The Executive Branch

The Office of the President Head of the executive branch –responsible for carrying out the law Sets goals for the nation Develops policies

Creating the office Term Elected to a 4-year term May be reelected once Limited power Cannot make laws Congress must approve many decisions May be removed from office

Qualifications and salary At least 35 years old Natural born citizen of the US Must have lived in the US for at least 14 years Salary is set by Congress

Roles of the President Chief Executive Ensure laws are carried out Gives executive orders – rules and regulations government must follow Appoints about 4,000 executive branch officials Must be approved by Congress

Commander in Chief Leader of the armed forces Sets military goals + approves military tactics May deploy troops even if Congress hasn’t declared war War Powers Resolution – troops may not remain for more than 60 days w/out Congress approval

Chief Diplomat Makes foreign policy plans for our relationships w/other countries May make treaties w/other countries Must be approved by Senate Appoints ambassadors – representatives to foreign governments Makes executive agreements – agreements w/other countries that don’t need Senate approval

Legislative Leader Recommends policy in State of the Union Address Helps set domestic policy –plans for dealing with national problems Can veto Congressional legislation Makes the budget Can call a special session of Congress if Congress is not meeting

Roles created by tradition Party Leader – supports party members running for office Chief of State – performs ceremonial duties

Organization of the Executive Branch Is a bureaucracy – an organization of government departments, agencies and offices President appoints an administration to lead the 3 main parts of the executive branch

Executive Office of the President: Advises president on important matters White House staff Chief of staff, advisers, press secretaries, legal experts, speechwriters, etc Hired by President w/out Senate approval

Special Advisory Groups Vice President Has no duties aside from presiding over Senate President decides how active the VP’s role should be Special Advisory Groups Groups that help the president make domestic and foreign policy decisions Include Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and National Security Council (NSC)

The Executive Departments Are currently 15 different departments Do work connected w/carrying out nation’s laws and running government programs

President appoints head of each executive department Must be approved by the Senate Department secretaries (leaders) and Attorney General form the core Cabinet – important group of policy advisors to the president

Independent Agencies Executive Agencies Under direct control of the president – can choose or remove directors Includes NASA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Regulatory Commissions Each makes and carries out rules for certain business/economic activity FCC, Consumer Public Safety Commission (CPSC) Have long terms to be free from political bias

Civil Service System Government Corporations Provide public services but try to make a profit USPS, Amtrak Civil Service System Employees chosen on the basis of merit Rocket engineers at NASA, mail carriers