12 The Presidency and the Federal Bureaucracy Free Online FlashCards

What does Article II establish about executive power?

Article II vests the executive power in a single President and requires the President to faithfully execute federal laws.

Why did Hamilton favor a single energetic executive?

Hamilton argued that a single, energetic executive makes government action easier to coordinate and responsibility easier for citizens to identify.

What is the Take Care Clause?

The Take Care Clause requires the President to faithfully execute laws enacted by Congress; it does not generally permit the President to ignore statutes based on personal disagreement.

How does the Appointments Clause divide appointment authority?

The President nominates principal officers, but Senate confirmation is generally required. Congress may authorize other appointment arrangements for inferior officers.

How can Congress override a presidential veto?

Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

How do the President and Congress share war powers?

The President commands the armed forces, while Congress declares war, raises and supports armies, regulates the military, and controls military funding.

What did United States v. Nixon hold about executive privilege?

In United States v. Nixon, the Supreme Court rejected an absolute presidential privilege that would block a criminal court from obtaining relevant evidence.

What principle did Youngstown establish about emergencies?

Youngstown held that the President could not seize and operate steel mills without authorization from Congress or the Constitution; an emergency alone does not create presidential power.

What are Youngstown’s three categories of presidential power?

In Jackson’s Youngstown framework, presidential power is strongest with congressional authorization, uncertain when Congress is silent, and weakest when contrary to Congress’s expressed or implied will.

How many electoral votes are in the Electoral College?

The Electoral College has 538 electors, and a candidate generally needs 270 electoral votes to win a majority.

What is the federal bureaucracy?

The federal bureaucracy is the network of departments, agencies, commissions, offices, and civil servants that administer federal law.

What is administrative discretion?

Administrative discretion is an agency’s authority to choose among lawful options when applying a statute to particular circumstances.