Unit 3: The Executive Branch

1. Unit 3: The Executive Branch

3. Some presidential trivia… • Youngest: Theodore Roosevelt (42) • Oldest: Ronald Reagan (69) • Longest Inaugural Address: William Henry Harrison (105 minutes) • Shortest Term: William Henry Harrison (32 days) • Longest Term: Franklin Roosevelt (12 years) • Tallest: Abraham Lincoln (6 feet, 4 inches)

4. Trivia, continued…. • The ‘Teddy Bear’ was named for Theodore Roosevelt • Largest feet: Warren Harding (Size 14) • John F. Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic President • Father-Son combos: John Adams and John Quincy Adams and George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush

5. ….and more trivia…. • President with most Grammy Awards: Barack Obama (2, both for Spoken Word performance) • Shortest and lightest President: James Madison (5 feet, 4 inches and +/- 100 pounds • Only President to not belong to a political party: George Washington • President who regularly went skinny dipping in the Potomac River: John Quincy Adams

6. The Roles of the President • Chief of State • Chief Executive • Chief Administrator • Chief Diplomat • Commander in Chief • Chief Legislator • Chief of Party • Chief Citizen

7. Chief of State • The ceremonial head of the government and the symbol of all Americans • “…the personal embodiment and representative of their dignity and majesty”

8. Chief Executive • The President has broad powers to carry out and enforce the laws of the United States

9. Chief Administrator • Head of government offices • 2.7 million employees • 2.5 trillion dollar budget

10. Chief Diplomat • The President conducts foreign policy and is the nation’s spokesperson to the rest of the world

11. Commander in Chief • The President is the head of the armed forces • The Constitution says this person must be a civilian and not an active military member • Washington, Grant, Eisenhower

12. Chief Legislator • The President is the main source of public policies and for the most part sets the agenda for what Congress works on

13. Chief of Party • The President is the leader of his or her political party. • Parties are not mentioned in the Constitution

14. Chief Citizen • The moral leader of the nation and the person who protects the interests of the people

15. Term and Compensation • The President serves a FOUR year term. According to the 22nd Amendment, he or she may only serve two full terms (or ten years in case he or she took over during another person’s term) • Some Presidents have called for a repeal of the 22nd Amendment. What do you think?

16. Presidential Qualifications • What are the formal qualifications? • A “natural born citizen” of the United States • Be at least 35 years of age • 14 years a resident within the United States

17. $$$ • 1789: $25,000 • 2012: $400,000 + $50,000/yr expenses • A nice house, big staff, protection, cars, Air Force One, Camp David, travel and entertainment funds and great health care!

18. Are you sure you want to be President?

19. The Vice President “I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may become everything.” --- John Adams “ The Vice Presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm spit.” --- John Nance Garner

20. The Vice Presidency • Vice President must meet all the same qualifications as the President • VPs take over if President dies, resigns, or is incapacitated (25th Amendment) • Duties: Presides over Senate (breaks ties) and helps to decide if the President is incapacitated

21. Vice President Joe Biden • Born November 20th, 1942 in Scranton, PA. • US Senator from Delaware from 1973 – 2008. • Attended the University of Delaware. • Doctorate from Syracuse University. • Became the 47th Vice President of the United States on January 20th, 2008.

22. Order of Succession to the Presidency Vice President Speaker of the House President pro tempore of the Senate Secretary of State Secretary of Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General Secretary of the Interior Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Labor Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Energy Secretary of Education Secretary of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Homeland Security

23. The Powers of the President • Veto Bills from Congress • Can call Congress into special session • Called when action is needed from Congress but they have ended their session (Go to war, finish the budget, etc.)

