The President and the Executive Branch

Chapter 7

The President and the Vice PresidentQualifications for President

1) 35 years old

2) Native-born “American” citizen

3) Resident US for at least 14 years Presidential Trends All but one have been Protestant

Christian Most have college degrees Many were lawyers, most came

from states with large populations

Past 50 years office has been open to wider groups of people (women, non-Protestant, African Americans)

The President and the Vice President

Electing a President Presidential elections every 4 years,

Constitution does not provide for direct elections

System based on the electoral college

Each state appoints electors, who then vote for one of the major candidates

When you vote for president, not voting for president, but elector who pledges to vote for the candidate

Electoral votes total of its U.S. Senators and Reps. (AR 6, CA 55)

Candidates need 270 of 538 electoral votes to win the presidency

The President and the Vice President Term of Office

Until 1951 no limits on how many terms President could serve

22nd Amendment (1951) limits president to 2 terms or maximum 10 yrs if began during another President’s term

Term lasts 4 years Salary $400,000 a year plus travel expenses, lives

and works in the White House Staff of 80 takes care of the President, family Camp David in Maryland serves as a retreat The President has many methods of paid travel

The President and the Vice President

Vice President Qualifications are the same as the President Vice Presidents rarely in the public eye,

purpose head of Senate, be prepared to take over if something happens to the President

9 Vice Presidents have taken over in U.S. History

John Adams: “I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may become everything.”

The President and the Vice President

Presidential Succession 8 Presidents have died during office, the Constitution

states vice president will take on the “powers and duties” of the presidency

1947, Congress passed the Presidential Succession Act, line of succession after the vice president

1) President 2) Vice President 3) Speaker of the House 4) President Pro Tem 5) Secretary of State 6) Order Cabinet post created

The President and the Vice President

25th Amendment (1967) President leaves or dies, the vice

president becomes president, chooses another VP

Gives VP a role in determining whether a president is disabled or unable to do the job

Only been used three times VP Spiro Agnew resigned in 1973 and

Pres. Nixon replaced by Gerald Ford who replaced Nixon as president in 1974

1985 Ronald Reagan needed surgery, told Congress he couldn’t lead, VP George H.W. Bush assumed the presidency for about 8 hours

The President's JobConstitutional Powers Executive Power –described in Article II Main job is to carry out the laws passed by

Congress Other powers/ duties:

1. Veto bills passed by Congress

2. Call Congress into special session

3. Commander in chief

4. Receive leaders, officials of foreign countries

5. Make treaties

6. Appoint heads of executive agencies, federal court judges, ambassadors, and other gov’t officials

7. Pardon people convicted of federal crimes

8. State of the Union address every year discusses the most important issues facing nation

The President's JobRoles of the President Chief Executive In charge of 15 cabinet

departments and 3 million workers of the federal government

Gives executive orders (rule or command that has the force of law), executive orders deal with big issues (integration of the armed forces in 1948)

Appoints judges to the Supreme and federal courts, pending Congressional approval

Power to pardon, reprieve, or give amnesty

The President's Job Chief Diplomat- directs foreign policy toward other

countries, decides how the U.S. will act Commander in chief of all armed forces President and Congress share power to declare war,

Congress has only declared war 5 times, president has sent troops into action overseas more than 150 times

1973 - War Powers Resolution -president must notify Congress within 48 hours when troops sent to battle, must be brought home after 60 days unless Congress gives approval for them to remain longer

The President's Job Legislative Leader Influences Congress with legislation

that he would like to see passed Makes speeches to build support for

his program and campaigns to get his ideas supported by Congress

Head of State- President is living symbol of the nation

Economic Leader- President plans the federal government’s budget

Party Leader- gives support to fellow party members by giving speeches, help them in campaigns, raising money

Making Foreign Policy A nation’s overall plan for dealing

with other nations is foreign policy

Goals of foreign policy1. National security (keep country

safe from attack)2. International trade3. Promoting world peace4. Promote democracy, preserve

basic human rights, encourage peaceful governments

o Works with the State Department, Defense Department, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Council

