The Executive Branch: Plus an intro to the bureaucracy…

The Executive Branch:Plus an intro to the bureaucracy… Hey, I’m not the only one here!

Let’s review… • Article I: The legislative branch makes the _______ . • Article II: The executive branch _______ the law. • Article III: The judicial branch ________ the law.

Enumerated Powers of the President • Judicial: Reprieve (postponement of a sentence), pardon (legal forgiveness) • Ordinance: Issue executive orders (like laws, more on next slide!) • Executive: enforces, administers and carries out law • Legislative: writes bills, creates an agenda, veto, sign, ignore (no line item!!)

Executive Orders are powerful b/c they… • have the same authority over the government as laws • can direct millions of workers to conduct business in a certain way • can change the scope and direction of federal policies on issues like civil rights • command the entire federal bureaucracy

Commander in Chief: power over the military • Appointment: chooses loyal subordinates, appoints with Senate approval • Recognition: acknowledges other countries • Treaties: formal agreement, need Senate consent with 2/3 majority vote • Executive Agreement: Like a treaty, no senate approval • Removal: Remove anyone he appoints except for judges

Limiting the President’s power • War Powers Resolution • Checks and Balances • 22nd amendment (term limits) • Does not introduce legislation • Last year of office…Lame Duck • No more line-item veto (says the SC)

Let’s practice! • Over the course of the weekend, the Upper Peninsula broke away from the state of Michigan and declared that it was a new country. It took the official name of “Winterwonderland”. In a news conference 1 week later, President Obama declared that he would never accept this new country. Later, he changed his mind and pardoned all the leaders of the UP, relieving them of treason charges. What powers were used? • Recognition • Judicial • Appointment • Legislative

And again! • There was much joy and ticker tape parades in the United States when the Senate approved the agreement between the U.S. and Germany at the end of World War II. The president then chose to begin trading and talking with the new German Republic. What powers did the President use to do this? • Judicial • Recognition • Treaty • Foreign Affairs

A Day in the life of President Obama • Look at Barack Obama’s daily schedule • What types of things do you notice? • Are there any powers used? • http://www.whitehouse.gov/schedule/complete

Constitutional Presidential qualifications? • 35 years old • Natural born citizen • Live here for 14 years Informal Requirements?

Inside the Situation Room • http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/inside-white-house/video-series What is the situation room?

The Bureaucracy! • Our federal government is made up of millions of employees (just over 4 million!). They are part of our federal bureaucracy. A bureaucracy is a means for executing executive policy. • In other words, they are the people who help the president execute the law. These people deliver the mail, regulate business practices, collect taxes, manage the national forests, etc….the list goes on and on! Let’s look at some of these people/agencies now!

Characteristics of our bureaucracy: • Hierarchy, organization, several managers, complexity, appointed officials • Specialization

President Barack Obama and VP Joe Biden I break ties in the Senate… Yippee….. I’m the leader of the free world…

The Office of the President • President used to be a loner • Assassinations and attention led to a growing number of assistants, especially since mid 1900s. • “The White House Office”: closest advisors, the West Wing, 600 people like SS, the chef, Marine sentries, Press Sec., Natl. Security Advisor • No Senate approval necessary • Oversees the political and policy interests of the president Chief of Staff decides how much contact people will have with the president-runs the White House Office, gatekeeper Denis McDonough (Obama’s 4th CoS)

Office of the President, cont’d • “The Executive Office”: Separate from the cabinet. Agencies that report to the pres but are not in the White House. Senate approval for top positions. • National Security Council, Management and Budget, Economic Advisors, Drug Control Policy, Trade I need some advice…

Independent (Regulatory) Agencies • Some heads of agencies are appointed by the president but don’t “work for him” • Many serve fixed terms and cannot be removed without reason • Examples • Federal Reserve Board (regulates the $ supply!) • FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) • FCC (Federal Communications Commission) • FDA (Food and Drug Administration-protects consumers)

Difference between executive and independent agencies? • Not altogether clear… • What do you think? Similarities? Differences?

Jan, 2014-The Senate confirmed Janet Yellen as the next Federal Reserve chairman Monday, ensuring that the central bank's pro-growth policies since the Great Recession will likely continue.The 56-26 vote for President Obama's nominee was largely along party lines in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Yellen, 67, the Fed's vice chair since 2010, will become the first woman to head a major central bank when her four-year term begins Feb. 1. She will succeed Ben Bernanke, whose bold actions to pump money into the economy during the 2008 financial crisis are credited with helping the nation avoid a second Great Depression. "Americans should feel reassured that we will have her at the helm of the Fed as our nation continues to recover from the Great Recession," Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson, D-S.D., said in a statement. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/01/06/senate-confirms-yellen-fed-chair/4345111/ Fed Chairperson- Janet Yellen

Other presidential appointments • Supreme Court Justices (9) • Federal Judges (89) • Life terms (unless impeached) • Need Senate approval • Commissions (e.g. Tower) • Controversial “acting appointees”

