The Executive Branch

History of the Executive Branch Did not exist under the Articles of Confederation Americans wanted one elected person other countries could identify and respect They didn’t want someone who would be more powerful than everyone else

Electing a President Able to serve two successive four-year terms (per the 22nd Amendment in 1951) The delegates of the Constitutional Convention created the Electoral College They wanted only wise, politically experienced citizens electing the president

Electoral College The institution that officially elects the President Equals the number of members in Congress. Ohio has 18 total representatives therefore we have 18 electors in the Electoral College The candidate that receives the absolute majority (270) of electoral votes is elected to President States with the largest numbers: California – 55 Texas – 38 New York – 29 Florida – 29

United States in Proportion to Electoral Votes Popular Vote: Clinton – 64.2 Million Trump – 62.2 Million By Ali Zifan - Cartogram—2012 Electoral Vote.svg by Kelvinsong, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48100982

Minimum Qualifications Be a natural-born citizen (or born to American citizens in a foreign country) Be at least 35 years old Have lived in the US for at least 14 years (not necessarily right before the election)

Presidential Perks Earns $400,000 a year Lives in the White House—rent free Travels for free via Air Force One Receives $191,300 each year after leaving office

Enumerated Presidential Powers Remember—enumerated powers refer to those specifically mentioned in the Constitution Command the Armed Forces Commission armed forces officers Pardon those guilty of some federal crimes Make treaties Appoint ambassadors Receive ambassadors and other public ministers

More Enumerated Powers Appoint Supreme Court justices Appoint people to jobs within the federal government Recommend legislation to Congress Convene one or both houses of Congress Enforce the laws that Congress has passed

Other Presidential Powers Inherent: powers the president uses in foreign affairs that aren’t in the Constitution but are necessary The executive order: to help interpret or carry out a law Personal Influence: encourages people to listen to “the office”

Limitations of Presidential Power We have the checks and balances between branches The media continuously reports on the president’s actions Active citizen participation

Removing a President The Constitution establishes a process to impeach (bring charges against) and remove the president for “treason, bribery, or other crimes and misdemeanors” The process: A majority of the members of the House of Representatives must vote to impeach The Senate conducts the trial of the president; the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides All senators vote If 2/3 vote guilty, the vice president becomes president

The 25th Amendment Allows the Vice President to choose his own VP should he/she become president (due to death, assassination, impeachment, etc.) Included provisions for determining disability of a president, when power shifts to the VP, and how the president may regain power

Line of Succession Should something happen to the President, there is a specific hierarchy according to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 Vice President Speaker of the House Senate President Pro-Tempore Secretary of State Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General Secretary of Interior Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Labor Secretary of Health and Human Resources Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Energy Secretary of Education Secretary of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Homeland Security

Today You Will Research Three former Presidents: Andrew Johnson Bill Clinton Richard Nixon Things you will be researching: Years in Presidency Vote in House of Representatives Reason for impeachment Should be lengthy Duration of trial Outcome of trial Nixon is special; you may not find everything you need.

The Vice President Serves as president of the Senate Succeeds the president in the event of death, resignation, or a disability Nine vice presidents have assumed the office Excluding the last 20 years, the presidential candidates chose running mates for their vote-getting appeal more than their abilities

The Executive Bureaucracy Presidents rely on aides, advisors, and entire agencies for help Divided into over 100 agencies, departments, boards, and commissions Has more than three million employees Divided into three parts White House Office Staff Executive Office of the President Cabinet

White House Office Staff 500 aides and advisors Help with daily affairs—scheduling, appointments, and public relations

Executive Office of the President Established in 1939, has 15 staff agencies to help the President Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Prepares and oversees the executive budget Council of Economic Advisors Created by the Employment Act of 1946 Prepares the annual economic report to Congress National Security Council (NSC) Created in 1947 Develops policy for national security and foreign affairs

The Cabinet A multi-agency advisory council to the President Heads of the agencies are called secretaries (except the head of the Department of Justice—that’s the Attorney General) The Agencies: Justice State Treasury Interior Agriculture Commerce Labor Defense Health and Human Services Housing and Urban Development Transportation Energy Education Veterans’ Affairs Homeland Security

Sources http://axiomamnesia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/electoral- college.jpg