Give the president advice on foreign relations

“The State Department wants to solve everything with words and the generals with guns”-President Lyndon Johnson

Making Foreign Policy

Tools of Foreign Policy Creating Treaties and

Executive Agreements The Senate must approve

treaties by a 2/3 vote President can go around the

Senate by issuing an executive agreement

Appointing Ambassadors: the president appoints ambassadors (representatives to countries that the U.S. recognizes)

Foreign Aid: assists other countries in times of crisis by providing support

International Trade: makes agreements with other nations about what products traded and the rules for trading; issues trade sanctions or embargos on countries

Military Force: send troops to foreign countries even if Congress has not declared war

Presidential Advisers and Executive Agencies

Executive Office of the President

Created 1939 by FDR White House Office 500 people work directly for the

President Most powerful the chief of

staff, assistant for domestic affairs, lawyer to the president, press secretary

White House Office screens the flow of information and people trying to reach the President

They decide who gets to speak to the President

Presidential Advisers and Executive Agencies

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Prepares federal budget, monitors spending by

hundreds of government agencies National Security Council (NSC)

Helps the President coordinate military, foreign policy Members include the vice president, secretary of state,

secretary of defense, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff group of the top commander of each of the armed forces

The NSC supervises the CIA which gathers information about gov’ts of other countries

Presidential Advisers and Executive Agencies

Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)

President names members, Senate approves them

Give president advice about economic matters (employment, tax policy, inflation, and foreign trade)

Presidential Advisers and Executive Agencies

Cabinet – group of presidential advisers, not specified in Constitution, head of 15 top level executive departments

Developed over time through custom and usage

Make important policy decisions Meet when president finds necessary Heads of departments must be approved by

senate

Cabinet Positions

Department of State Plans and carries out the

nations’ foreign polices Department of the

Treasury Collects, borrows, spends,

and prints money Department of Defense

Manages the armed forces Department of Justice

Responsible for all aspects of law enforcement

Department of the Interior Manages and protects the

nation’s public lands and natural resources

Department of Agriculture Assists farmers and

consumers of farm products Department of Commerce

Supervises trade, promotes U.S. tourism and business

Department of Labor Concerned with the working

conditions and wages of U.S. workers

Cabinet Positions

Department of Health and Human Services Works for the health

and well-being of all Americans

Department of Housing and Urban Development Deals with the special

needs and problems of cities

Department of Transportation Manages the nation’s

highways, railroads, airlines, and sea traffic

Department of Energy Directs the energy plan

for the U.S.

Department of Education Provides advice and

funding for schools Department of

Veterans Affairs Directs services for

veterans Department of

Homeland Security Established in 2002 in

response to 9/11, oversees America’s defense against terrorist attacks

Presidential Advisers and Executive Agencies

Vice President and the First Lady Vice presidents usually have little power Changed recently First Lady- wife of president Not mentioned in Constitution, take on

causes close to them

Presidential Advisers and Executive Agencies

Federal Bureaucracy – agencies and employees of executive branch Bureaucrats/civil

servants – people who work for federal gov’t

Executive branch carries programs created by Congress1. Turn new laws into

action 2. Administer the day-

to-day operations of the federal govt

3. Federal agencies regulate various activities

Presidential Advisers and Executive Agencies Executive Agencies

Independent agencies responsible for certain specialized areas

NASA Government Corporations

50 independent agencies that act like private businesses

Senate approves president’s choice of a board to run corp. Charge fees for services, but not supposed to

make a profit Example – USPS (Post Office)

Regulatory Boards & Commissions President appoints members, approved by Senate To protect the public Make & enforce rules FCC – Federal Communications Commission

Presidential Advisers and Executive Agencies Gov’t Workers

Political appointees – chosen by president, proven executive ability or important supporters of the president’s election campaign

Civil service workers – approx. 90% of all national govt workers, based on experience.

Civil service system – the practice of hiring workers on the basis of open, competitive examinations & merit.

Spoils system – before 1883 – jobs went to people as a reward for political support (reformed under Pendleton Act)

Merit system – civil service system, workers have to meet standards, pass tests