Executive Agencies • Appointed by President, with consent of Senate • Examples: • All cabinet positions • All “Executive Offices”

About the Cabinet • Not mentioned in the Constitution • Since Kennedy…no family members allowed • Heads of 15 executive departments (executive agencies) • 4000-600,000 employees per department • Must have Senate approval for appointment • Are sometimes asked to resign by the president between terms or during a term • Are said to have “gone native” when they put the department before the president • President also appoints other members of these departments • Room for “rewards”, patronage • Inside the White House: The Cabinet (5:48)http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/inside-white-house-cabinet

Who They Are • Usually from the private sector, universities, law firms, etc. • Don’t always agree with the president • Often take a pay cut to be in the cabinet • The VP is also considered a member

State Department • Secretary John Kerry • Created in 1789 • 27000 employees • A lot of presidential power lies in foreign policy-goal: advance democracy around the world • Power overlaps with the Chief National Security Advisor to the president (Thomas E. Donilon) • http://www.state.gov/aboutstatedepartment/

Department of the Treasury • Secretary Jack Lew • Goal: promote economic prosperity; coin/currency, revenue collection, borrow funds, protect financial system, exchange rates, prevent crises, sanctions, prosecute tax evaders • Works with Federal Reserve Board • Created in 1789 • 142700 employees • http://www.ustreas.gov/

Department of Defense • Secretary Chuck Hagel (1st Sec. appointee who was filibustered by Senate) • Home base is the Pentagon. Goal: provide forces to deter war, controls the 3 branches • Created in 1789 “War Department”/1947 renamed • “With over 1.4 million men and women on active duty, and 718,000 civilian personnel, we are the nation's largest employer. Another 1.1 million serve in the National Guard and Reserve forces. More than 2 million military retirees and their family members receive benefits.” • Chief civilian advisor on the military • Reagan Revolution: increase in defense spending • http://www.defenselink.mil/

Department of Justice • Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. • Created in 1789 • Enforce the law, terror plots, prosecute law breakers • New budget FY 2015-$200 million more for crime prevention/reentry programs-save money later? • Enforcement of gay marriage/marijuana laws • 126300 employees • http://www.usdoj.gov/ • http://www.justice.gov/video.php

Department of the Interior • Secretary Sally Jewell • Usually from the West-where most federal land is located • Created in 1849 • Protect the “great outdoors”, land, water, energy (wind/waves, geothermal, biofuel), honors tribal communities • 68000 employees • http://www.doi.gov/

Department of Agriculture • Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack • Created in 1889 • Conservation, assisting rural communities, food/nutrition (WIC), marketing • 99300 employees • http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome

Department of Commerce • Secretary Penny Pritzker • Created in 1913 • Promote business innovation, decennial census, job creation, economic growth, statistical analysis of growth factors (GDP) • 47000 employees • http://www.commerce.gov/

Department of Labor • Secretary Thomas Perez • Promote welfare of workers, job seekers, retirees, working conditions, fair pay, Unions, former military workers, benefits/rights of workers, FMLA • Created in 1913 • 16100 employees • http://www.dol.gov/

Department of Health and Human Services • Kathleen Sebelius • Created in 1953 • Affordable Care Act, Medicare (for elderly), Medicaid (for poor), works with state/local govts, immunizations, disaster preparedness • 62700 employees • http://www.hhs.gov/

Department of Housing and Urban Development • Secretary Shaun L.S. Donovan • Homes, mortgage insurance, loans (FHA), housing rentals, market, administer block grants (i.e. disaster recovery/works with FEMA) • Created in 1965 • 10300 employees • http://www.hud.gov/

Department of Transportation • Secretary Anthony Foxx • Created in 1966 • Goal: efficiency in transportation, research (vehicle to vehicle technology to promote driving safety (2015 goal,, distracted driving, high speed rail, etc.) • 63900 employees • http://www.dot.gov/

Department of Energy • Secretary Ernest Moniz • Created in 1977 • Nuclear energy, meet energy challenges with research/science, energy efficiency (Energy Saver) • 15700 employees • http://www.energy.gov/

Department of Education • Secretary Arne Duncan • Created in 1979 • 10th Amendment? • Americorps, research, publish data, establish policies (NCLB, Race to the Top, Common Core, bullying initiatives, provides 20% of funds to schools-states provide the rest) • 4700 employees • http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml

Department of Veterans Affairs • Secretary Eric K. Shinseki • Created in 1989 • Loans, pensions, GI Bill, survivor benefits, healthcare, burials/memorials • 220200 employees • http://www.va.gov/

Department of Homeland Security • Secretary Jeh Johnson • Created in 2002, post- 9/11 • 180000 employees • Keep America safe! • Created to coordinate cooperation and communication between various federal intelligence agencies • http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm

The Executive Branch: Plus an intro to the bureaucracy…