1. The Executive Branch
Chapter 9

2. Essential Questions What roles does the President play?
Which role is the most important?
How much power does the President really have?
What is the President’s role in the separation of powers?
How do the executive departments and agencies help society?

3. Roles of the President
The President is the head of the executive branch.
Executive Branch: the branch of government responsible for executing, or carrying out, the law.
The President also sets goals for the nation and develops policies.

4. How The Presidency Began
Ways to limit the powers of the President:
Limit to the # of terms in office
President CANNOT make laws
Congress approves many presidential decisions
Congress can remove a President from office
Supreme Court decides if Presidents’ actions are constitutional
Qualifications and Salary:
Must be at least 35 years old
Natural-born citizen of the United States
Must live in the U.S. for at least 14 years
Yearly salary is set by Congress

5. Leadership Roles Chief Executive Head of the executive branch
Execute laws (decide how they are carried out)
Makes broad decisions – leaves details to other officials through executive orders
Executive orders: rules and regulations that government must follow
Power to appoint 4,000 executive branch officials
Congress must approve many top appointments

6. Leadership Roles Commander in Chief: Head of the armed forces
Makes the MOST IMPORTANT military decisions
Often listens to advisers for less important military decisions
Able to send troops to foreign countries for a short period of time without Congress declaring war.

7. Leadership Roles Chief Diplomat:
Most important representative of the U.S. in international relations
Foreign Policy: the set of plans for guiding our nation’s relationships with other countries
Powers are not really limited
Ambassador: the official representatives to foreign governments
President appoints ambassadors, Congress approves them
Executive Agreements: agreements with other countries that do not need Senate approval
Set goals for trade, or make promises to give aid to other countries

8. Leadership Roles Legislative Leader
Influences what laws should be and how they should be enforced.
Congress is expected to consider the Presidents ideas.
State of the Union Address outlines foreign and domestic policy
Domestic Policy: a set of plans for dealing with national problems
President can call meetings with members of Congress to support his programs.
President can influence congress through the power of the veto (Why is this important?)
Congress has only overridden 4% of 2,500 vetoes.
President outlines how money is to be raised and spent for his programs.

9. Leadership Roles Judicial Powers:
President appoints Judges to the Supreme Court, but Senate has to confirm them.
President can
put off or reduce punishment of someone convicted of a crime in federal court
do away with a punishment through granting a pardon or release someone from current punishment.

10. Roles created through Tradition
Head of Political Party:
Leaders of the Political Party they represent
Helps to advance the party by raising money and speaking at public functions
Chief of State:
Expresses the values and goals of the American people
Ceremonial duties such as greeting visiting foreign leaders
Stands for national unity and as a symbol of the United States

11. Organizing the Executive Branch
Bureaucracy: an organization of government departments, agencies, and offices
Hired as permanent employees, not just for one President
Administration: team of executive branch officials
Cabinet: group of policy advisers to the President

12. Organizing the Executive Branch
White House Staff
Most trusted advisers and assistants
Give advice about national security, economy, etc.
Includes the Chief of Staff, key advisers, secretaries, legal experts, speechwriters, office workers, and researchers
Appointed by the President without Senate approval
Vice President
Presides over Senate under the Constitution
President decides how active VP is
Special Advisory Groups
Deals with special issues, domestic and foreign
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
National Security Council (NSC)

13. Executive Departments
Currently 15 executive departments
Form the largest part of the executive branch
Each department helps to fulfill one or more of the President’s duties.

14. Independent Agencies Executive Agencies: Regulatory Commissions:
Under direct control of the President (can remove directors at any time)
Most important groups:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Regulatory Commissions:
Carries out rules for certain business or economic activity.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – rules for radio and television
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) – safety standards for products found around the house

15. Independent Agencies Government Corporations: Civil Services:
Provides public services that are too risky or expensive for private businesses to undertake.
EX: U.S. Postal Service
Civil Services:
Government workers (civil servants) are hired based on merit (tests)
President chooses fewer than 1% of workers in the executive branch

16. Presidents and Power Treaties: formal agreements between nations
The President does not need Senate approval to meet with leaders of foreign countries
The Senate has the power to reject treaties, but usually follow what the President sees as necessary
Executive Privilege: the right to keep some information secret from Congress and the courts
Usually for reasons of national security (safety)

17. Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson had the opportunity to buy the Louisiana Territory for $15 million from France (Napoleon)
This purchase would double the size of the U.S.
He didn’t know what to do because the Constitution didn’t say that the President had the power to buy territory
Jefferson consulted his advisors (including Secretary of State James Madison)
He decided to accept Napoleon’s offer
The Senate ratified the treaty and Congress agreed to pay France for the territory

18. Truman and the Steel Mills
In 1952 during the Korean War
Steelworkers said they wouldn’t work unless their demands were met
Truman placed the Secretary of Commerce in control of the Steel Mills
Steel companies said the President has no right to take over private property
Truman said he acted in the best interest of American soldiers who were fighting in war
Supreme Court said that the President had no right to take private property even in the event of a national emergency