President for a Day Sit with your assigned group and log on to a laptop Go to my homepage and link to PBS kids and apply for the job Go through a day selecting your desired activities Keep track of what you do for the day in the in the day planner. Your day will start at 8am, but use the time blocks they assign to keep the pace for the day. Keep for discussion Journal #17: answer pg 391 – Presidents on the Presidency

The Presidency in Action

The Growth of Power Article II (pg 390) Congress passing laws Viewed as more effective than Congress More complex economy and world structure Times of emergency Public wants strong leadership Command the armed forces Media Carry out laws Grant pardons Send/receive diplomatic representatives Make treaties Approve/veto acts of Congress Article II (pg 390) Constantly facing new issues like: transportation, labor, civil rights, health, welfare, communication, education

Handbook/Training Guide for the President Use your assigned section create a handbook for the President Each section must: Have a cover with section title and picture(s) Required information (follow ws guide) Be typed and proof read for errors Saved to H drive of 1 group member All sections will be put together to make the complete handbook Each group will briefly present their section

U.S. PRESIDENT One of the most powerful elective offices in world today Serves as head of Executive Branch ENFORCES & ADMINISTERS LAWS Created by delegates to Constitutional Convention as a compromise

Article II Constitution created the presidency and gives the President certain expressed powers

Article II Is remarkably brief. Using the Constitution as a guide, do you think the President should be… POWERFUL or WEAK

Back to Article II Gives the president the power to “execute the laws” Means he (or she) follows and faithfully carries out the laws made by Congress (the Executive Branch does what it’s told to do!) However, two powers of the President have been used more recently (last 50 years) to expand the power of the President!

The Growth of Presidential Power

Executive Orders Executive orders are official documents, numbered consecutively, through which the President of the United States manages the operations of the Federal Government.   EXAMPLES: look over orders signed by President Obama in 2009

Signing Statements Give the president the ability to define and hone laws written by Congress Gives a great deal of flexibility in deciding how specifically the laws are carried out

Can appoint and remove top federal officials Attorney General, Department Chairs (Cabinet), Head of CIA Makes a big difference in how the Departments are run

Diplomatic and Military Powers

Diplomatic and Military Powers President shares treaty making powers with Congress Certain diplomatic powers can be carried out without the approval of congress Executive agreements Agreement between US and foreign country Recognition ‘recognize foreign country’ (Presidents have used these more)

Commander and Chief Possess almost unlimited military power Must ask Congress to “declare war” War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II But congress has not declared war once since World War II “Military Engagements” Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf War 1991, Afghanistan, Iraq - all not declared wars Congress approved these wars through funding not declarations of war

Legislative and Judicial Powers The Constitution gives the President important legislative and judicial powers as a part of the system of checks and balances in the Federal Government

Legislative Powers The President’s key legislative powers are to submit legislation for Congress to consider and to reject legislation that he opposes Does not MAKE the laws, but he influences the laws

Judicial Powers Appoints Supreme Court Justices Federal Judges Must be confirmed by a majority in the Senate

Judicial Powers Power of Clemency - The Constitution gives the President several powers of clemency - powers with which he can show mercy to those convicted of federal crimes Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby (Chief of Staff for the VP) was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice President Bush ‘commuted’ his sentence. Still guilty, didn’t have to go to jail. EXCEPTIONS: impeachment