Executive BranchExecutive BranchChapter 6Chapter 6Section 1Section 1

““The president of the United States The president of the United States carries with it a responsibility so carries with it a responsibility so personal as to be without parallel…No personal as to be without parallel…No one can make decisions for him…Even one can make decisions for him…Even those closest to him…never know all those closest to him…never know all the reasons why he does certain things the reasons why he does certain things and comes to certain conclusions. To be and comes to certain conclusions. To be President of the United States is to be President of the United States is to be lonely, very lonely at times of great lonely, very lonely at times of great decisions.”decisions.”

-Harry S. Truman-Harry S. Truman

Presidential RequirementsPresidential Requirements

At least 35 years oldAt least 35 years old Native-born US citizenNative-born US citizen Resident of US for at Resident of US for at

least 14 yearsleast 14 years((US Constitution, Article II, US Constitution, Article II,

Section 1)Section 1)

BackgroundBackground

Past Presidents have all been:Past Presidents have all been: White (except Obama)White (except Obama) MaleMale Protestants (except for Kennedy)Protestants (except for Kennedy)

Other interesting facts:Other interesting facts: 11stst Pres: George Washington Pres: George Washington 11stst VP: John Adams VP: John Adams 11stst Pres. to die in office: William H. Harrison Pres. to die in office: William H. Harrison

Term of OfficeTerm of Office

Term of OfficeTerm of Office Four yearsFour years Two-term limit or 10 years Two-term limit or 10 years (if began during another’s term)(if began during another’s term)

Franklin D. Roosevelt & 22Franklin D. Roosevelt & 22ndnd Amendment(1951)-Roosevelt was elected Amendment(1951)-Roosevelt was elected to a 4to a 4thth term in 1944. Congress passed the term in 1944. Congress passed the 2222ndnd Amendment, which limits each Amendment, which limits each president to president to twotwo elected terms in office or elected terms in office or a maximum of 10 years.a maximum of 10 years.

Election ProcessElection Process

Two steps of Election of President:Two steps of Election of President: Popular Election: citizens vote for Popular Election: citizens vote for

electorselectors Electoral College: electors vote for Electoral College: electors vote for

presidentpresident

Electoral CollegeElectoral College 538 Electors (Washington, D.C. has 3)538 Electors (Washington, D.C. has 3) The number of electors each state receives is the state’s The number of electors each state receives is the state’s

number of senators + number of representativesnumber of senators + number of representativesHow many electors does Alabama get? How many electors does Alabama get? Meet at state capitals after Meet at state capitals after popular electionpopular election Most states use winner-take-all method (candidate who Most states use winner-take-all method (candidate who

wins popular election receives all of the electors’ votes)wins popular election receives all of the electors’ votes) Must win 270 votes to be electedMust win 270 votes to be elected (one more than half) (one more than half)

What are the consequences of president being elected by What are the consequences of president being elected by Electoral College, rather than popular election? Electoral College, rather than popular election?

Salary/BenefitsSalary/Benefits $400,000/year$400,000/year White House (gym, bowling alley, White House (gym, bowling alley,

heated pool)heated pool) Camp David (estate in Maryland)Camp David (estate in Maryland) Presidential Fleet of special cars, Presidential Fleet of special cars,

helicopters & airplaneshelicopters & airplanes

Presidential SuccessionPresidential Succession(1947 Presidential Succession Act)(1947 Presidential Succession Act)

In 1947, Congress passed the Presidential Succession Act, which established a line of In 1947, Congress passed the Presidential Succession Act, which established a line of succession after the vice president if the president dies or leaves office.succession after the vice president if the president dies or leaves office.

Vice President Vice President Speaker of the House Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore of the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Senate Secretary of State Secretary of State Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of Defense Secretary of Defense Attorney General Attorney General Secretary of the Interior Secretary of the Interior Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Labor Secretary of Labor Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Energy Secretary of Energy Secretary of Education Secretary of Education Secretary of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Homeland Security Secretary of Homeland Security

2525thth Amendment Amendment

There were still questions about how to There were still questions about how to handle this situation, so 20 years later, in handle this situation, so 20 years later, in 1967, Congress passed the 251967, Congress passed the 25thth Amendment.Amendment.

