Chapter 9The Executive Branch

Sections 1, 2, and 3

Section I The Roles of the

President

The Roles of the President The President is the head of the

executive branch. Carrying out laws is only part of the job. The President’s most important duty is to set goals for the nation and develop policies. Policies are ways of reaching goals. The President must make final decisions on many important issues.

Creating the Office of President The framers gave limited powers to the

President:

Term of office- serves for 4 years, must run for re-election. Can only serve 2 terms

Limited powers- separation of powers by three branch government. Checks and balances.

Qualifications and Salary- Natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old; salary set by Congress.

Term Limits

•Twenty-second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution sets a term limit for the President. The Congress passed the amendment in 1947.

A Leader With Many Roles

“Through the examples of Washington and the Presidents who followed him, the roles of the President have become more clearly defined over the years.”

Chief Executive• Head of the

executive branch• executes laws of the

land• Makes only broad

decisions• Orders can’t violate

the Constitution• Power to appoint

about 4,000 executive branch officials (must first be approved by Congress)

Head of GovernmentRoles: The president is "boss" for millions of

government workers in the Executive Branch, deciding how the laws of the United States are to be enforced and choosing officials and advisers to help run the Executive Branch.

Examples of Behavior in Roles:▫ Appointing someone to serve as head of the Central

Intelligence Agency (CIA).  ▫ Holding Cabinet meetings to discuss government

business.  ▫ Reading reports about problems of the Federal

Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Chief executive……….

Commander-in-Chief• Commander of the

military• Does not handle day-

to-day operations, but makes most important decisions during war.▫ War Powers

Resolution-president can’t send troops to war past 60 days without Congress approval

Eisenhower

US Grant and FDR

Chief Diplomat

•Most important representative of the U.S.

•Takes the lead in foreign policy

•Makes treaties with other countries (however, Senate can reject)

•Appoints U.S. Ambassadors to foreign countries

Legislative Leader

• Can influence what laws will be and how they are enforced

• Must give a yearly State of The Union address to Congress

• Most powerful tool he has is the veto

• Can call special sessions of Congress

State of the Union

Cont…………….

Judicial Powers• President nominates

Supreme Court justices and other federal judges

• Senate must confirm the nominees

• President may grant pardons or release individuals from punishment

Supreme Court

Roles Created by Tradition

•Party leader▫Elected either as a Democrat or a

Republican, thus considered leader of party

•Chief-of-state▫Speaks for the entire nation▫Expresses our values, goals

•Carries out ceremonial duties•Stands as a symbol of the United

States of America

End of section 1

Section 2: The Organization of the Executive Branch

“The executive branch of the government includes the President, the White

House staff, the Vice President, the executive

departments, and the independent agencies”.

Growth of the Executive Branch• There were only a

few hundred officials in George Washington’s time

• Now there are over three million

• Executive branch has become a large bureaucracy

• 2,000 bureaucratic administrators lead the three branches of government today

The Executive Office of the President• Main job is to advise the President on

important matters. Includes…….

• White House staff▫Most trusted advisors▫Helps guide the bureaucracy towards

President’s goals▫Staff: chief of staff, key advisors, press

secretaries, legal experts, speech writers, office workers, researchers

Continued………….•Vice President

▫Given no duties by Constitution except presiding over Senate

▫President decides Vice Presidents duties▫Historically, some VP’s have held more

power than others•If the President dies, the Vice

President becomes President. He also may be asked to serve if the President

becomes seriously ill.

Continued…………•Special Advisory Groups

▫Help the president make decisions on domestic and foreign policy

•Two important groups: Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

What will goals of President cost Prepares the budget that is sent to

Congress National Security Council (NSC)

Includes top military officials and advisors from agencies that deal with foreign affairs and national defense

The Executive Departments• There are 15

executive departments

• They form the largest part of the executive branch

• Departments fulfill one or more of the President’s duties

The Independent Agencies

•Executive agencies-under the direct control of the President (can choose or remove at will)▫NASA▫EPA

Continued……….• Regulatory

Commissions-Congress has formed 12

• Carry out rules for a certain business or economic activity▫ FCC-Federal

Communications Commission

▫ CPSC-Consumer Product Safety Commission

The Civil Service System• Includes a wide

variety of employees

• Hired on the basis of merit

• Tested for placement

• Stay on the job even when administration changes

End of Section 2

Section 3: Presidents and Power

“The power of the President has expanded since George Washington’s time. The President’s power is still balanced by the other two branches of government.”

Freedom to Take Action•President has freedom to take action

to meet goals•Can hold talks with representatives of

other countries without approval of Congress

•One President has committed the US to a treaty, it is hard for the Senate to say no

•Executive privilege-can keep some information secret from Congress and courts.

Seeking Balance•President must be

able to act quickly in a crisis

•However-strong leadership should not lead to abuse of power.

Presidential Power

1.Jefferson

2.Truman

3.Nixon

Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

• Bought land from France for $15 million

• Felt purchase would be good for nation

• Constitution didn’t give President or Congress right to buy land

• Had to act quickly so…

• Bought land as part of a treaty

Truman and the Steel Mills• During Korean War,

steel workers and owners at odds over work

• Truman put Secretary of Commerce in control of mills

• Steel needed for war effort

• Steel companies fought in Supreme Court and won

• Court ruled President had no right to take private property, even in a national emergency

Nixon and Watergate• Resigned from office

August 9, 1974 as a result of Watergate

• Nixon and staff accused of break-in at Democratic National Committee Headquarters at Watergate building

• Investigations and recommendations are to impeach, but instead he resigns.

THE ENDof

CHAPTER 9!