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The American Presidency. 9th May, 2011. Exam questions. What is federalism? What are the three forms of colonies? What are the three organs of government in the colonies? What are the three important events that, among others, led to the Revolutionary War?.
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The American Presidency 9th May, 2011
Examquestions What is federalism? What are the three forms of colonies? What are the three organs of government in the colonies? What are the three important events that, among others, led to the Revolutionary War?
Which European countries aided the colonies in the Revolutionary War? What is the importance of the Treaty of Paris and when was it signed? What is the importance of the Second Continental Congress? When was the US Declaration of Independence signed and who wrote it?
What is the name of the first written constitutionof the USA? How is it different from the US constitution of 1787? What were the supporters of the Virginia Plan aiming for? What were the supporters of the New Jersey aiming for?
What is the Great Compromise? What does the US Constitution consist of? What are the exclusive federal powers? What are the exclusive state powers? What is concurrent government? What is the Bill of Rights? What is the Miranda Warning?
Powersofthe US president the Articles of Confederation made no provisions regarding presidential powers If too much power is given to a president, it might lead to tyrrany great powers were given to the office of the president, but also clearly defined limitation
Article II ofthe US Constitution “The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected.”
Presidentialpowers executive legislative judicial military relating to foreign affairs
Executivepowers • to enforcethelawspassedbyCongressbysigningthebills • to giveexecutiveorders (maybechallengedincourts as to constitutionality) • to act as headofthefederalgovernmentandheadof national agencies • to appoint all importantgovernmentofficials (must beapprovedbythe Senate)
How a bill becomes a law the bill is introduced in the House of Representatives by a member of the House the speaker assigns the bill to the appropriate committee the committee conducts hearings the bill is submitted to the House and is voted on
5. the bill is sent to the Senate 6. the bill is assigned to a committee 7. the committee conducts hearings 8. the bill is submitted to the Senate and is voted on 9. the presidents signs the bill which then becomes a law
Executiveorder an order given by the president to the staff of the executive branch, not the ciizens controversy of abuse of executive powers Franklin D. Roosevelts order to send all Japanese-Americans to internment camps
The US Cabinet consists of heads of 15 executive departments f.e. Department of State - Secretary of State (Hilary Clinton), Department of Justice – Attorney General (Eric Holder) + Cabinet-level officers
Legislative powers • to suggestlegislation (must bepassedinCongress) • to approvethelawbysigningthe bill • to veto the bill (Congresscanoverride it by 2/3 ofvotesinbothethe Senate andtheHouse) • a pocket veto – to do nothing
The State of the Union address • address of the president to the Congress • to talk about the condition of the state • to outline the legislative agenda • to outline the national priorities • to influence the votes of the members of his political party in the Congress (they can refuse)
Judicialpowers To appoint all federal judges (must be approved by a majority in the Senate) To grant pardons in federal cases (except for impeachment)
Militarypowers To appoint the top military commanders and remove them from office Commander-in-chief of the armed forces (but he can’t declare wars)
Powersrelating to foreignaffairs • To appoint all theambassadors (must beapprovedby a majorityinthe Senate) • To determineforeignpolicy • To negotiateandsigntreaties (must beratifiedby 2/3 ofthe Senate) • To recognizeforeigngovernmentsandreceivedplomats
Presidentialelections indirect elections in which voters cast ballots for a state of electors who then elect the President and Vice President Election day: the Tuesday between November 2 and November 8 A president is elected for a 4-year-term and can be re-elected only once
Requirements for a candidate Must be born in the USA Must be at least 35 Must live in the USA for at least 14 years
Nominating procedure The presidential primary electioins and caucuses Both major parties nominate their candidate at national conventions
Impeachment • A formalprocessinwhichanofficial is accusedofunlawfulactivityandtheresultofwhichleads to removalform office or otherpunishment • The power to impeachthe US presidentlieswiththeHouseofRepresentatives (majorityvote) • The power to trythepresident for impeachmentlieswiththe Senate (2/3 ofvotes)
Grounds for impeachment Under the consitution impeachable offences are: “…treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors” Andrew Johnson – 1868 (not guilty by one vote) Richard Nixon – 1974 (resigned) Bill Clinton – 1998 (