If President dies or leaves office, VP becomes If President dies or leaves office, VP becomes President and chooses another VPPresident and chooses another VP

**(Senate & House must approve)**(Senate & House must approve)

2525thth Amendment, continued Amendment, continued

Has only been used 3 times:Has only been used 3 times: 1973 VP Spiro Agnew resigned and was 1973 VP Spiro Agnew resigned and was

replaced by Gerald Fordreplaced by Gerald Ford 1974 Nixon resigned; Ford became 1974 Nixon resigned; Ford became

president and appointed Nelson president and appointed Nelson Rockefeller as VPRockefeller as VP

1985 Ronald Reagan underwent 1985 Ronald Reagan underwent surgery, he appointed George H.W. Bush surgery, he appointed George H.W. Bush as acting presidentas acting president

Chapter 6, Section 2Chapter 6, Section 2The President’s JobThe President’s Job

“Frankly, being President is rather an unattractive business unless one relishes the exercise of power. That is a thing which has never greatly appealed to me.”

-Warren Harding

Constitutional PowersConstitutional Powers

Veto, or reject, billsVeto, or reject, bills Call Congress into special sessionCall Congress into special session Serve as Commander in ChiefServe as Commander in Chief Receive foreign leadersReceive foreign leaders Make treaties (requires Senate approval)Make treaties (requires Senate approval) Make appointmentsMake appointments

Cabinet Cabinet Supreme Court judgesSupreme Court judges AmbassadorsAmbassadors

Pardon or reduce penalties of those convicted of federal Pardon or reduce penalties of those convicted of federal crimescrimes

(This comes from Article II of the Constitution.)(This comes from Article II of the Constitution.)

Roles of the PresidentRoles of the President Chief ExecutiveChief Executive

Gives Gives executive orders, executive orders, a rule or command that has the force of a rule or command that has the force of law. (Ex. Harry Truman issue executive order to integrate the law. (Ex. Harry Truman issue executive order to integrate the armed forces in 1948)armed forces in 1948)

May give pardon, reprieve or amnesty.May give pardon, reprieve or amnesty. Pardon: declaration of forgiveness and freedom from Pardon: declaration of forgiveness and freedom from

punishmentpunishment Reprieve: delay person’s punishment until higher court hears Reprieve: delay person’s punishment until higher court hears

casecase Amnesty: pardon toward group of peopleAmnesty: pardon toward group of people

Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat Directs foreign policyDirects foreign policy

Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief In charge of the army, navy, air force, marines and coast In charge of the army, navy, air force, marines and coast

guardguard Has power to order troops into action Has power to order troops into action

**Only Congress can “declare war.” This is an example of **Only Congress can “declare war.” This is an example of checks and balanceschecks and balances. Also, president must get approval . Also, president must get approval from Congress if troops are there for more than 90 days.from Congress if troops are there for more than 90 days.

Other Roles, cont.Other Roles, cont.

Legislative LeaderLegislative Leader Most of the bills Congress considers come from the Most of the bills Congress considers come from the

President and his legislative program, or the laws that President and his legislative program, or the laws that he wants Congress to passhe wants Congress to pass

Head of StateHead of State Living symbol of nation (Ex. Lighting national Christmas Living symbol of nation (Ex. Lighting national Christmas

tree)tree) Economic LeaderEconomic Leader

Plans federal budgetPlans federal budget Party LeaderParty Leader

Gives speeches for other party members running for Gives speeches for other party members running for offices and helps raise moneyoffices and helps raise money

Chapter 6.3Chapter 6.3

Making Foreign PolicyMaking Foreign Policy

““We must have a policy to guide our We must have a policy to guide our relations with every country in every relations with every country in every part of the world. No country is so part of the world. No country is so remote from us that it may not someday remote from us that it may not someday be involved in a matter that threatens be involved in a matter that threatens the peace....Who knows what may the peace....Who knows what may happen in the future? Our foreign policy happen in the future? Our foreign policy must be universal.”must be universal.”

