The Executive Branch

1. The Executive Branch The Presidency

2. The President’s Job Description • Chief of State: President is head of government, symbol of the country. • Chief Executive: President’s job to execute and enforce laws. • Chief Administrator: President head’s federal bureaucracy. • Chief Diplomat: President is spokesperson to other countries; architect of foreign policy. • Commander & Chief: President is leader of the armed forces. • Chief Legislator: President sets congressional agenda & creates public policy. • Chief of Party: Leader of political party. • Chief Citizen: President is suppose to be model/ideal citizen.

3. Formal Qualifications for President • Article II of Constitution states qualifications for presidency. • Natural born citizen. • At least 35 years of age. • Lived in country for at least 14 years.

4. The President’s Term • President is elected to a four year term. • Twenty-second Amendment • Are term limits democratic? • Pay & benefits: • Congress sets President’s annual salary. • Article II, Section 1: • Annual salary of $400,000. • $50,000 annual expense account. • Fringe Benefits: • Examples?

5. Presidential Succession & Vice Presidency • If President dies, resigns, or is removed from office, who then becomes President? • Vice President • Speaker of the House • President Pro Tempore • Secretary of State • Other Cabinet members in order of precedence. • Supreme Court Justices • Governors • Twenty-fifth Amendment/Presidential Succession Act.

6. Presidential Disability • If president is disabled, who takes leadership responsibility? • Vice President (25th Amendment) • When the president resumes his duty, can his ability be challenged? • Yes, Congress has the power to decide if the president is capable or resuming duties • 25th amendment

7. The Vice Presidency • Constitutional duties: • Preside over the Senate • Help decide the issue of presidential disability. • Often, office of vice president is seen as unimportant. • What do you think? • Often, political parties choose a vice-presidential candidate who will “help balance the ticket”. • John McCain: vice-presidential candidate will most likely be conservative.

8. Presidential Selection: Framers Plan • Original Constitutional Provisions: • Electoral College (state by states, casting vote for TWO candidates) • The candidate with the most vote became President, second place became Vice President. • In case of tie House elect a President. • Impact of Parties on Politics: • Election of 1800 • 12th Amendment • Modernized presidential selection.

9. Electoral College Today • Electors are chosen by popular vote and make up the electoral college. • Group is chosen in each state & D.C. (23rd Am) every four years. • Job: make a formal selection of President. • The number of votes that a state has in the electoral college is equal to the number of members in BOTH houses of Congress. (NE=5, CA=55) • Party that wins the majority of the popular vote in each state gets all that states electoral votes. • Popular votes do count! • Electoral votes are counted on January 6th, in D.C. • What happens in case of a tie? • Senate and House get to decide the next president!

10. Flaws in Electoral College • Votes are note distributed proportionally, so the winner of the popular vote may not win the electoral vote. • Electors are not bound to vote for the candidate favored in popular vote. • Elections may be thrown into the House, when voting is state by state.

11. Presidential Executive Power • Executing the Law: • President is responsible for carrying out the nations laws. • Ordinance Power: • In charge of federal bureaucracy, issues executive orders. • Appointing Power: • Ambassadors, judges, cabinet members. • Must be approved by the Senate. • Removal Power: • Controversial

12. Diplomatic & Military Powers • Foreign Affairs: • Usually acts through secretary of state. • Negotiate treaties, Senate must approve. • Executive Agreements: • Pact between President and leaders of foreign countries; DO NOT require Senate ratification. • Recognition: • Exclusive power of the President to acknowledge the legal existence of a country and establish formal diplomatic relations.

13. Military Powers • Share military power with Congress • no limits on his/her role as commander in chief. • Delegate much of their authority to military personnel. • Only CONGRESS can declare war. • War Powers Resolution Act

14. Legislative Powers • Gives State of the Union. • Recommends specific legislation. • Veto power. • Call special sessions and adjourn Congress.

15. Judicial Powers • Grant reprieves and pardons. • Federal law. • Reprieve: official postponement of sentence. • Pardon: Release from punishment or legal consequences. • Commute sentences. • Reduce length of a sentence or fines imposed. • Amnesty: general pardon offered to individual or group o law violaters.

16. The Executive Office The “EO” was established in 1939, by President Roosevelt. Includes the president’s closest advisors and aides. Advises the president on current issues. Domestic and international. Made up of several offices: Council of Economic Advisors Office of Management & Budget National Security Council

17. The White House Considered part of the Executive Office. The White House Office includes: The president’s closest personal and political advisors. Press Secretary White House Staff: researchers, clerical staff, social secretaries. Schedule president’s appointments Write speeches Communicate with Congress and departments. President’s doctor.

