Warm Up – What characteristics make a good President? What requirements, other than those in the US Constitution, would you like to see a President have? Explain.

Executive Branch -Duty is to carry out the laws of the Nation -One of the three branches of government -Duty is to carry out the laws of the Nation -Executive Branch is the largest of the branches with millions of employees

-Considered the leader of the United States President -Considered the leader of the United States -Due to America’s powerful position in the world since WWII, the President is Often considered the most powerful person in the world -Can not run the nation alone

(Article 2, Section 1, Clause 5 Qualifications -3 Requirements -35 Years old -Lived in US for 14 years -Natural born citizen (Article 2, Section 1, Clause 5 -Other Characteristics -All but 1 was white -all were males -most were protestant Christians (JFK was Catholic) -most were educated and had previous experience in government

Presidential Terms -elected through the electoral college system, which is based on a “winner take all” system of winning votes from each state -serve 4 year terms (Article 2, Section 1) -limited to serving two 4 year terms -22 Amendment

Vice- President -Main responsibility is to be ready to replace the President -Official head of the Senate -The V-P is usually heavily involved in the policies pursued by the President -Must meet same qualifications

Presidential Succession -What happen if a President dies or is unable to do his job??? -25th Amendment President Vice-President Speaker of the House President Pro-Tempore Secretary of State

-As the nation has grown so has the job of being President President’s Job -As the nation has grown so has the job of being President The President’s job is described in the Constitution throughout Article 2 -Examples: President has become the “legislative leader”, the “leader of the free world”, a diplomat, etc.

-Issue Executive Orders Chief Executive -Head of the Executive Branch (Section 1, Clause 1) -Bureaucracy (all the people who work for the government) -Duties -Carry Out the Laws -Issue Executive Orders -Appoint Government Officials

-Make Treaties w/ Senate Approval (section 2, clause 2) Chief Diplomat -Deals with Foreign Governments -Duties -Appoints Ambassadors w/ Senate Approval (Section 2, final clause on page 12) -Make Treaties w/ Senate Approval (section 2, clause 2) -Act as Mediator between Nations

Commander in Chief (Section 2, Clause 1) -Leader of the Armed Forces -Duties -Command Our Troops – (choses which part of the military to use, how many troops to go, etc. -Picks Military Leaders (Example: Obama fired a General who criticized him) The President becomes more powerful if a war breaks out, gaining more abilities to move troops and even suspend certain rights

Legislative Leader -Tries to get laws passed that benefit the nation as well as his Party -Economic leader in legislative role -Uses Presidential Influence (think threatening to veto actions, given to him in Article 1) -State of the Union Speech (Article 2, Section 3, Clause 1) -Uses the media

Party Leader -Is the Visible leader of his political party and Pursues policies favorable to his party goals -uses patronage system the patronage system gives out gov’t positions to those people who gave support to the candidate and share their ideas -gives endorsements in campaigns

-Head of the Law Enforcement System Judicial Leader -Head of the Law Enforcement System -Power to appoint Federal and Supreme Court Judges with approval of the Senate -Has certain Judicial powers granted in Article 2, Section 2, Clause 1 immunity pardons –forgiveness for a crime reprieves commutations amnesty- forgiveness to a group of people, (draft dodgers, immigrants?)

--mostly symbolic gestures, such as receiving guests to our nation Chief of State -Is the symbolic leader of the nation -Meets foreign leaders -Make patriotic speeches and visits --mostly symbolic gestures, such as receiving guests to our nation

You will write an essay based on the article given, following these guidelines. Address each side of the issue (summarizing) Take a position on Cruz’s eligibility, stating your own opinion on this question. Explain why you feel the way you do. Cite pieces from each article along the way.

Administration -Administration -General term applied to those people who work the closest to the President and in charge of the bureaucracy or the various cabinet positions -The Administration is in charge of the very large Federal Bureaucracy that works for the Office of the President

White House Staff -White House Staff Those people who work directly with the President in the White House Complex -Chief of Staff – leads all people who work in the White House, including chefs, cleaning staff, advisors, etc. -Press Secretary – organizes press conferences and events

OMB -Office of Management and Budget - Separate Office whose job is to prepare the Federal Budget -Budget prepared according to the goals set forth by the President -Budget must then be approved and/or changed by Congress

National Security Council -Small Group whose job is to discuss and advise the President on issues of National Security -Members usually include President Vice-President Secretary of State Secretary of Defense Chief of Staff CIA Director

Other Offices -Economic Advisors -Science and Technology -Administration -U.S. Trade Representatives -Policy Development

Executive Departments -These offices mentioned still complete only a small part of the executive branches work -As of 2015 there are 15 separate departments that form a cabinet, and many independent agencies to complete the executive branches work -All of these are also under the control of the President

-All Secretaries make up an advisory group known as the Cabinet Departments -Part of the Executive Branch -15 Different Departments who are responsible for different areas of government -each department is led by a Secretary -All Secretaries make up an advisory group known as the Cabinet

-foreigner’s permission to visit the U.S. State Department -(1789) Plans the nation’s foreign policy -goals of the U.S. towards foreign nations -Sets up Embassies in foreign nations -embassies are our government’s representatives in foreign nations -Sets up Consulates -gov’t offices that are set up to help Americans in foreign nations -Issues Visas to foreigners -foreigner’s permission to visit the U.S. -Issues Passports to citizens -identification for U.S. citizens in foreign nations

