1. Executive Branch

2. Bellwork
What is the most important role of the president? Why?

3. The executive office
The president has a group of close advisors and aides known as the Executive Office of the President.
The White House Office includes the president’s closest personal and political advisers and a press secretary
Office is overseen by White House Chief of Staff
The office also includes researches, clerical staff, secretaries, and other assistants.
They schedule appointments, write speeches, and help maintain good relationships with other departments.

4. Executive Office Office of Management and Budget
Serve the President of the United States in implementing his vision across the Executive Branch
National Security Council
President's principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials
Office of Administration
Oversees the general administration of the entire Executive Office
Council of Economic Advisors
Offers the President objective economic advice on the formulation of both domestic and international economic policy

6. Federal Bureaucracy
The employees of the executive branch make up the federal bureaucracy.
Bureaucracy: departments and agencies in the executive branch of the government
For the most part, the Executive Branch manages the federal bureaucracy.
Person used to get a job with the government through the "spoils system.” Today, most federal agencies are covered by some sort of civil service system.
A method of appointing government employees on the basis of competitive or examinations, rather than by political patronage
The rationale for all civil service systems rests on the idea of merit and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.
There are five types of organizations in the federal bureaucracy
Cabinet departments
Independent executive agencies
Independent regulatory agencies
Government corporations
Presidential commissions

7. Cabinet
The Cabinet is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the Executive Branch.
The Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject relating to the duties of each member's respective office
There are now 15 departments in the executive branch, each with a distinct area of responsibility.
The members of the cabinet are nominated by the president, but Senate must be approved by the Senate by a majority vote.
The title of most cabinet members is secretary. However, the head of the DOJ is known as the attorney general.
Members of the Cabinet serve at the pleasure of the President.

10. Department of state
Foreign policy is the special responsibility of the Department of State.
The Secretary of State heads a large staff of officials who represent the United States around the world.
Secretary of State Advises the President on matters relating to U.S. foreign policy, including the appointment of diplomatic representatives to other nations, and on the acceptance or dismissal of representatives from other nations.
Also Participates in high-level negotiations with other countries, and is responsible for overall direction, coordination, and supervision of activities of the U.S. Government overseas.

11. Secretary of State
Rex Tillerson

12. Department of state

13. Department of defense
Department of Defense is in charge of the nation’s armed forces and military bases.
The Secretary of Defense is always a civilian. This ensures nonmilitary control over the military.
The highest ranking military officers of each of the armed forces form the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
This group advises the president on military affairs
The Joint Chiefs of Staff consist of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief of Staff of the Army, Naval Operations, Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Chief of National Guard Bureau

14. Secretary of Defense
Jim Mattis

17. Other executive departments
The Department of Homeland Security was created after 9/11.
Protect the nation against further terrorist attacks
Treasury Department promotes economic prosperity and stability in the US.
Managing federal finances; collecting taxes, duties, money paid to the gov’t; producing postage stamps and currency
Department of Justice enforces the laws to ensure public safety against foreign and domestic threats.
Works to prevent and control crime; ensuring fair and impartial administration of justice

19. Independent executive agencies
Independent Executive Agencies are outside of the executive branch and are not under the supervision of the president.
They were in most cases created by Congress to deal with matters that have become too complex for the scope of ordinary legislation.
The head of most independent agencies is a commission.
Commission members are appointed, subject to Senate confirmation, and serve staggered terms.
Given a specific mandate and generally perform a service function, not a regulatory one.

20. Independent regulatory agencies
Independent Regulatory Agencies exist to regulate a specific economic activity or interest.
They makes and enforce rules and regulations.
Regulatory commissions are supposed to protect the public. They make and enforce rules for certain industries.
Agencies are meant to impose and enforce regulations free of political influence

21. Government corporations
Government owned businesses created by Congress
Corporations may or may not be profitable, but serve a public need
Government corporations do not have stockholders and do not pay dividends if they make a profit.
Examples:
Amtrak
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
US Postal Service

23. Presidential commissions
Presidents regularly appoint presidential commissions to investigate problems and make recommendations.
Are often used to draw attention to a problem or delay action on an issue.
Examples:
Presidential Commission of Election Administration
National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling

