The Executive Branch

1. The Executive Branch Chap. 13 and 14: The President and his Powers

2. Section Reviews • Pg. 321 #2-5 • Pg. 326 #2-6 • Pg. 329 #2-5 • Pg. 334 #2-7 • Pg. 339 #2-4 • Pg. 347 #2-6

3. Day 1: The President's Job Description • Q1. What are the many roles a President must play? • Chief Executive • runs government, calls armed forces, pardons criminals, negotiates treaties, appoints ambassadors • Chief of State • Entertains foreign leaders, speaks at charities, approves monuments

4. Day 1: The President's Job Description • Q2. What are the constitutional guidelines for qualifications and terms? • Written • “natural born” citizen • at least 35 y/o • Lived in U.S. at least 14 yrs. • Unwritten (based on tradition) • Male, white, Christian, from well-to-do families, well educated, married, from small rural town, military experience • Term • 2 term tradition set by George Washington • 22nd Amendment (after FDR) • 2 term max (up to 10 years)

5. Day 1: The President's Job Description • Q3. What is the President’s compensation? • Salary=estab. by congress • $450,000/year • $140,000/year for retirement • $50,000 expense account • Use of jets, planes, white house, Camp David • Free health care

6. Day 2: Presidential Succession • Q1. What are the constitutional provisions for succession to the Presidency? • Presidential Succession Act of 1947 • Estab. line of succession • President>Vice-Pres.>Speak of House>Members of Cabinet

7. Day 2: Presidential Succession • Q2. How is presidential disability determined and dealt with? • 25th Amendment=procedure to deal with sick Presidents • The V-P sits in if… • The President informs Congress in writing • The VP and majority of Cabinet members inform Congress in writing • President resumes power by writing to Congress • The VP and Cabinet can challenge the President

8. Day 2: Presidential Succession • Q3. What is the status of the Vice President in history and today? • In History… • VPs had no responsibility • Only role was President of the Senate • Helped campaign • Protected in case President died • Today… • Becomes chair of committees • Takes on issues • Entertains foreign leaders • Advises the President

9. Assignment for Wednesday • Pg. 321 # 2-5 • Pg.326 #2-6

10. Day 3: The Framer's Plan • Q1. What did the Framers intend the electoral college to be? • A way to cut back on calculating the popular vote nationally • Leave it up to the states to count votes • Put more informed voters (electors) into the position of choosing a president • “people are natuarally evil, brutish, etc.”

11. Day 3: The Framer's Plan • Q2. What factors helped to transform the presidential selection process? • Increase in communication technology • Increase in print media

12. Day 3: The Framer's Plan • Q3. How does the electoral college work today? • Using the convention system (local, district, state, etc.) state electors are chosen • States calculate the popular vote on election day • Based on the # of representatives (HOR and Senate), that is how many electors each state gets • Electors then vote (hopefully) how their state prefers (based on popular vote)

13. Day 3: The Framer's Plan • Q4. What are the major criticisms of the electoral college? • Goes against “one-person-one vote” principle • Idea that every vote is equally important and counted • President can win the popular vote, but lose the election • Independent electors=do not vote as the popular vote calls for (“faithless electors”)

14. Day 3: The Framer's Plan • Q5. What are some of the proposals to revise the system? • Proportional vote=# of popular votes=% of votes • 40% must be reached • Encourages 3rd party candidates • Does not balance large and small states • District Vote=an elector chosen for each district • Two at-large electors per state • Increases likelihood of gerrymandering • Popular vote still does not guarantee a win • Direct Vote=popular vote • Most votes total wins election • A very small percentage can win the election

15. Section Reviews • Pg. 355 #2-4 • Pg. 360 #2-5 • Pg. 365 #2-5 • Pg. 368 #2-5 • Pg. 375 #2-5

16. Day 4: Presidential Power • Q1. What is the historic and ongoing debate over proper scope of president’s power? • Article II of the Constitution sets out the President’s powers: • Command forces, make treaties, approve/veto bills, grant pardons • Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists • Anti-federalists=against strong executive • Concerned will gain another tyrant of a king • Federalists=for a strong executive branch • Felt only way to get government moving • Passage of Bill of Rights to appease both parties

17. Day 4: Presidential Power • Q2. How has the President’s power grown over time? • An individual interpretation of the Constitution • Liberal vs. Strict Constructivist • Liberal=loose interpretation, doesn’t say I can’t so I will • Strict=if it doesn’t say I can, then I won’t • An increase in the complexity of society • Needs for welfare, more services, etc. • Increase in national emergencies

18. Day 4: Presidential Power • Q3. What is the scope of the President’s executive powers? • Domestic Powers=what happens inside US borders • Executive Orders=rules issued by President to enforce laws • (3 strike) • Has an expiration date • Appoint Federal Officials • Ambassadors, judges, cabinet members, bureau chiefs, military officers • Usually friends of President • Executive Privilege=right to withhold info. from courts, Congress, etc. • Criminal cases do not count • For security purposes

19. Day 4: Presidential Power • Q4. How does the President exercise these powers? • Umbrella Version vs. Ladder Version

20. Day 5: Diplomatic and Military Power • Q1. What is the scope of the President’s diplomatic powers? • Diplomatic Powers=authority to speak for the U.S. • Appoints ambassadors • Recognizes foreign governments • Makes treaties

21. Day 5: Diplomatic and Military Power • Q2. What is the scope of the President’s military powers? • Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces • Appoints military officers • Approves military action • Problems • Congress in control of $ • “Undeclared Wars” (Korea, Vietnam) • War Powers Act of 1973 • President cannot send troops into combat areas unless… • Congress declares war • Law authorizes action • National emergency • Must notify Congress w/in 48 hours • Only allowed to last 60 days

22. Day 6: Legislative and Judicial Powers • Q1. What is the scope of the President’s legislative and judicial powers? • Legislative • Forms the agenda of Congress thru the State of the Union Speech • Economic Report that states unemployment, inflation,etc. • Budget Message of expected income/expenditures • Judicial • Appoints judges • Pardons crimes • Amnesty=political pardon to whole groups • Spending • “lump sum” funds for emergencies • Impoundment=President refusing to spend $ approved by Congress

23. Day 7: The Cabinet • Q1. What are some of the key components of the Executive Office? • Brownlow Commission • Commission on administrative management • Investigated President’s need for staff • Reorganization Act of 1939 • Brought agencies together to form the Executive office • Response to Brownlow Commission • Increased presidential staff by 1,000%

24. Day 7: The Cabinet • Q2. How has the current cabinet evolved? • In History… • Not mentioned in the Constitution • Product of custom and usage • 4 member cabinet in the beginning • Today… • Expanded to 14 members, all heads of departments • vP has become head of… • Typically friends of the President, but also experts

25. Day 7: The Cabinet • Q3. How are cabinet members selected? • Experts First… • Due to approval needed by the Senate • Held accountable in times of crisis that relate to their department • Friends Second… • President must be comfortable with cabinet since first line of communication with their field of expertise • Campaign contributors, loyal backers, etc. • Less and less there is a concern with being of the same party

26. Chapter Review Assignment: • Pg. 351 • Main Ideas-All Evens • Pg. 379 • Main Ideas-All Odds