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APK: Activation of Prior Knowledge Write at least 3-5 sentences describing a time when… you felt like you had the “weight of the world” on your shoulders because of the amount of responsibility you had.
Question of the Day
Why is the Executive Branch considered by many people to be the most powerful branch of government?

2. Scoring scale/rubric
A-Response contains a clear topic sentence that restates the question and skillfully uses multiple relevant examples for support in grammatically correct English. B-Response contains a clear topic sentence that restates the question but with only one relevant example for support in grammatically correct English. C-Response contains a “shaky” topic sentence that does not restate the question and the example used is not clear or is vague. D-Response is unorganized and does not use an example that is clear or specific for support but does make an attempt to answer the question/topic. F-Not attempted or completely off topic.

3. The President and the Executive Branch
An examination of how the federal government is steered by the chief executive
Michael Quinones, NBCT

4. Power of the president as stated in Article II of the U. S
Power of the president as stated in Article II of the U.S. Constitution
“The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.”

5. Assignment: What Would You Do? Chart
Presidential Power
Description of Power [Be specific and detailed]
When, Why or How he
would use it? [Be specific and detailed]
Veto
Commander-in-Chief
Appointments
Pardon
Reprieve
Commutation
Executive Order

6. President’s Powers…
Executes the laws (carries out, enforces) passed by Congress.
Veto (reject) bills passed in Congress
Serves as Commander in Chief of the armed forces.
Receives leaders and other officials of foreign countries.

7. President’s Powers…
Make treaties with other countries [the Senate holds hearings then votes to confirm or reject the treaty].
Appoints people to high level jobs [recommends, selects] heads of executive agencies, federal court judges, ambassadors, and other top government officials
[the Senate holds hearings (interviews) then votes to confirm or reject the appointment].

8. Exclusive Powers Pardon Reprieve Commutation
The president has some powers others do not have.
Pardon
To forgive a crime after a conviction in court trial.
Person is released from prison sentence.
Reprieve
Temporary delay of punishment.
He can decide to postpone a prison sentence while he decides whether to pardon someone
Commutation
He may commute [reduce/decrease] a convicted criminal sentence/punishment [usually death penalty to life sentence]
Former President Bush pardoning a Thanksgiving Day Turkey

9. Exclusive Powers Executive Order
Power to declare a policy that has the force of law.
Almost a power like a king would have but if it is considered to be “unconstitutional” it can be struck down or overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

10. The Cabinet Nothing to do with furniture!
Group of people who advise president.
Act on his behalf.
Departments
Leaders called secretaries

11. The Cabinet

12. Vice President
Only two [2] official duties of the vice president:
Take over for the president if he dies
As President of the Senate he breaks ties in the U.S. Senate [for example 50-50]

13. Assignment: Skills the president must have
As you go through the following information and learn about the roles/jobs the president of the United States has complete the task explained below to the best of your ability.
[1] For each of the president’s seven [7] roles provide an explanation of a skill you believe he needs to possess in order to perform that role/job successfully.
For example: For someone to be a successful car salesman he would most likely have to be good, persuasive and clever with words in order to convince people to purchase cars from him. If not he won’t sell many cars.
[2] Provide a clear and supported explanation of the skills for all seven [7] roles.

14. Skills the President Must Have Chart
President’s Role [Hat]
Description of the Role
Specific Skill He Must Have [In your opinion]
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]

15. The President’s Major Roles, Jobs and Responsibilities “The hats he wears”

16. Chief Executive
Insures the nation’s laws are enforced and carried out.
Issues executive orders
Appoints federal government officials cabinet members, judges, and other federal [Senate must approve]
Issues pardons and can grant amnesty [allow someone to stay in this country at his discretion].
Can issue reprieves and commutations=reduction of strict punishment such death penalty or life sentence to a lesser punishment

17. Party Leader
Supports party members in election campaigns [by making appearing appearances, providing personal approval and helping to raise money]
Helps unify the party [unite/bring together] and give it direction [this can be harmful to the party if the president is not popular]

18. Chief Diplomat
“Deals” with the leaders of foreign countries and helps to maintain peace and good relations with other countries.
Appoints ambassadors
Makes treaties and executive agreements [trade and military]

19. Commander in Chief
President has final authority over all military matters.
Checks and balances:
Congress declares war
President can order troops into battle
War Powers Act 1973 [limited the President’s war power. After 60 days he must ask Congress to allow troops to stay at war.

20. Legislative Leader Introduces/ Proposes Laws
Calls special sessions of Congress to consider urgent matters
Approves or vetoes legislation [laws]

21. Head of State
President serves as a representative or symbol of the whole nation.
He is the most visible person in the U.S.
All other countries see him as “America”
State of the Union Address
The president gives a speech [once a year] inside the House of Representatives discussing his plans for the year and explaining his opinions about how the country is doing.

22. Economic Leader
President deals with economic problems (Unemployment, taxes, rising prices)
Plans the federal budget [Congress must approve by passing and/or amending]

23. 3 things you learned about the executive branch
Assignment: 321 Closure
3 things you learned about the executive branch
2 questions you still have about the executive branch
1thing you would do immediately if you were president

24. TASK-The IDEAL POTUS
Presidential elections to decide who will be the Democrat and Republican candidates for POTUS will take place shortly so people all over the U.S. are “sizing up” the candidates
Based on all of the powers, roles and skills the POTUS has and needs describe in your own words what you believe the ideal POTUS is [specific skills and traits and why these are important].