Administration
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General term for governmental organization
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Agency
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Term to refer to any governmental organization
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Commission
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Governmental body that regulates business
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Corporation/authority
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A governmental organization that conducts business like activities
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What are most divisions known bye
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Acronyms examples NASA FBI CIA
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Staff agency
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People or groups that operate in a support capacity. Provide assistant to the line agents. Examples: janitors, cooks, secretaries
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Line agency
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People or groups that perform the actual tasks to which they are assigned. Examples: teachers, counselors, principals
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Where is the executive office of the president located
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West wing of the White House
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What is the executive office
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Advisers and assistance to the president. Several agencies
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What is the executive office responsible for
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Date to day scheduling and information
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Who is the executive office headed by
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President's chief of staff
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What is the office of management and budget
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Budget support and issues
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What are the first departments of the executive office to be developed
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Department of state, treasury, war
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What is the most recent department of the executive office to be developed
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Department of homeland security
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Independent agencies
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Created by Congressional act headed by a person appointed by the president yet not under their direct control
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Two reasons why we have independent agencies
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They don't fit neatly into existing departments and to protect agencies from political influences
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Independent executive agencies
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GSA, NASA, EPA. Perform specific activities of government
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Independent regulatory commissions
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SEC, FEC. Out of reach of president roles
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Succession
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Determines who will fill a presidential vacancy
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Line of presidential succession
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Vice President, speaker of the house, senate pro tempore, Secretary of State, all other cabinet secretaries in order of establishment
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What is the succession process determined by
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Presidential succession act of 1947
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Presidential candidate announcement
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Candidates must announce before they collect contributions
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What are the two types of presidential primaries and caucuses
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State run elections held in months before the general election, and partisan; political party based elections (r vs r) (d vs d)
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Presidential political party nomination
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National party convention decides top choice. Nominee. Each party has a presidential and vice presidential nominee
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How is the president elected
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Not by popular vote.
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What is each states electoral college vote equal to
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The number of representatives and senators it has in Congress
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Three flaws in the electoral college system
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Popular vote and electoral vote can be different. It is an elitist, antiquated system that is no longer needed. The winner - takes - all system used in some states is unfair
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What does the constitution say about executive power
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Executive power shall be vested in the president of the United States
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For reasons for presidential power expansion
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Increased geographic size and population, increased economic influence, technological change: mass media/communications, presidential personalities: periods of crisis
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Stewardship view
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Teddy Roosevelt: the president has any power not specifically prohibited by the constitution
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Restricted view
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Taft: the president can exercise no power that is not written in the Constitution or granted by Congress
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Executory power
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The power to implement enforce and carry out laws. The most important aspect of the executive branch
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Ordinance power
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The power to create and administer executive agencies. This includes the power to issue executive orders: directives
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Appointment power
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The power to select individuals for certain positions. Must be confirmed by Senate vote to take affect
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Removal power
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The power to remove executive branch appointees. Does not include removal of supreme court justices
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As chief diplomat the president has the power to
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Negotiate treaties, enter into executive agreements, recognize foreign diplomats
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Negotiate treaties
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Establish formal agreements with one or more foreign nations. All treaties must get senate consent by two thirds vote. Treaties have the same legal standing as laws
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Enter into executive agreements
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An agreement between the president and the head of a foreign government. These agreements do not require Senate consent
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Recognize foreign diplomats
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Acknowledgement of another nation by sending ambassadors/receiving foreign diplomats. Recognition does not imply approval of that nation. Persona non grata: an unwelcome person
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As commander in chief the president has the ability to
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Making undeclared war, congressional resolutions, take other military actions, war Powers resolution
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Making undeclared war
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Presidents have used the armed forces abroad without declaration of war many times. 100+
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Congressional resolutions
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Congress has authorized military force by joint resolution over eight times since World War II
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Take other military actions
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The president has also used executive privilege to handle specific critical situations. Example: Korea, Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, etc.
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War Powers resolution of 1973
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Requires that the president may commit American military forces to combat only if Congress has made a declaration of war, Congress has authorized the military action through the passage of a congressional resolution, the US or its armed forces have been attacked
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The legislative powers of the president include
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Setting the congressional tone/agenda, recommending legislation, legislation options and the veto power, line item veto, signing statements
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Setting the congressional tone/agenda
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State of the union: presidential address/priorities. Preparing the budget: spending priorities
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Recommending legislation
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The president can strongly encourage Congress to act. The president may not introduce legislation in Congress
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Legislation options and the veto power
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Sign: bill becomes law. Not signed: bill becomes law after 10 days in session. Veto: rejected Bill, returned to Congress (2/3 override). Pocket veto: not signed; Congress adjourns within 10 days, the bill dies
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Line item veto
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What to give the president the power to veto only specific sections of a bill rather than the whole measure. Rider; an attachment to an existing bill or resolution. Earmarks; moneys appropriated for specific purpose. The Supreme Court determined this to be unconstitutional
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Signing statements
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Short statements of intent on application or interpretation. Used primarily to challenge constitutional matters.