24. The Powers of the President • Commander in Chiefof the Armed Forces • Pardonfederal criminals

25. The Powers of the President • Make treaties with other countries (with Senate approval) • Appoint ambassadors, federal court judges, Supreme Court justices, top government officials (all with Senate approval)

26. Presidential Pardons The President can assist those being charged with federal crimes in 3 ways: • Pardon- a declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment (Ex: Richard Nixon was pardoned by Gerald Ford)

27. Presidential Pardons • Amnesty - a pardon toward a group of people (Ex: Jimmy Carter gave amnesty to Vietnam era draft dodgers)

28. Presidential Pardons • Reprieve- order to delay a person’s punishment until a higher court can hear the case (Ex: in the case of a person on death row)

29. Executive Orders -A rule or command that the President issues that has the force of law • Only Congress can make laws • President can issue Executive Orders to ensure laws are being carried out properly

30. The State of the Union • Not technically a power, but this gives the President the opportunity to speak directly to the policymakers in the US and direct them toward his vision for the country.

31. The State of the Union • The Constitution requires that the President report annually to Congress about the state of the country; this has become known as the “State of the Union Address”

32. Executive Orders Activity • After reading the article and answering the questions, complete the following: • With your partner, create four multiple choice questions – one from each section of the text. • Questions should have four GOOD options each – no silly / stupid options! • When this activity is completed, turn in your work, then work with your partner on your script.

34. Presidential Powers Activity: Truman’s Decision • You will be given a role to play. Stick to this role! • Get in your group: • Political Appointees - Byrnes, Stimson, Bard, Conant, Bush • Scientists - Oppenheimer, Compton, Teller, Szilard, Franck • Generals - Marshall, Leahy, Eisenhower, Groves, Arnold • Groups will debate among themselves to determine a course of action. What will be acceptable to most? • 3 Reasons for this course of action must be written

35. Presidential Powers Activity: Truman’s Decision • Leaders will present their plan to Truman. Truman may ask them (or anyone on their team) specific questions. • After listening to AT LEAST the leaders (and anyone else he wishes to question), Truman will make a decision, announce it to the class, and explain at least two factors that made him make this decision.

36. Truman’s Decision Assignment • Choose one question to respond to in a one-paragraph response: • What has this activity made you realize about the job of President? • What kind of person should seek the Presidency? (relate your answer to this activity) • Would you make a good or bad President? Why? (relate your answer to this activity)

38. Term and Compensation • The President serves a FOUR year term. According to the 22nd Amendment, he or she may only serve two full terms (or ten years in case he or she took over during another person’s term) • Some Presidents have called for a repeal of the 22nd Amendment. What do you think?

39. Presidential Qualifications • What are the formal qualifications? • A “natural born citizen” of the United States • Be at least 35 years of age • 14 years a resident within the United States

40. $$$ • 1789: $25,000 • 2012: $400,000 + $50,000/yr expenses • A nice house, big staff, protection, cars, Air Force One, Camp David, travel and entertainment funds and great health care!

41. Question: How many votes does a Presidential candidate need to become the President?

42. Answer: 270

43. The Electoral College • When we vote in a Presidential election, we vote for Electors, NOT the President. • Electors: People from a political party sworn to vote for their party’s candidate

44. The Electoral College • How many electoral votes do we get? • # of Representatives + #of Senators = # of Electoral votes • SC has 7Reps and 2 Senators = 9Electoral Votes

45. The Electoral College • The candidate who gains the majority vote in a state gets ALL of that state’s Electoral votes

46. The Electoral College • How many electoral votes are there? • # of Reps + # of Senators + 3 for DC • 538 • A candidate needs a simple majority (270 votes) to win the Presidency

48. Electoral Map of 2008 Obama: 365 Electoral Votes, 53% of popular vote McCain: 173 Electoral Votes, 46% of popular vote

49. Let’s Review • What is the Electoral College? • How do we determine the number of electors each state gets? • How many electoral votes are there in total? • How many electoral votes does a candidate need to win?

50. Now we know what the formal structure of the Electoral College is… • …but what impact does it have on people campaigning for the Presidency? • …what impact does it have on voters throughout the US?