Unit 3: The Executive Branch

1. Unit 3: The Executive Branch

2. Unit 3: The Executive Branch Chapter 8 The Presidency Chapter 9 Presidential Leadership Chapter 10 The Federal Bureaucracy

3. Chapter 8 The Presidency 8.1 President and Vice President 8.2 Electing the President 8.3 The Cabinet 8.4 The Executive Office

4. ACOS: • 2. Analyze purposes, organization, functions, and principles of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. • 7. Trace the development and impact of the media on the political process and public opinion in the United States. • 8. Identify roles political parties play in the functioning of the political system of the United States. • 10. Identify constitutional provisions of the executive branch of the government of the United States.

5. 8.1 President and Vice President • Duties of the President • President’s Term and Salary • Presidential Qualifications • Presidential Succession • The Vice President’s Role

6. Duties of the President • Command of military • Appointment of some federal officials • Foreign Policy • Enforcement of the Law • Lawmaking agenda

7. Duties of the President Which of the presidential duties are reflected in the pictures on the following slides?

12. Obama’s State of the Union Address

14. Presidential Term and Salary • The 22nd amendment limits presidential terms to two. • This amendment was created in response to FDR’s 4 terms. • A VP can serve up to 10 years as president if he becomes president with two years or less left on his predecessor.

16. Presidential Term and Salary • Congress determines how much compensation presidents receive. • As of 2001, presidents make $400,000 annually. • Presidents receive other benefits. Examples: • Air Force One • Marine One • Free medical, dental, and health care • Rent free housing (The White House) • After retirement, they receive a pension of $148,400 a year.

17. Presidential Qualifications • Constitutional Requirements • natural born citizen • at least 35 years old • resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years before taking office • Informal Requirements • Government experience • Importance of money • Moderate Political Beliefs • Personal Characteristics(ethnic, economic, racial, and gender backgrounds)

18. “The Johnson Treatment” Johnson’s personal characteristics helped him “persuade” lawmakers.

19. “The Johnson Treatment”

21. Discussion Question • What do you consider the most important qualification for the office of the president? • Explain.

22. Presidential Succession • The 25th amendment establishes the order of succession for the presidency. • It also establishes procedure for a vacancy in the vice presidency. • It also sets the procedure if the president becomes disabled.

24. Discussion Question • In 1967, why was the 25th amendment added to the Constitution? • President Kennedy’s assassination helped show that the rules for succession were inadequate.

25. The Vice President’s Role • Balancing the Ticket • President of the Senate • Advisor to the President • Representative of the President • Successor to the President

26. Discussion Question • Why have recent presidents tried to give their vice presidents more responsibilities? • To promote them as future presidential candidates • To use their expertise • To prepare them for the highest office

27. Recent Vice Presidents who became President through the death of the President

28. Recent Vice Presidents who became President through the death of the President

29. Recent Vice Presidents who became President through the vacancy of the President

30. Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity • What does the father think is the most important requirement to become president? • He thinks access to money is the most important requirement to become president. .

31. Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity • Does the cartoon make references to any of the formal qualifications for the office of president? • No.

32. Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity • Do you agree with the statement made in the cartoon? Why or why not?

33. 8.2 Electing the President • The Original System • Impact of Political Parties • The Electoral College Today • Electoral College Issues • The Inauguration

34. ACOS: • 2. Analyze purposes, organization, functions, and principles of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. • 7. Trace the development and impact of the media on the political process and public opinion in the United States. • 8. Identify roles political parties play in the functioning of the political system of the United States. • 10. Identify constitutional provisions of the executive branch of the government of the United States.

35. 8.2 Electing the President • The Original System • Impact of Political Parties • The Electoral College Today • Electoral College Issues • The Inauguration

36. The Original System • Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution states that the candidate with the majority of the electoral votes becomes president. • The candidate who comes in second wins the vice presidency.

37. Discussion Question • What political problem could result from the vice president being the second-highest electoral vote? • The vice president may be a political foe of the president.

38. The Impact of Political Parties • The Election of 1800 was decided by the House of Representatives. • To prevent a tie vote for president in the Electoral College, the 12th amendment was added. • It provided that electors must cast separate ballots for the president and vice president.

39. The Electoral College System Today • The Electoral College is still used to choose the president and vice president. • The College uses a winner-take-all system. • Maine and Nebraska are the only exceptions. • Electoral votes go to the candidate receiving the largest popular vote. • Electors cast the official vote in December.

40. Discussion Question • Should an elector be required to vote for the candidate who won that state’s popular vote? Explain. • FYI: Faithless electors have never changed election results. • In 1976, a Washington elector voted for Ronald Reagan although Ford had won the state’s popular vote. • In 2004, a Minnesota elector voted for Jonathan Edwards for president and vice president. • 9 other electors have broken with custom.

41. Electoral College Issues • Critics claim the winner-take-all system is unfair. • It is possible for a candidate to lose the total popular vote and win the electoral vote. • A third-party candidate could prevent any candidate from an electoral majority.

42. Electoral College Issues • The House of Representatives then determines the winner. • Suggestions to improve the electoral college have been made. • Some believe the Electoral College should be replaced by direct election.

43. Bush/Gore 2000

44. Bush/Kerry 2004

47. Discussion Question • How can the Electoral College be improved? • Read pages 224-225.

48. Issues to Debate 8-2 Should the Electoral College Be Replaced? Create charts listing the advantages and disadvantages of the Electoral College and of a direct election. Evaluate your charts and decide whether they support the Electoral College or direct election of the president. Then form two groups accordingly. Have group members merge their charts into a group chart showing the advantages of the system they support. Allow each group to explain one advantage at a time and the other group to debate that advantage until all advantages have been explained and debated. Tally the number of students in each group and note which system each group supported. Concluding the Debate Hold a secret-ballot vote for the Electoral College or for direct election, and tally the results. Compare these totals with the total number of students in each group. Discuss the changes in number of votes and number of group members. Ask who originally supported one system and later voted for another to evaluate why they changed their views.

49. The Inauguration • The new president is sworn into office in an inauguration ceremony. • All leading officials from the three branches attend the January 20 ceremony.