Download Guided reading for AP Gov and more Summaries Law in PDF only on Docsity!
5.4 Guided Reading
The Vice Presidency
What happened in election of 1800 that precipitated the the 12th Amendment? Jefferson and Burr tied in the Electoral College because electors cast two votes for president with no separate vice-president vote. The tie forced the House to decide the election after 36 ballots. This exposed flaws in the system and led to the 12th Amendment, which created separate ballots for president and vice president.
Prior to the 12th Amendment, who became the Vice President?
The runner-up in the Electoral College automatically became vice president.
How is the current vice president elected? (according to 12th)-
Electors cast separate votes for president and vice president. If no vice-presidential candidate wins a majority, the Senate chooses from the top two.
What are the two jobs of the VP? ● Presides over the Senate and casts tie-breaking votes.
● First in line to become president or act as president if the president is unable to serve.
According to the 25th Amendment, how does Presidential succession work? The vice president becomes president if the presidency becomes vacant. The president can temporarily transfer power by declaring inability. If the vice presidency becomes vacant, a new VP is nominated and approved by Congress. The VP and Cabinet can also declare the president unable to serve.
The First Spouse
What is the First Spouse's role?
The First Spouse has no formal constitutional duties but usually serves as a public figure, supports social causes, hosts events, and helps represent the nation.
The Executive Office of the President
According to Fred Greenstein, why is there a need to label executive “The Modern Presidency” after FDR?
1. FDR created and promoted large legislative programs (like the New Deal), shifting the president
from a passive executor to an agenda-setter.
- FDR built the Executive Office of the President, giving presidents a large support system that
expanded their power and responsibilities.
- With tools like radio “fireside chats,” FDR spoke directly to the public, making communication a
central presidential weapon.
- Americans began viewing the president as responsible for solving national problems; economic,
social, and international, greatly expanding the role's scope.
define the Executive Office of the President (EOP)
The President and Public Opinion
define bully pulpit- The president’s ability to use the visibility of the office to speak out, persuade the public, and promote policies.
Who is attributed to using the various forms of mass communications to influence the public opinion and provide some historical examples. use the internet here-
Newspapers- early presidents used print to share messages and persuade.
Radio - FDR’s fireside chats.
Television- presidents like Kennedy used televised speeches and debates.
Internet- modern presidents post information on official websites and email lists.
social media - presidents use platforms like Twitter and Instagram to speak directly to the public.
Presidential Approval Ratings
How can a president’s perceived success influence their ability to govern? High approval gives the president more political influence, leverage with Congress, and public support. Low approval weakens their influence and makes passing policies harder.
What are some outside affects that can influence their approval ratings? be sure to include how it influences them both negatively and positively.
Economic performance, crises, wars, scandals, media coverage, legislative wins or losses, and national emergencies. These can raise approval if handled well or lower approval if handled poorly.
The Aftermath of the 2020 Election and a Threat to the Peaceful Transfer of Power
read and take notes
○ On January 6, 2021, a mob of supporters of then-President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol during the congressional certification of the Electoral College votes, intending to stop or delay the certification of Joe Biden’s win. ○ The attackers disrupted Congress, leading to injuries to many law enforcement officers. ○ The violence was widely seen as a direct threat to the constitutional process of transferring power. ○ Trump and his allies reportedly pressured state officials to submit alternate (fake) slates of electors in states he lost, trying to overturn the legitimate results. ○ According to the January 6 committee, Trump used pressure on the Department of Justice, including attempts to replace officials with those more favorable to his claims of election fraud. ○ These efforts reflected a strategy to subvert the certification process, not just through legal challenges but via political maneuvering and extra-legal pressure. ○ There has been bipartisan momentum to reform the Electoral Count Act, which governs how Congress counts and certifies Electoral College votes. Reform advocates argue that ambiguities in the old law were exploited in 2020 to challenge the peaceful transfer of power. ○ In 2022, Congress passed the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, which aims to clarify the certification process and prevent fake-elector schemes. ○ The insurrection deepened polarization and mistrust in government institutions. ○ Experts warn that false claims about the election’s legitimacy have damaged public confidence in democratic norms, making future peaceful transitions more fragile. ○ According to polling, some Americans still doubt that a future transfer of power would be peaceful: around 32% expressed a lack of confidence. The presidential transition for Biden’s administration was complicated by the violence of January 6, as well as by political divisions. ○ Some members of Trump’s administration resigned in protest after the Capitol attack. ○ The attack also prompted stricter security for future transitions and raised questions about how to protect the certification process and Congress. The January 6 attack has become a symbol of the fragility of democratic institutions: it
