All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Which power allows Congress to investigate the executive branch?
Answer: Congressional oversight. Congress monitors and investigates executive branch activities.
Flashcard 2: What power does Congress have to check the President's veto?
Answer: Override with a two-thirds majority in both houses. This requires a supermajority in both chambers to overcome presidential objections.
Flashcard 3: Which body confirms presidential appointments?
Answer: The Senate confirms presidential appointments. Part of the Senate's 'advice and consent' constitutional role.
Flashcard 4: Identify the process through which a President can be removed from office.
Answer: Impeachment and conviction. House impeaches, Senate convicts with two-thirds vote for removal.
Flashcard 5: What is the term for the President's power to reject legislation?
Answer: Veto. Presidential power to reject bills passed by Congress.
Flashcard 6: Which branch has the power to declare war?
Answer: Congress has the power to declare war. Only Congress can formally declare war, not the President.
Flashcard 7: What is a pocket veto?
Answer: The President takes no action on a bill for 10 days while Congress is adjourned. Bill dies automatically without presidential signature during adjournment.
Flashcard 8: How can the judiciary check the Presidency?
Answer: By declaring presidential actions unconstitutional. Courts use judicial review to strike down illegal executive actions.
Flashcard 9: What check does the Senate have over presidential foreign treaties?
Answer: Treaties require two-thirds Senate approval. Senate must approve international agreements with supermajority vote.
Flashcard 10: What is required for a presidential impeachment?
Answer: A majority vote in the House of Representatives. House initiates impeachment proceedings with simple majority vote.
Flashcard 11: Which check prevents the President from becoming too powerful in military matters?
Answer: Congress controls military funding. Power of the purse limits presidential military authority.
Flashcard 12: Identify the legislative check on presidential executive orders.
Answer: Congress can pass laws to override executive orders. Congress can nullify executive orders through legislation.
Flashcard 13: What role does the Chief Justice play in the impeachment process?
Answer: Presides over the Senate trial for a presidential impeachment. Ensures judicial neutrality during presidential impeachment trials.
Flashcard 14: Identify the constitutional power that allows the President to appoint judges.
Answer: Article II of the Constitution. Constitution grants appointment power with Senate confirmation requirement.
Flashcard 15: What is the Senate's role in the impeachment process?
Answer: Conducts the trial and votes on conviction. Senate acts as jury in impeachment trials requiring two-thirds conviction.
Flashcard 16: Which branch's check involves the power of the purse?
Answer: The legislative branch controls the budget. Congress controls federal spending and budget authorization.
Flashcard 17: How does Congress check presidential military actions?
Answer: Through the War Powers Resolution. Requires congressional approval for extended military deployments.
Flashcard 18: What is the judicial check on a President's executive privilege?
Answer: Courts can order the release of information. Courts can compel disclosure of executive branch information.
Flashcard 19: How can Congress respond to a presidential veto?
Answer: Override with a two-thirds vote in each chamber. Supermajority requirement in both houses overcomes presidential rejection.
Flashcard 20: What does the 25th Amendment address?
Answer: Presidential succession and disability. Establishes procedures for replacing incapacitated presidents.
Flashcard 21: Which branch can impeach the President?
Answer: The legislative branch (House of Representatives). House has sole constitutional power to impeach federal officials.
Flashcard 22: What check involves the Senate's role in confirming ambassadors?
Answer: The Senate confirms ambassadorial appointments. Senate's advice and consent role over diplomatic appointments.
Flashcard 23: Identify the check that involves judicial review of executive actions.
Answer: The judiciary can declare actions unconstitutional. Judicial review checks presidential overreach and illegal actions.
Flashcard 24: What legislative tool checks the President's budget proposals?
Answer: Congressional appropriations process. Congress controls government spending through budget approval process.
Flashcard 25: Which branch can check presidential authority via treaty approval?
Answer: The legislative branch (Senate). Senate must ratify international treaties with two-thirds majority.
Flashcard 26: How does Congress exercise oversight over the executive branch?
Answer: Through hearings and investigations. Congress monitors executive compliance through formal investigations.
Flashcard 27: What power does Congress have over presidential nominations?
Answer: The Senate must confirm appointments. Senate confirmation required for major presidential appointments.
Flashcard 28: How does the judiciary check the President's power of executive agreements?
Answer: By ruling them unconstitutional if challenged. Courts can invalidate agreements that exceed presidential authority.
Flashcard 29: What is Congress's role in the budget process?
Answer: Appropriates funds and approves the budget. Congress has exclusive constitutional power over federal spending.
Flashcard 30: Which entity confirms the President's Cabinet appointments?
Answer: The Senate. Senate confirms all Cabinet-level executive appointments.