Ch. 13 The Executive Branch

I. The Presidents

A. Great Expectations

Question # 1

B. Who They Are

Question # 2

1. Americans want a president who is powerful and who can do good like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Kennedy.

Yet Americans do not like a concentration of power because they are individualistic and skeptical of authority.

1. Formal Requirements:Must be 35 years oldMust be a natural-born citizenMust have resided in U.S. for 14 years

2. Informal “Requirements”:White, Male, Protestant (With some

exceptions)

3. All manner of professions, but mostly political ones (former state governors, for example)

C. How They Got There

Question # 3

1. Elections: The Normal Road to the White House

Once elected, the president serves a term of four years.

In 1951, the 22nd Amendment limited the number of terms to two.

2. Succession

The vice president succeeds if the president leaves office due to death, resignation, or removal.

Under the 25th Amendment, the vice president becomes acting president if the vice president and president’s cabinet determine that the president is disabled

C. How They Got There (cont.)

3. Impeachment Impeachment is an accusation, requiring a

majority vote in the House. Charges may be brought for “Treason,

Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

If impeached, the president is tried by the Senate with the Chief Justice presiding.

Only two presidents have been impeached—Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton—and neither was convicted.

Section 1 Summary

II. Presidential Powers

A. Constitutional Powers of the President

Question # 4

b

B. The Expansion of Power

Question # 5

C. Perspectives on Presidential Power

Question # 6

1. Presidents may develop new roles for and expand power of the office.

1. During the 1950s and 1960s people favored a powerful president.2. By the 1970s, presidential power was checked and distrusted by the public.

Section 2 Summary

III. Running the Government:

A. As Chief Executive

Question # 7

B. The Vice President Question # 8C. The Cabinet

Question # 9

1. the president presides over the administration of government.

Constitution: “take care that the laws be faithfully executed”

2. Today, federal bureaucracy spends $2.5 trillion a year and numbers more than 4 million employees.

3. Presidents appoint 500 high-level positions and 2,500 lesser jobs.

2. Bureaucracy- Handles day to day business, sets rules Top down structure Each person has a specific job Operate under formal rules

1. Basically just “waits” for things to do (Pres. Of Senate)2. Power has grown over time, as recent presidents have given their VPs important jobs

1. Presidential advisors, not in Constitution2. Made up of 14 cabinet secretaries and one Attorney General, confirmed by the Senate

D. Cabinet Departments

Question # 10

E. The Executive Office (EOP)

Question # 11

1. Made up of policymaking and advisory bodies

Three principle groups: NSC, CEA, OMB1. National 1. Security Council (NSC)

Created in 1947 to coordinate the president’s foreign and military policy advisers

Members include the president, vice president, secretary of state and defense, and managed by the president’s national security adviser

2. Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)A three-member body appointed by the

president to advise on economic policy3. Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Performs both managerial and budgetary functions, including legislative review and budgetary assessments of proposals

F. The White House Staff

Question # 12

G. The First Lady

Question # 13

1. Chief aides and staff for the president—some are more for the White House than the president2. Presidents rely on their information and effort but presidents set tone and style of White House

1. No official government position, but many get involved politically2. Recent ones focus on a single issue, e.g., Hillary Clinton and health care

Section 3 Summary

IV. Presidential

Leadership of Congress: The

Politics of Shared Powers

A. Chief Legislator

Question # 14

1. Veto: The president can send a bill back to Congress with his reasons for rejecting it. It may be overridden with 2/3 support of both Houses.

2. Pocket Veto: A president can let a bill die by not signing it when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill.

3. Line Item Veto: ability to veto parts of a bill--some state governors have it, but not the president

Vetoes are mostly used to prevent legislation.

B. Party Leadership

Question # 15

1. The Bonds of PartyBeing in the president’s party creates a

psychological bond between legislators and presidents, increasing agreement.

2. Slippage in Party SupportPresidents cannot always count on party

support, especially on controversial issues.

3. Leading the PartyPresidents can offer party candidates

support and punishment by withholding favors.

Presidential coattails occur when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the president’s party because they support the president. Races are rarely won in this way.

a b

a b

C. Public Support

Question # 16

D. Legislative Skills

Question # 17

1. Public ApprovalA source of presidential leadership of

CongressPublic approval gives the president

leverage, not command; it does not guarantee success

2. MandatesPerception that the voters strongly support

the president’s character and policiesMandates are infrequent, but presidents

claim a mandate anyway

1. Bargaining: concessions for votes, occurs infrequently2. Being strategic, presidents increase chances for success by exploiting “honeymoon” at beginning of term3. Presidents may set priorities to influence Congress’ agenda; president is nation’s key agenda builder4. Skills must compete with other factors that may affect Congress; they are not at the core of presidential leadership of Congress

Section 4 Summary

V. The President and National Security Policy

A. Chief Diplomat

Question # 18

B. Commander-in-Chief

Question # 19

1. Negotiates treaties with other countries Treaties must be ratified by 2/3 vote in

the Senate2. Use executive agreements to take care of routine matters with other countries3. May negotiate for peace between other countries4. Lead U.S. allies in defense and economic

1. Writers of the Constitution wanted civilian control of the military.2. Presidents often make important military decisions.3. Presidents command a standing military and nuclear arsenal—unthinkable 200 years ago

C. War Powers

Question # 20

D. Crisis Manager

Question # 21

E. Working with Congress

Question # 22

1. Shared War Powers in ConstitutionCongress has the power to declare war.President, as Commander-in-Chief, can

commit troops and equipment in conflicts

2. War Powers Resolution (1973) Intended to limit the president’s use of the

military Requires president to consult with Congress

prior to using military force and withdraw forces after 60 days unless Congress declares war or grants and extension

Presidents see the Resolution as unconstitutional

3. Presidents continue to test the constitutional limits of using the military in foreign conflicts.

1. The role the president plays can help or hurt the presidential image.2. With current technology, the president can act much faster than Congress to resolve a crisis.

1. President has lead role in foreign affairs2. Presidents still have to work with Congress for support and funding of foreign policies.

Section 5 Summary