AP U.S. Government and Politics Chapter 12 Study Guide

The Executive Branch

Readings: C Edwards, Chapter 12, “The Presidency”

Guiding Questions:C Is the President of the United States really the most powerful person in the country?C What do presidents do, and how has the job changed since 1789?C Why did the Framers create a strong executive?C Is the Madisonian system strong enough to prevent the presidency from becoming too powerful

and posing a threat to democracy?C What FORMAL and INFORMAL powers does the president possess, and does the president have

enough power to govern on behalf of the majority?

Objectives: Students will C Characterize the expectations for and the backgrounds of presidents and identify paths to the

White House and how presidents may be removed.C Evaluate the president’s constitutional powers and the expansion of presidential power.C Describe the riles of the vice president, cabinet, Executive Office of the President, White House

staff, and First Lady.C Assess the impact of various sources of presidential influence on the president’s ability to win

congressional support.C Analyze the president’s powers in making national security policy and the relationship between

the president and Congress in this area.C Identify the factors that affect the president’s ability to obtain public support.C Characterize the president’s relations with the press and news coverage of the presidency.C Assess the role of presidential power in the American democracy and the president’s impact on

the scope of government.

Vocabulary: You should be able to define and use these terms appropriately and accurately in context. You DO NOT need to write out definitions unless that is what will help you learn them.

Twenty-second AmendmentTwenty-fifth Amendmentpardon*impeachmentWatergateexecutive ordersexecutive privilege*signing statement*cabinetNational Security Council

Council of Economic AdvisorsExecutive Office of the

President*Office of Management and

Budgetchief legislator*vetopocket vetoline-item veto*presidential coattails

electoral mandate*executive agreement*National Security Agency*War Powers Resolutionlegislative vetocrisisconventional wisdom*“rally events”*“bully pulpit”*#

press secretary*

A century ago the word "bully" meant “splendid,” “first rate,” “good,” or “great.” That's why Theodore Roosevelt called the#

White House a "bully pulpit," meaning that it provided him an outstanding platform from which to preach his ideas. Theexpression is often misused by writers who mistakenly think it has something to do with preaching at people in a bullying way.

Reminder: to join the new Quizlet class set use the link http://quizlet.com/join/N98gWeWhs.

T Vocabulary Quiz: _____

Reading Responses: Answer the following questions and be ready to discuss them in class.

1. What are the explicit powers of the President? What formal constraints are placed on theexecutive?

2. What Constitutional provisions have justified actions stretching the boundaries of executive power? What other factors have contributed to the expansion of presidential power over time, and how?Are these developments for the better or worse? Why?

3. Identify the various roles of the president and give specific examples of how they are carried out.

4. Describe the structure and organization of the White House staff and executive offices.

5. Briefly explain in paragraph or chart format the make-up and functions of the National SecurityCouncil, the Council of Economic Advisors, and the Office of Management and Budget.

6. The president’s ability to win congressional support is predicated on a handful of factors. Explainhow three of these factors may help the president win congressional support. In what ways arethese factors limited in assisting the president in the legislative arena? Which single factor is mostimportant for the president in Congress? Explain.

7. How do presidents try to shape public opinion? What are some obstacles to presidents buildingpublic support for the president’s policy goals?

T Responses to Questions Due: _____

Supplemental Readings (to be done in class): C Richard Neustadt, “Presidential Power” (Woll Reader: pp. 274-278)C Arthur Schlesinger, “The Imperial Presidency”C Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 70C Constitution: Article I, §2; Article II; Amendments 12, 20, 22, 25