24. Oversight
In order to gain some control over the operations of the various agencies which had been established within the Executive Branch, Congress in 1946 began to develop a series of structures and procedures designed to oversee the Bureaucracy.
This process generally came to be known as congressional oversight
Congress can
Create or abolish agencies & departments
Investigate agency activities
hold committee hearings
pass legislation that alters an agency's functions

26. Executive branch
Foreign policy

27. Bellwork Why do we need a bureaucracy?
Is the US bureaucracy too big? Why?

28. What to consider
What do we want American foreign policy to accomplish in the world and what means should we use to achieve our aims?

29. Foreign policy
US Foreign Policy is the country’s actions, words, and beliefs toward other countries.
The main goals of foreign policy is to
Protect America
Support economic growth and human rights around the world
Increase support for American values like democracy and freedom
Most often, the president and executive branch initiate our foreign policy to world events and work with the legislative branch to carry out those responses.

30. Agree or disagree?
The U.S. should support people who rise up to fight for democracy against dictators and repressive regimes in their countries.
American foreign policy should be focused on international relief efforts and humanitarian aid in troubled regions.
The US should push poor countries to change their policies to ones that will encourage foreign investment in profitable industries.
The U.S. should be less involved and intrusive in the affairs of other countries and let the nations in troubled regions work out their own solutions.

31. Agree or disagree?
To protect American workers we should make it more difficult for countries that promote cheap labor and poor working conditions to sell their products in our country.
The US should let the European Union bear a greater share of the burden of global security and encourage them to take greater responsibility for maintaining security in regions troubled by civil unrest, terrorist groups, and regional warfare.
American foreign policy makers should not look to the United Nations or any other international organization for consensus on when to intervene in international problems and trouble spots; we should decide and act on our own when we believe our interests are involved.
The U.S. should support and respect international institutions, international law, and collective international action.

32. Foreign policy aims: goals and roles
Keep our nation and people safe from enemies
Promote U.S. economic prosperity
Encourage international free trade
Protect the poor and weak from exploitation and human rights abuses
Protect our military and security interests around the world
Protect the global environment
Cooperate in maintaining international laws governing the behavior of nations
Maintain our status as the most militarily powerful nation
Promote capitalism and free markets
Protect our economy from unfair trade
Maintain international peace
Promote democracy and political freedom

34. Tools of foreign policy
Creating treaties and executive agreements
Formal agreements between the governments of two or more countries are called treaties.
Senate must approve a treaty by 2/3 vote
President can bypass the Senate by making an executive agreement. This is an agreement between the president and the leader of another country.
Appointing Ambassadors
An official representative of a country’s government is an ambassador
The president appoints ambassadors, who must be confirmed by the Senate.
Ambassadors are sent to countries where the US recognizes or accepts the legal existence of the government.

35. Tools of foreign policy
Foreign Aid
This is money, food, military assistance, or other supplies given to help other countries.
International Trade
The president can make agreements with other nations about what products may be traded and the rules for such trading.
Sometimes trade measures include trade sanctions or embargos.
Military force
As Commander in Chief the president may use the military to carry out some foreign-policy decisions.

36. Executive v. legislative
The United States Constitution divides foreign policy powers between the President and the Congress so that both share in the making of foreign policy
The President’s powers include:
Commands troops as Commander in Chief of all the armed forces
Appoint officials
Make treaties and executive agreements
Recognize new nations
Congress’ power include
The power of budget authority so all the President's foreign policy expenditures have to be accounted for.
Probe the Executive and its actions as well as using the information they find in oversight hearings
Declare war
Approve treaties and appointments

37. United Nations
The United Nations is an organization that promotes peaceful coexistence and worldwide cooperation.
There are 193 member states with 6 main divisions
The body that discusses and recommends solutions is the General Assembly.
Each member country has one vote
Takes 2/3 majority to decide on major issues
The body that is responsible for peacekeeping is the Security Council.
Has 15 members; 5 permanent
Member countries may take international legal disputes to the International Court of Justice.
Consists of 15 judges that serve 9 year terms
Decisions based on majority vote