The PresidentThe Executive Branch

Terms to Understand FirstBureaucracy – complex organization

Can be applied to the Federal Govt. and many other things

TVHS is also an example

Budget Deficit – when the Federal government spends more than it makes

Intro to the PresidentHistory

King Issues No repeat of King George

Article II of the ConstitutionWhere the requirements, powers, and

responsibilities of the Presidency are explained

Basics of the PresidentRequirements:

Natural born citizen35 years old

Youngest elected JFK (43) Youngest served Teddy Roosevelt (42)

Resident of the US for at least 14 yearsSalary & Benefits

$400,000 per year + $50,000 expense allowance

Air Force One, Secret Service, live in White House, & Pension (First Lady gets $40,000 per year)

Electing the PresidentElectoral College – group of people chosen

from each state (and DC) to elect the president and the vice president

Each state has a specific number of electors Colorado has 9

The popular vote in each state determines how many of the electors vote for each candidate (president and vice president)

The president and vice president become the people with the majority of the electoral votes

Presidential TermsPresidential term is 4 yearsOriginally no term limit was enforced

Washington only served 2 terms so most presidents followed his example

FDR served 4 terms

22nd Amendment Passed in 1951 Limits the president to 2 terms or 10 years

PowersCommander-in-ChiefMake TreatiesAppoint ambassadors, Supreme Court

Judges, and other officialsEnforce LawsVetoGrant Pardons

Pardon – grant legal forgiveness for a crime, prevents or ends punishment

Unofficial PowersExecutive Privilege –the right of the

President to keep information secret from Congress to protect national security

Executive Agreement – an agreement between the President and a foreign government with out approval from the Senate

Imperial Presidency – a presidency characterized by greater power than the Constitution allows

Checks on Presidential PowerLegislative

Approve/reject presidential recommendations

Override VetoSets guidelines for how

the President can implement things

Creating or eliminating departments

Judicial Interpreting the

constitutionOverruling any

“unconstitutional” action by the president

Presidential Power and Public OpinionThe power of the President will depend a lot

on how the public feels about him and what he is doing.President’s are going to have more power (and

support) going into a war Think WWII and FDR

If a war lasts too long the President will loose that power

Think of Vietnam

This same idea will transfer to any policy or action the President takes during his time in office

The CabinetCabinet – group of top advisors to the

president. Includes the VP, the heads of the executive

departments, and any other advisors the President may choose

Members Selected by the President approved by the Senate Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury,

Secretary of Defense, and Attorney General are the most important

Members can not hold any other elected office

The Cabinet cont.Organization

There are 15 executive departments, each department head is part of the cabinet Ex. Department of Homeland Security and

Department of Education

Function To advise the President and help in one or more of

his roles Ex. Secretary of State helps president plan and

execute foreign policy

Foreign PolicyForeign Policy – plan for how the US will deal

with other countries Purpose is to protect US interests

Major Players The President

Has the primary responsibility of deciding Foreign Policy

Uses the State Department, National Security Council, CIA, and Department of Defense

Congress Declares war and approves treaties, funds, &

appointments Other Groups

Domestic Groups, Public Opinion, Mass Media, Other Countries, Foreign Companies

Foreign Policy cont.Tools of Foreign Policy

Diplomacy – the process of reaching a peaceful agreement with other nations through discussion

Diplomat – representative of a government who conducts relations with other governments

Alliances – potential enemies know that countries in an alliance will protect each other, can promote trade

Foreign Aid – can be used to acquire assets or as a promise to stop certain behavior

Intelligence – information about what other governments are doing and what they are capable of

Presidential SuccessionPresidential Succession – plan for what

happens if a President is unable to perform his dutiesPresident

Vice President

Speaker of the House

Chooses a new VP

President Pro Tempore

This is only temporary…a new election will be called to permanently replace the President and VP

Order of SuccessionVPSpeaker of the HousePresident Pro TemSec. of StateSec of TreasurySec. of DefenseAttorney GeneralSec. of the InteriorSec. of AgricultureSec. of Commerce

Sec. of LaborSec. of Health and

Human ServicesSec. of Housing and

Urban DevelopmentSec. of transportationSec. of EnergySec of EducationSec of Veterans AffairsSec. of Homeland

Security