The President and the Executive Branch Chapter 7

Section 1 – The President and the Vice President A. Constitutional requirements to become the US President 1) Must be at least 35 years old 2) Native-born American citizen 3) Resident of the US for at least 14 years B. Informal requirements 1) College Education 2) Law background 3) Most come from states with larger populations 4) Christian 5) Men

C. Electing a President - election for pres. happen every 4 years - President elected by the Electoral College - The amount of Electors is equal to the amount of total Senators and Representatives from each state. - Electoral College has 538 total votes (435 in House of Reps, 100 Senators, 3 from Washington, D.C.) - In almost every state, the electoral votes are a “winner take all” system (Maine and Nebraska are only states that allow split) - To win President, 270 electoral votes are needed - Criticisms of Electoral College 1) If candidate barely wins popular vote in each state, they get all electoral college votes for the state 2) Candidates tend to focus on bigger states because they hold more weight because of more electoral college votes 3) Total popular vote from whole US doesn’t always determine next President

D. Term of Office - 4 year term that can be renewed 1 time - 22 nd Amendment limited to 2 elected terms in office - Salary and Benefits – 1) $800,000/year 2) lives in White House with more than 80 member staff 3) use of Camp David,private mountain retreat in Maryland 4) special fleet of cars, helicopters, and airplanes (Air Force One) while traveling E. Vice President - Elected alongside President - Qualifications are same as for President - Little power other than presiding over Senate, can break tie. As dictated in Article 1 of the Constitution.

F. Presidential Succession - 8 Presidents have died in office - Presidential Succession Act (1947) – declared succession in case of death of President in office (p. 168) 1) Vice President 2) Speaker of the House 3) President Pro Tempore of the Senate 4) Secretary of the State 5) Secretary of the Treasury 6) Secretary of Defense 7) Attorney General - 25 th Amendment- states that if President dies in office, the VP takes over and they choose a new VP, with approval of Senate and House of Reps.

The Electoral College college-explained-christina-greer#watch college-explained-christina-greer#watch Many people think the United States should get rid of the electoral college completely. They believe the winner-take-all system is not fair. Can we think of a compromise for those who want to get rid of the electoral college and those who want the president and vice president to be elected by the popular vote. What are some pros and cons of the electoral college? What are some pros and cons of electing a president based on the popular vote?

Section 2 – The President’s Job If you keep your study guide out, a lot of this is already in there. Instead of writing it again you can follow along and just check your answers A. Article II says “Executive Power shall be invested in a President” B. Constitutional Powers – powers assigned to President 1) execute, or carry out, the laws passed by Congress 2) veto, or reject, bills that are passed in Congress 3) can call Congress into special session 4) serve as commander in chief of armed forces 5) make treaties with other countries (w/Senate approval) 6) appoint heads of executive agencies, federal court judges, ambassadors, and other top gvmt. officials w/Senate approval 7) pardon or reduce penalties against people convicted of federal crimes

C. 7 roles of the President 1) Chief Executive – most important role is to carry out laws Congress passes 2) Chief Diplomat – makes key decisions how US acts towards other countries in the world 3) Commander in Chief – commands troops in war time. Can send troops into battle w/o Congress approval, but they must return in 60 days unless Congress approves 4) Legislative Leader – every President puts forth their agenda with new programs and new laws 5) Head of State – living symbol of the US 6) Economic Leader – deals with problems such as unemployment, taxes. Proposes yearly federal budget 7) Party Leader – leader of their political party

Section 3 – Making Foreign Policy A. 4 goals of Foreign Policy 1) National security – ability to keep the country safe 2) International trade – trading is important to helping create jobs in the US 3) Promoting World Peace 4) Promote Democracy around the world B. Foreign Policy Advisory Group and Key Decisions - State Dept, Defense Dept, CIA, National Security Council - Treaty- formal agreement between gvmts. of 2 or more countries, needs Senate approval to be finalized - Executive Agreement- agreement between the President and the leader of another country, no Senate approval needed

Answer questions 1-4 on p.178 in complete sentences. Due at the end of class.

Section 4 – Presidential Advisers and Executive Agencies A. Presidential Cabinet – group of advisers that includes the heads of the 15 top-level executive departments (p. 183) 1) Dept. of State (1789) 2) Dept. of Treasury (1789) 3) Dept. of Defense (1789 War Dept. renamed 1949) 4) Dept. of Justice (1870) 5) Dept. of Interior (1849) 6) Dept. of Agriculture (1889) 7) Dept. of Commerce (1903) 8) Dept. of Labor (1913) 9) Dept. of Health and Human Services (1953) 10) Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (1965) 11) Dept. of Transportation (1966) 12) Dept. of Energy (1977) 13) Dept. of Education (1979) 14) Dept. of Veterans Affairs (1989) 15) Dept. of Homeland Security (2002) - Inner Cabinet – Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, Assistant for Domestic Affairs, Counsel to the President (Lawyer), Appointments Secretary, Assistant for Public Relations, Assistant for Legislative Affairs, Press Secretary

B. Executive Office of the President (EOP) - Created by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 to help President do his job - Over 2,000 employees and more than a $100 Mil Budget - Most important parts of EOP include White House Office, Office of Management and Budget, National Security Council, Office of Administration, Council of Econ Advisers - The White House Office – 500 people who work directly for the President. C. The Federal Bureaucracy – the collective agencies and employees of the executive branch - Executive Branch carries out new programs Congress creates. The Federal Bureaucracy controls them. 1) Turn new laws into action by deciding how to apply them 2) Departments and Agencies administer day-to-day operations of the Fed. Gvmt. 3) Regulate, or police, activities of broadcast companies, labor unions, banks, airlines, nuclear power - Civil Service Reform Act of placed limits on the number of new jobs a President could hand out to friends and backers.