THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH CHAPTER 6

EXECUTIVE BRANCH: PRESIDENT Chief of State Chief Executive Chief Administrator Chief Diplomat Commander in Chief Chief Legislator Party Chief Chief Citizen

ROLES Chief of State/Chief Executive/Chief Administrator: Head of gov’t, ceremonial figurehead (Super Bowl) Vested by the Constitution, domestic and foreign affairs Directs federal gov’t, employs 3 million civilians, spends over $1.5 trillion/year

ROLES, CONT’D Chief Diplomat: Main architect of American foreign policy Chief spokesman to the world

ROLES, CONT’D Commander in Chief: Responsible for all armed forces/arsenal War Powers Act: Limits the President’s power to send American troops overseas without Congressional approval Troop involvement is limited to 60 days unless Congress approves a longer commitment

ROLES, CONT’D Chief Legislator: Main architect of public policies Proposes bills to steer Congress

ROLES, CONT’D Manager of prosperity/economy Protector of domestic peace Leader of the free world IS THIS JOB TOO BIG FOR ONE PERSON?

THE PRESIDENT Formal qualifications: Must be at least 35 years old Have lived in country for 14 years Natural-born US citizen Term of office: Two terms (four years per term) Can also complete the term of a previous president (via succession) and be entitled to two terms of his/her own

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE Winning slates of Presidential electors from each state Slate of Electors: List of party members who represent a particular ticket of candidates for President and Vice President The Constitution gives the Electoral College, instead of the voting public, the responsibility for choosing the President

THE PROCESS November: We choose which group of electors to represent Obama, McCain, Nader, etc. December: Electors cast electoral votes for President January: Electoral votes are counted in Senate

THE PROCESS, CONT’D Electoral votes are based on: # of Members of the House 435 # of Members of the Senate 100 # D.C. Congressman & Senate 3 538 NEED 270 ELECTORAL VOTES TO WIN!

If no single candidate gets the required 270 electoral votes then the House of Representatives votes to decide the President

OHIO 2 Senators 16 representatives Total 18 electors A state’s number of electors is the total number of Senators and Representatives in the House OHIO 2 Senators 16 representatives Total 18 electors

It is possible to get more popular votes in the election and NOT be elected President This was the case in 2016 with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

Total Votes in 2016 Election: Clinton 65,844,954 total votes (48.2%) 232 electoral votes Trump 62,979,879 total votes (46.1%) 306 electoral votes

The delegates are chosen by the political parties in each state Historically, the delegates have been 99.9% loyal to their party After the combined votes in 50 states and DC are counted by a joint session of Congress, the election is official

REVIEWING THE PRESIDENT Identify and explain two roles the President takes on Describe the War Powers Act Identify the three qualifications for being President Describe the term of office for a President Together name 10 cartoons

PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION Vice President (in charge of Senate) Speaker of the House President Pro-Tempore of the Senate Secretary of State Mike Pence Paul Ryan Orrin Hatch Rex Tillerson

PAY AND BENEFITS $400,000/year (VP makes $208,000/year) $50,000 expense account/year Full staff, Air Force One, Camp David, Medical/Dental care, funds for travel, pension

EXECUTIVE POWERS Appointment and removal powers Directly appoints 3,000 people 1/3 are subject to advice and consent Executive Orders Rules or regulations instructing executive branch officials on how to carry out their jobs, have the same force as laws

EXECUTIVE POWERS, CONT’D… Executive Privilege The right of the President to withhold information from Congress, the courts, or the public Diplomatic Powers Negotiating treaties, establish alliances, trade relationships (with Senate approval!) Diplomatic recognition Military Powers: Using the military to enforce federal laws to restore order (Little Rock Nine)

EXECUTIVE POWERS, CONT’D… Legislative Powers: Proposes legislation to Congress State of the Union and federal budget proposal Veto power Judicial Powers: Nominate federal judges May alter sentences of those convicted of crimes Pardons, reprieves, amnesty, commutation

CHECKS ON EXECUTIVE POWERS Actions are subject to judicial review Nominations can be blocked by Congress Media checks

EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES Made of almost three million workers including U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak, etc. Not ALL are appointed, if they are, they must be approved by Senate Three ways to get a government job: Civil Service Test Be Appointed Be Elected

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT & CABINET Executive Office is known as the President’s “Right Arm” Created by Congress in 1939, rearranged by every President West Wing: Oval Offices and Cabinet Room Chief of Staff: Close advisor to President and runs operations of whole staff

THE CABINET Interior Justice Labor State Transportation Treasury An informal advisory body brought together by the President to serve his needs Agriculture Commerce Defense Energy Health & Human Services Education Housing & Urban Development Interior Justice Labor State Transportation Treasury Veterans Affairs Homeland Security

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, CONT’D Staff also includes: Press Secretary Physician 350 men & women Deputy Assistant to President Serves as Chief of Staff to the First Lady

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL Advises President in all domestic, foreign and military matters President is Chair of council Members include: Vice President Secretaries of State and Defense Chairman of CIA Joint Chiefs of Staff

COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS Provides the president with expert analysis of the economy Helps the president form economic policy

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET Largest and 2nd most influential unit in Executive Office Headed by a director which is appointed Responsible for preparing federal budget and oversees its execution

VICE PRESIDENT Three duties assigned by the Constitution: Preside over Senate Opening and counting the electoral votes in presidential elections Serving as president if the president is unable to do the job Obviously the duties of the VP have grown over time