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
Electing a PresidentAble to serve two successive four-year
terms (per the 22nd Amendment in 1951)The delegates of the Constitutional
Convention created the Electoral CollegeThey wanted only wise,
politically experienced citizens electing the president
Minimum Qualifications Be a natural-born citizen (or born to
American citizens in a foreign country)
Be at least 35 years oldHave lived in the US for at least 14
years (not necessarily right before the election)
Presidential PerksEarns $400,000 a yearLives in the White House—
rent freeTravels for free via Air Force
OneReceives $157,000 each year
after leaving office
Enumerated Presidential PowersRemember—enumerated powers refer to those specifically mentioned in the Constitution
Command the Armed ForcesCommission armed forces officersPardon those guilty of some federal
crimesMake treatiesAppoint ambassadorsReceive ambassadors and other public
ministers
More Enumerated PowersAppoint Supreme Court justicesAppoint people to jobs within the federal
governmentRecommend legislation to CongressConvene one or both houses of CongressEnforce the laws that Congress has
passed
Other Presidential PowersInherent: 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”
Limitations of Presidential Power
We have the checks and balances between branches
The media continuously reports on the president’s actions
Active citizen participation
Removing a PresidentThe Constitution establishes a process to impeach
(bring charges against) and remove the president for “treason, bribery, or other crimes and misdemeanors”
The process:1.A majority of the members of the House of
Representatives must vote to impeach2.The Senate conducts the trial of the president; the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides3.All senators vote4.If 2/3 vote guilty, the vice president becomes
president
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
Line of SuccessionShould something happen to the President, there is a specific hierarchy according to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947
1. Vice President2. Speaker of the House3. Senate President Pro-
Tempore4. Secretary of State5. Secretary of the Treasury6. Secretary of Defense7. Attorney General8. Secretary of Interior9. Secretary of Agriculture10. Secretary of Commerce
11. Secretary of Labor12. Secretary of Health and
Human Resources13. Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development14. Secretary of Transportation15. Secretary of Energy16. Secretary of Education17. Secretary of Veterans
Affairs18. Secretary of Homeland
Security
The Vice President
Serves as president of the SenateSucceeds the president in the event of death,
resignation, or a disabilitySeven 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
The Executive BureaucracyPresidents rely on aides, advisors, and entire
agencies for helpDivided into over 100 agencies, departments,
boards, and commissionsHas more than three million employeesDivided into three parts
1. White House Office Staff2. Executive Office of the President3. Cabinet
White House Office Staff
500 aides and advisorsHelp with daily affairs—scheduling,
appointments, and public relations
Executive Office of the PresidentEstablished in 1939, has 15 staff agencies to
help the PresidentOffice of Management and Budget (OMB)
Prepares and oversees the executive budgetCouncil 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
The CabinetA multi-agency advisory council to the
PresidentHeads 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