18. Executive Departments Framers of Constitution created a plan of government with room for growth. Vague in outlining details of executive branch. Checks & Balances: Congress has the power to establish/eliminate executive departments. President can appoint heads of the departments, with Congress’ approval.

19. Executive Departments There are currently 14 Executive Departments. Departments are created by Congress. Assigned specific area of responsibility. Work to improve the lives of Americans. The heads of these departments are known as the presidents CABINET. All but one are known as “secretary” Department of Justice: Attorney General

20. Department of State (1789) Secretary Dr. Condoleezza Rice Chief responsibility: Foreign Policy Other responsibilities: Issues passports & visas Consists of many officials: Ambassadors: highest ranking US representative in foreign countries. (embassy) Consuls: represents the US commercial interests in foreign countries. (work to improve trade & protect business persons)

21. Department of Treasury (1789) Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. Chief Responsibility: Manages the country’s money. Collects taxes Pays out money owed by federal government Divisions: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Customs Service: collects taxes on goods brought into the country. Secret Service: protects president and prevents counterfeiting (making fake money)

22. Department of Defense(1947) Chief Responsibility: Plan military defense & provide training/equipment for military. Joint Chiefs of Staff: Highest ranking military officers of army, navy and air force. Advises the president on military affairs. Secretary is ALWAYS a civilian. Has several military officers as assistants. Secretary Robert M. Gates

23. Department of Justice (1870) Chief Responsibility: Enforces federal laws. Other Responsibilities: Defends US in court when a lawsuit is brought against federal government. Led by Attorney General Judiciary Act of 1789 Acting Attorney General Peter D. Keisler Divisions: FBI: investigates crimes in which federal laws are broken. INS: deals with naturalization and immigration issues.

24. Department of Interior(1849) Secretary Dirk Kempthorne Chief Responsibility: Manages the nations natural resources. Other Responsibilities: Encourages wise use of land, minerals, water, fish, and wildlife. Divisions: Bureau of Indian Affairs: handles matters that involve American Indians. National Park Service: responsible for national parks.

25. Department of Agriculture(1889) Acting Secretary Chuck Conner Chief Responsibility: Helps farmers raise & market crops. Divisions: Farm Service Agency Provides loans for farmers Food & Nutrition Service Manages the food stamp & National School Lunch program Inspects food (safety)

26. Department of Commerce(1903) Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez Chief Responsibility: Encourage American trade & business Other Agencies: Patent & Trademark Administration Protects rights of inventors Census Bureau Counts US population every 10 years.

27. Department of Labor(1903) Secretary Elaine L. Chao Chief Responsibility: Gathers information on working conditions. Divisions: Employment Standards Administration Carry out federal laws that regulate wages & hours of workers. Seeks to improve working conditions. Women’s Bureau Promotes employment opportunities & personal well-being for working women.

28. Department of Health & Human Services (1979) Secretary Mike Leavitt Chief Responsibility: Runs programs to promote the health and well-being of all US citizens. Housing & Urban Development Chief Responsibility: Seeks to improve housing conditions in US cities. Other Responsibilities: Helps people buy homes Helps city/state governments provide public housing and improve neighborhoods

29. Department of Transportation (1966) Secretary Mary E. Peters Chief Responsibility: Helps coordinate & develop the country’s transportation systems (interstates, etc) Other Responsibilities: Promotes public safety Deals with mass transportation issues

30. Department of Energy (1977) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman Chief Responsibility: Help plan and manage US energy policy. Other Responsibilities: Enforces energy laws. Regulates the development and use of nuclear & hydroelectric energy & other energy sources.

31. Other Executive Departments Education Secretary Margaret Spellings Chief Responsibility: Provides advice & information to country’s school system. Other Responsibilities: Distributes federal funding. Administers federal school programs (NCLB) Veteran Affairs Secretary Gordon H. Mansfield Chief Responsibility: Administering government benefits to US veterans and their families. Healthcare, pension, education loans

32. Independent Agencies Help the president carry out his duties. These are NOT departments! Created by a Congress to perform a SPECIFIC job. Currently there are 65. Several assist the work of the entire government. Examples: NASA (astronauts) OPM

33. Regulatory Commissions Independent agencies that have the power to make rules & punish violators. Examples: Federal Election Commission Enforces election laws Provides finance information for campaigns Consumer Product Safety Commission Enforces safety standards for consumer products.