Treasury Department -collects U.S. taxes -(1789) Collects and Spends all the nations tax money -IRS -collects U.S. taxes -Bureau of Mint, Printing and Engraving -Bureau of Public Debt borrows the money used by the government to operate deficits -Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Agency

Defense Department - (1947---formerly the Dept of War) Protects the Nation -Three Branches Army Navy / Marines Air Force -Each branch is led by a civilian, and collectively this group is known as the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Justice Department -FBI -investigated violations of Federal laws -(1870) Represents the US in the Legal System -Led by the Attorney General -FBI -investigated violations of Federal laws -Bureau of Prisons -ATF -DEA

-manages millions of acres of national parks Interior Department -(1849) Manages our nation’s lands and resources -National Park Service -manages millions of acres of national parks -Fish and Wildlife Services -Bureau of Indian Affairs

Department of Agriculture -(1862) Helps farmers and consumers of agricultural products -Food Safety and Inspection Service -Food and Nutrition Service -Agricultural Research -Farmer’s Home Administration -Soil Conservation -Forest Service

Department of Commerce -(1903) Promotes the economy and business interests of the nation -Census Bureau -Patent and Trademark Office to protect inventors (Actually created by Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8) -Bureau of Standards -National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service

Department of Labor -(1913) protects the interests of laborers and employers in the nation -Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) – in charge of workplace safety -Unemployment Insurance -Bureau of Labor Statistics

Department of Health and Human Services -(1953) works for the well being of the public -Medicare and Medicaid medical care for the elderly and the poor -Public Health Service Center for Disease Control -Food and Drug Administration

Department of Housing and Urban Development -(1965) Deals with the special problems faced in urban areas -Mostly distributes federal funds to urban areas in order to: -Rebuilding slums -improve neighborhoods -build low income housing

Department of Transportation -(1966) Manages and oversees the nations transportation -National Highway Traffic Safety Administration –in charge of auto safety -Federal Aviation Administration

Department of Energy -(1977) manages the nation’s energy resources and tries to promote wise usage of energy -regulate energy related industries -oversees nuclear power industry

Department of Education -(1979) offers advise and assistance to states -gives grants and funds projects designed to improve education -No Child Left Behind Act -federal regulations concerning the measurement of school performance -Race to the Top – similar program to NCLB passed under Obama

Department of Veteran’s Affairs -(1988) manages the system of benefits for the veterans of our armed forces -Veteran’s Hospitals

Department of Homeland Security -(2003) purpose is to protect the security of America from threats. It is the most recent cabinet post. -Secret Service -Coast Guard -Immigration -Customs -Transportation Security Administration -FEMA

-Special parts of government were formed to meet special needs Independent Agencies -15 Executive Departments handles only a portion of the government’s functions -Special parts of government were formed to meet special needs -Three types: Executive Agencies Regulatory Commissions Government Corporations

Executive Agencies -these are agencies that are under the direct control of the Presidency -Social Security Administration oversees pension system for elderly and disabled -Central Intelligence Agency -in charge of collecting and interpreting information about foreign nations -Small Business Administration -promotes the growth of small business

-created to develop and administer the nation’s space program Executive Agencies -NASA -created to develop and administer the nation’s space program -National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities -created to promote the growth of the arts -Environmental Protection Agency -enforces environmental protection laws -Commission on Civil Rights

Regulatory Commissions -these groups are given powers to regulate or control a certain industry or activity -Federal Reserve -controls the nation’s system of banks -Federal Trade Commission -regulates the affairs of businesses to ensure fair business practices -National Transportation Safety Board -oversees the investigation of transportation accidents and affairs

Regulatory Commissions -Securities and Exchange Commission -regulates the activities of the Stock Market -Federal Communications Commission -regulates the telecommunication industries -National Labor Relations Board -oversees the practices of labor unions and employers -Consumer Product Safety Commission -oversees the safety of products sold to the public

Government Corporations -government agencies that are operated and run as though they were a profit oriented business -usually these are groups that provide a service to the public but want to do so at a minimal cost to the government’s budget constraints -U.S. Postal Service -AMTRAK

-U.S. population has grown to over 300 million people Bureaucracy -U.S. population has grown to over 300 million people -Need for larger and larger government -citizens demand greater services -government involved in more areas than ever before -Bureaucracy -those people who work permanently for the government

Red Tape -Red Tape -This refers to the extra hassle and paperwork that is required to get things done in a bureaucracy -Why is Red Tape needed??? -although a hassle, the procedures which cause red tape also reduce the number of decision makers in the bureaucracy. This hopefully creates a system which is absolutely equal for all involved.

Spoils System -Presidents have the responsibility of appointing many people to lead the executive departments and agencies. -Current Administrations have over 2,000 positions to lead the bureaucracy -Who would President’s choose to fill these positions??? -party members, advisors, supporters -Spoils System -gave government positions as political rewards. This often led to graft and corruption.

-also called the merit system Civil Service System -Attempts to end the Spoils System -citizens began to tire of the corrupt government in the late 1800’s -Pendelton Act, 1883 -also called the merit system -sets up a commission to determine the availability of certain government positions -Civil Service Commission -set up a testing procedure to give jobs to the most qualified applicants

How things really work…. Today we run a “mix” of the two systems, with the President generally picking qualified people from his own party. Many of the lower level jobs do not require a test anyway. The first Pendelton act only set aside 10% of jobs to be tested.