1. Chapter 6: The Presidency
As head of the executive branch of the United States, the president fills both informal and formal roles and wields power that affects our government at every level.

2. I. Roles of the President
Official Roles
Chief Executive: Laws implemented
Commander in Chief: Order troops into action.
Foreign Policy: Plans relations with other countries.
Diplomacy: Art of negotiating.
Unofficial Roles
Chief of State: Symbolic figurehead
Party Leader: Shapes party platform
Chief Citizen: Models of good citizenship

3. II. Formal Characteristics of the Presidency
Written Qualifications
35 yrs. Old
Lived in U.S. for 14 yrs.
Natural-born U.S. citizen
Term of Office
2 four-year terms
22nd Amendment 1951
Election to Office
Electoral College (538)
Succession
Process of who comes after
Vice Prez, Speaker, Pro tempore, Sec. State
Salary & Benefits
$400,000/yr & travel, staff, insurance

4. I. Executive Powers Appointment & Removal Executive Orders
Appoints over 3,000 people & can remove them
Executive Orders
Formal rule or regulation instructing executive branch officials on how to carry out their jobs.
Executive Privilege
Refuse to release info to Congress or a court.
Diplomatic Powers
Diplomatic Recognition: Formally recognize the legitimacy of a foreign gov’t.
Military Powers
Send troops for days w/out Congressional consent.
Troops sent over 200 times but only 5 wars.

5. II. Legislative & Judicial Powers
Legislative Powers
Proposes budget & legislation
Judicial Powers: Nominate judges & alter sentences.
Reprieve: Postpones the carrying out of a sentence.
Pardon: Releases a convicted criminal from having to fulfill a sentence.
Amnesty: Grants a group of offenders a general pardon.
Commute: Reduce a person’s sentence.

6. I. Executive office of the President
Administration: All the people who work for the executive branch.
Executive Office of the President: Offices that help the president formulate policy.
White House Office: President’s key personal & political staff.
Chief of Staff: Manages the everyday operations of the White House.
National Security Council: Top military, foreign affairs, & intelligence officials.
Council of Economic Advisers: Expert analysis of the economy.
Office of Management & Budget: Help develop the federal budget & its execution.

7. Chp.7 The Executive Branch
The executive branch relies on a large federal bureaucracy to carry out its work and raise revenue.

8. I. What is the Federal Bureaucracy?
Any organization having the following features:
Clear formal structure
Division of labor
Set of rules & procedures by which it operates.
Bureaucrats
Administrators & skilled, expert workers who carry out tasks of the fed. Bureaucracy.

9. II. The Civil Service Civil Service The Spoils System
Civilians who carry out the work of the fed. Gov’t.
The Spoils System
Gov’t. jobs given out as political rewards for supporting the Prez.
“To the victors go the spoils.”
Inexperienced & inefficient
The Civil Service Today
Pendleton Civil Service Act
90% of jobs are based on merit through standardized examinations.

10. I. Paying for Government
Income Taxes: Tax on a person’s or business’ income.
Progressive Tax: Rate increases as amount taxable increases.
Payroll Taxes: Money withheld from a person’s paycheck
Regressive Tax: Tax applied only up to a certain amount .
Proportional Tax: Tax applied at same rate to all incomes.
Other Sources of Revenue
Tariffs, estate tax, gift tax, Loan interest
Borrowing Money
Bond: Borrower pays back money at a certain time + interest
Federal Debt: Money gov’t. borrowed and not yet repaid.

11. II. Government Spending
Mandatory Spending
Required by laws & not subject to the annual budget process.
Ex. Social Security
Discretionary Spending
Subject to the annual budget process
Ex. Defense, Education, Aid

12. Chapter 9: The Political Process
The work of government is accomplished through the political process. Public opinion, interest groups, and political parties all play a vital role in the process.

13. I. What is Public Opinion?
Public Opinion: Combined views of a segment of society on an issue.
Public Policy: Choices the gov’t. makes and its actions in response to an issue.
Expressing Public Opinion
Letters, blogs, protests, interest groups, voting
Political Socialization: Process by which people acquire political beliefs.
Family
School & Work
Other Personal Factors: Age, race, gender, religion, etc.

14. I. Interest Groups & what they Do
Special Interest Group: Association of people who hold similar views.
Political Action Committee (PACs): Organization to raise money for candidates
Organizing Interests: Anyone can start one.
Encourage Participation in politics
Supplying Info to voters and politicians

15. II. Types of Interest Groups
Agricultural Groups: Farm bureau, potato Council
Business Groups: Chamber of Commerce, Snack Food Association
Labor Groups: Unions
Cause-Based Groups: PETA, MADD,
Societal Groups: Organization for Women, AARP
Professional Groups: AMA, AMBA

16. II. American Two-Party System
Party Systems
One-party system: 1 party controls gov’t.
Two-party system: 2 parties compete to control gov’t.
Multiparty system: Several parties compete for control (Most common around the world).
American Political Parties
Third Party: Any party that isn’t one of the major two political parties.
Independent Candidates: Candidate not associated with any party.

17. II. Voting & Voter Behavior
Voter Turnout
66% of Americans vote for Prez.
40% in non-prez elections.
Voting Requirements.
U.S. Citizen & 18 yrs. Old
Resident of state you’re voting in.
Voter Behavior (4 Factors)
Party identification
Issues
Candidate’s background
Voter’s background