-Harry Truman-Harry Truman

The President and Foreign The President and Foreign PolicyPolicy

Foreign policy-Foreign policy- the nation’s the nation’s overall plan for overall plan for dealing with dealing with other nationsother nations

Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

Basic GoalBasic Goal National security-National security-

ability to keep the ability to keep the country safe from country safe from attack or harmattack or harm

Other goalsOther goals International International

tradetrade Promoting world Promoting world

peacepeace Promote Promote

democracydemocracy

Tools of Foreign PolicyTools of Foreign Policy

Creating treaties/executive Creating treaties/executive agreementsagreements

Appointing ambassadorsAppointing ambassadors Foreign aidForeign aid International TradeInternational Trade Military ForceMilitary Force

Creating Treaties & Executive Creating Treaties & Executive AgreementsAgreements

Treaty- formal Treaty- formal agreement between agreement between the governments of 2 the governments of 2 or more countriesor more countries Ex. NATO (North Atlantic Ex. NATO (North Atlantic

Treaty Organization)Treaty Organization) Executive agreement- Executive agreement-

agreement between agreement between the president and the the president and the leader of another leader of another countrycountry

Appointing AmbassadorsAppointing Ambassadors

Ambassador- official representative of a country’s governmentAmbassador- official representative of a country’s government

Must be:Must be: Appointed by the presidentAppointed by the president Approved by the SenateApproved by the Senate

John Bolt

US Ambassador to the UN

Foreign AidForeign Aid

Money, food, military Money, food, military or other assistance or other assistance sent to other sent to other countriescountries

Example: Marshall Example: Marshall Plan (program used Plan (program used to rebuild Western to rebuild Western Europe after WWII)Europe after WWII) George Marshall won the

Nobel Peace Prize for developing the Marshall Plan.

International TradeInternational Trade

Ability to make agreements with other Ability to make agreements with other nations about the exchanging of nations about the exchanging of productsproducts Trade sanctions-Trade sanctions- efforts to punish efforts to punish

another nation by imposing trade another nation by imposing trade barriersbarriers

Embargo- Embargo- agreement among a agreement among a group of nations that prohibits them group of nations that prohibits them all from trading with a target nationall from trading with a target nation

America’s longest embargoAmerica’s longest embargo

CUBAN EMBARGO

1962-present

Military ForceMilitary Force

As commander in chief, president may As commander in chief, president may use military to carry out certain foreign-use military to carry out certain foreign-policy decisionspolicy decisions

Ex. Washington used troops to put down Ex. Washington used troops to put down Whiskey Rebellion; Clinton ordered Whiskey Rebellion; Clinton ordered cruise missiles to be launched at cruise missiles to be launched at terrorist facilities in Afghanistan & terrorist facilities in Afghanistan & Sudan in 1998; Bush used military to Sudan in 1998; Bush used military to invade Iraq in 2003invade Iraq in 2003

Chapter 6.4Chapter 6.4

Presidential Advisors Presidential Advisors

Executive Office of Executive Office of PresidentPresident

““president’s administration”president’s administration” Created by FDR’s administration in Created by FDR’s administration in

19391939 2,000+ employees2,000+ employees $100m budget$100m budget ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Prepare reports on special projectsPrepare reports on special projects Help write billsHelp write bills Check on other agenciesCheck on other agencies

Other Important EOP Other Important EOP AgenciesAgencies

Office of Management & BudgetOffice of Management & Budget Prepares federal budget and monitors spendingPrepares federal budget and monitors spending

National Security CouncilNational Security Council Assists president with military and foreign policyAssists president with military and foreign policy

Office of AdministrationOffice of Administration Council of Economic AdvisersCouncil of Economic Advisers

Gives presidents advice about economic mattersGives presidents advice about economic matters

White House OfficeWhite House Office

~500 people~500 people President’s political advisorsPresident’s political advisors Examples:Examples:

Deputy Chief of StaffDeputy Chief of Staff Assistant for Domestic AffairsAssistant for Domestic Affairs Counsel (lawyers)Counsel (lawyers) Press SecretaryPress Secretary

CabinetCabinet

15 departments15 departments Not mentioned in the ConstitutionNot mentioned in the Constitution Heads must be approved by SenateHeads must be approved by Senate Examples:Examples:

Department of StateDepartment of State Department of TreasuryDepartment of Treasury Department of DefenseDepartment of Defense Newest: Department of Homeland Newest: Department of Homeland

SecuritySecurity