1. The Executive Branch

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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,

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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”

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

12. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Sources
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