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The judicial powers of the president include
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Reprieves, pardons, amnesty, commutations
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Reprieves
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Postponement of the execution of a sentence
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Pardons
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Legal forgiveness of a crime. Includes accusations of a crime. The power to pardon may not be applied to impeachments
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Amnesty
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A blanket pardon extended to an entire group or category of law violators. Example: immigration, polygamy, draft aviators A blanket pardon extended to an entire group or category of law violators. Example: immigration, polygamy, draft evaders
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Commutations
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The power to reduce a fine or length of a sentence
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President age
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35
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Citizenship for president
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Natural born citizen
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US residency for president
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Lived in the US for at least 14 years
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Maximum term length for president
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10 years
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Annual salary for president
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400,000 a year
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Annual expenses for president
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50,000 a year
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Chief of state
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Ceremonial head of government
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Chief executive
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Sees that the nations laws are carried out
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Chief administrator
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Heads the federal bureaucracy
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Chief diplomat
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Determines foreign-policy
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Commander in chief
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Commands the Armed Forces
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Chief legislator
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Proposes laws to Congress
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Chief of party
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Leads his or her political party
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Chief citizen
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Represents the American people
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What is the plan that presidents in the late 20th century have suggested for changing the presidential term of office
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One six-year term or an unlimited number of four-year terms
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How does the constitution provide for situations in which the president is disabled
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Sections 3 and four of the 25th amendment. The vice president will act if the current president informs Congress in writing or the vice president and the cabinet inform Congress
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What's duties are given to the vice President by the constitution
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Preside over senate and help decide question of presidential disability
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How are vice president's usually selected
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Balance the ticket
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How can a vacancy in the vice presidency be filled
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President nominates a vice president you shall take office on majority vote of both houses
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A president his duties have been temporarily assumed by the vice president may reclaim his or her office bye
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Informing Congress that he or she is no longer disabled provided the Vice President and a majority of the cabinet do not challenge his or her decision
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Most of the framers were opposed to the proposal that the president to be selected by
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Congress
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The framers envisioned the ________ as A group of well-informed the citizens who could choose the best person for the presidency
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Electoral college
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In 1800 presidential electors were chosen by their
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Political party
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The _____ separated presidential and vice presidential elections
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12th amendment
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Before 1804 each _______ cast two votes for the president
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Presidential elector
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When a deciding how a president should be elected the framers considered all of the following plans
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Popular election, electoral college, election by Congress
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Most of the framers opposed choosing the president by popular vote because they
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Did not think voters in such a large country would be able to learn a Knouff about the candidates to make an informed decision
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If the presidential vote in the electoral college results in a tie
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A runoff election is held in the electoral college
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In the election of 1800 the newly formed political parties nominated not only ______ but _________, Who were pledged to vote for their partys ticket
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Presidential and vice presidential candidates, presidential electors
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The election of 1800 resulted in
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A tie between Jefferson and Burr
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Article 2 is known as
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The executive article because it establishes the presidency
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Article 2 establishes the following presidential powers
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Command Armed Forces, make treaties, approve/Veto acts of Congress, send/receive diplomatic representatives, grant pardons/reprieves, take care that the laws be faithfully executed
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Beginning at the Philadelphia convention of 1787 there has been a struggle between those who
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Want a weak/subordinate and those who want a stronger/independent/co-equal executive branch
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Throughout American history those who
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Want a stronger presidency have usually prevailed
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The frequent need for ___________ has also strengthened presidential power
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Extraordinary and decisive action in emergency times
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Critics of a strong presidential power call a strong presidency an
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Imperial presidency
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Mass media
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Forms of communication including printed publications, radio, TV, Internet
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Congress has delegated a great deal of authority to the president because
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Congress has time to provide only general outlines for public policy
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As American society has become more complex the American people have
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Looked to the federal government into the president for leadership
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Gives the president the power to appoint ambassadors
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Constitution
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Must confirm most of the presidents appointments
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Senate
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A presidential directive is called
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Executive order
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The president must take the ______ on the day he takes office
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Oath of office
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The _______ has ruled that the presidents _________ May be limited
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Supreme Court, removal power
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It's a president does not agree with a federal law, he or she
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Must carry it out, but has some leeway and how strongly he or she enforces it
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The presidents ordinance power comes from
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The constitution and Congress
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The rule of senatorial courtesy means that
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Before appointing an official who will serve any state, the president must gain the approval of his or her partys senators from that state
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Of the federal civilian employees the president of Points
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Only a handful
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Under Humphreys executor versus United States, the president
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Cannot remove a member of an independent agency except on the grounds of incompetence or malfeasance
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Presidents Tyler and McKinley encourage Congress to pass
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A joint resolution to annex territory after the approval of the treaty had been defeated in the Senate
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An executive agreement is
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A pact between the president and the head of a foreign state or between their submates
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One difference between an executive agreement and a treaty is
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Executive agreements do not require Senate consent
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The most serious diplomatic rebuke one nation may give a Nother is
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With drawl of recognition
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The war Powers resolution in 1973 was passed in response to
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The Vietnam war
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The constitutionality of the war Powers resolution remains
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In dispute
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When Nixon excepted the pardon extended by Ford it was understood that
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He was admitting guilt
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A pocket veto is used only
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At the end of a congressional session
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In Clinton versus New York City the Supreme Court struck down the presidents
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Authority to use the line item veto
