1. The Executive Branch TOPIC 5

2. Enduring Understandings  A person seeking to be President of the United States must meet certain requirements and be able to balance many roles simultaneously.  The Constitution lays out the order of presidential succession, with the VP being first in that order  There is ongoing debate about the growth of presidential power; however, certain constitutional provisions provide for checks by the other two branches  The President is essential to the conduct of foreign relations; however, the system of checks and balances requires the President to share military and diplomatic powers with Congress

3. The President’s Many Roles 1. Chief of State: ceremonial head of the government 2. Chief Executive: vested by the Constitution with “the executive power” both domestic and foreign affairs 3. Chief Administrator: director of the huge executive branch of the Federal Government 4. Chief Diplomat: the main architect of American foreign policy and the nation’s chief spokesman to the rest of the world 5. Chief Legislator: the principal author of its public policies 6. Commander in Chief: Commander of the nations’ armed forces 7. Chief Economist: is expected to keep a close eye on the nation’s economy and to take immediate and effective action when conditions dictate 8. Chief of Party: leader of the political party that controls the executive branch 9. Chief Citizen: expected to be the “representative of all the people”

4. Qualifications for the Presidency 1. Citizenship: a natural born citizen of the United States 2. Age: 35 years old 3. Residency: “…been fourteen years a Resident within the United States” Informal and important qualifications:  Political experience  Speaking ability

5. Presidential Term of Office  Until the addition of the 22 nd Amendment (limit the presidency to two full terms, 8 years); there was only an understanding, “no-third term tradition” until Franklin D. Roosevelt.

6. Presidential Succession and Disability  If the President dies, resigns, or is removed from office by impeachment, the Vice President succeeds to the office. 1.VP 2.Speaker of the House 3.President Pro Tempore of the Senate 4.Secretary of State 5.Secretary of the Treasury 6.Secretary of Defense 7.Attorney General 8.Secretary of the Interior 9.Secretary of Agriculture 10.Secretary of Commerce 11.Secretary of Labor 12.Secretary of Health and Human Services 13. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 14. Secretary of Transportation 15. Secretary of Energy 16. Secretary of Education 17. Secretary of Veterans Affairs 18. Secretary of Homeland Security

7. The Vice President  The Constitution pays little attention to the office of the Vice President. It assigns the position only two formal duties: 1. Vice President will preside over the Senate 2. 25 th Amendment directs him or her to help decide the question of presidential disability Basically…he/she is a “President-in-waiting” Has become more influential through the years

8. Presidential Domestic Powers 1. Power to execute the law:  Executive Orders: directives, rules, or regulations that have the effect of law  Ordinance Power: Power to issue these orders arises from two sources: Congress and the Constitution 2. Powers of Appointment and Removal:  Appointees: The President names most of the top-ranking officers of the Federal Government. Such as: ambassadors and other diplomats, Cabinet members and their top aides, heads of independent agencies, all federal judges, U.S. Marshals, and attorneys, and all officers in the armed forces 3. Powers of Clemency (mercy or leniency)  Reprieve: postponement of the execution of a sentence  Pardon: legal forgiveness of a crime  Clemency: may be used only in cases involving FEDERAL offenses

9. Domestic Powers Continued 4. Power to Recommend Legislation 5. Power to Veto

10. President’s Foreign Affairs Powers 1. Diplomatic Powers  Power to make treaties: a formal agreement between two or more sovereign states. Must be approved by 2/3 of Senate  Executive Agreement: is a pact between the President and the head of a foreign state, or their subordinates. Do NOT have to be approved!  Power of Recognition: receives diplomatic representatives of another sovereign state, and acknowledges the legal existence of that country and its government.

11. Commander in Chief 1. Making Undeclared War: Congress has not declared war since WWII; yet on eight occasions since then, it has enacted joint resolutions to authorize the President to meet certain international crises with military force.  War Powers Resolution of 1973: statute provides that the President can commit American military forces to combat only: 1. If Congress has declared war 2. If Congress has authorized that action 3. When an attack on the nation or its armed forces has occurred: If this happens, the President must report it to Congress within 48 hours. Any such commitment of American forces must end within 60 days, unless Congress agrees to a longer involvement.

12. Executive Branch at Work TOPIC 6

13. Enduring Understandings  The federal bureaucracy is an effective structure that allows the government to function properly  The EOP (Executive office of the President) is composed of the President’s closest advisors and several support agencies  The 15 executive departments, the heads of which form the Cabinet, do much of the work of the Federal Government  Independent agencies were created to perform the work outside of the executive departments’ umbrella  The State Department plays a major role in the implementation of American Foreign policy  The departments of Defense and Homeland Security are responsible for national security, which is carried out by the military departments

14. Independent Agencies  Independent executive agencies: include most of the non-Cabinet agencies.  Independent Regulatory Commissions: beyond the reach of presidential direction and control; there are 12 of these agencies today, each created to regulate-monitor-police-important aspects of the nation’s economy. EX: FCC (Federal Communications Commission): regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable while ensuring reasonable rates  Government Corporations: a number of independent agencies are government corporations; set up by Congress to carry out certain businesslike activities. There are more than 50 of these corporations. EX: National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak.

15. Foreign Policy  Many different policies on many different topics; made up of all of the stands and actions that a nation takes in every aspect of its relationships with other countries----diplomatic, military, commercial, and all others. Simply put…foreign policy includes everything that nation’s government says and everything that it does in world affairs!

16. Diplomacy  An ambassador is the official representative of a sovereign state in the conduct of its foreign affairs.  Most of the formal contacts between sovereign nations---that is, most of their diplomatic relationships----have been conducted through their duly appointed ambassadors. 1. Appointed by the President, approved by the Senate 2. Stationed in each sovereign state this nation recognizes; thus they are located in 180 countries around the world 3. Diplomatic Immunity: they are not subject to the laws of the state to which they are accredited. They cannot be arrested, sued, or taxed. They cannot be entered or searched without their consent, and all official communications and other properties are protected. All other embassy personnel and their families receive this immunity. If a host government finds a diplomat’s conduct unacceptable, that official may be declared persona non grata and expelled from the country.

17. American Foreign Aid  The economic and military aid given to other countries 1. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): 28 member countries: dedicated to the basic goal of protecting the freedom and security of its members through political and military action 2. UN (United Nations): has 193 members today: open to “peace-loving states” that accept the obligations of the charter and are, in the UN’s judgment able and willing to carry out those obligations.

18. Topics 5 & 6  It is YOUR responsibility to READ and take NOTES on both topics! This is a simple highlight of material, the reading goes in depth of each concept. And your NOTES will aid you in remembering the material….. EXAM WILL BE THURSDAY!!!! MAKE SURE YOU READ AND TAKE YOUR NOTES!!!