State of the Union 2013

Pre Class

** Use the packet that you did while I was out to help you!• According to Article II of the Constitution:–What are the qualifications a person must

meet in order to become President?–What are 3 powers that the President has?

• Who votes directly for the President?

Executive Branch of the United States

…“Take care that the laws be faithfully executed” (carried out, enforced)

- enforces laws, treaties and court decisions

The PresidentConstitutional Requirements

• Must be 35 years old

• Must have lived in the United States for 14 years

• Must be a natural born citizen

 President Obama is the 44th President of the United States

The Vice-PresidentPresides over Senate and casts a vote in the event of a tie.Assumes Presidency should President be unable to finish his term.

Role Vice-President plays mostly determined by President:VP Biden: “behind the scenes” counselor for ObamaVP Cheney: national security; one of the most visible VP’s in U.S. HistoryVP Gore: advisor to President on environmental issues

Daniel Webster: “I do not choose to be buried until I am already dead”.

How much do they make?President: $400,000 per year-- $50,000 expense account-- $100,000 nontaxable for travel-- $19,000 official entertainment -- free housing (1600 Pennsylvania Ave.)

• Secret Service protection (up to 10 years after leaving office)

• Country home (Camp David)• Personal airplane (Air Force One)• Staff of 400-500 full-time employeesRetired president: $196,700 per year-- $150,000 to maintain staff

Vice President: $227,300 per year

-- $10,000 expense account-- free housing (Number One

Observatory Circle)

The President’s Cabinet

The CabinetFirst established by George Washington in 1789. The “inner cabinet” has the most power:

-- Secretary of State-- Secretary of Treasury-- Secretary of War (now Defense)-- Attorney General

cabinet secretaries: provide oversight of a governmental department. • appointed by the President and approved

by the Senate.

More on the President’s cabinet…

• 1789: 4 Cabinet posts

• TODAY: 15 Cabinet members

• Last cabinet department was created in 2002 -- the Department of Homeland Security.

Created in 2002, un response to September 11, 2001 attacks

Obama’s “Inner” CabinetSecretary of State John Kerry

(incoming)

Secretary of the TreasuryJack Lew (incoming)

Obama’s “Inner” Cabinet

Secretary of Defense Leon Pantella (outgoing)

Attorney GeneralEric Holder

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D

G

E

C

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The President’s Expressed Powers

Commander in Chief• Commander in Chief of

Army, Navy & National Guard

President Eisenhower sends the 101st airborne division of the Army to desegregate Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas (1957)

Chief Executive

• “faithfully execute” the laws• grant pardons for federal

offenses except for cases of impeachment

• nominate judges of the Supreme Court and all other officers of the U.S. (Senate confirms)

• fill vacancies that may happen in Senate My fellow Americans, our long national

nightmare is over...Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men.

9/8/74 – Ford pardons Nixon

Diplomatic (Foreign Affairs) Powers

• appoint ambassadors, ministers and consuls• make treaties subject to Senate confirmation• receive ambassadors

Pres Obama gives Japanese emperor a bow

Legislative Powers

• Give State of the Union address to Congress• Recommend “measures” to the Congress• Upon “extraordinary occasions” convene both

houses of Congress

Pre Class

• List 2 expressed powers of the President.• The President also has powers that are not in

the Constitution. Can you give an example of one?

1. U.S. Army troops are trapped on an island off the coast of South Korea. How can they be rescued?

Commander in Chief 2. A breakfast is scheduled with top leaders from Congress to check on two

educational bills introduced by the White House. How can support be gained?

Chief Legislator 3. A summit meeting is scheduled with a new Russian leader. What can be done to improve U.S. Russian relations? Head of State4. Many people are complaining about high taxes. How can taxes be cut and the government’s programs maintained?

Economic Leader 5. A U. S. embassy has been bombed and several Americans have been killed. What should be done?

Commander in Chief of Foreign-Policy Leader

Presidential Decision Making

Decision Making, cntd6. A senatorial candidate from the President’s party is in financial trouble. How can she be helped?

Party Chief 7. One of the large automobile manufacturers is going bankrupt. Should it be given a government loan?

Economic Leader8. A meeting is scheduled with the Secretary of Defense and two Army generals to discuss plans for developing new weapons. Should their plans be supported?

Commander in Chief9. There is an oil spill off the coast of California, how should it be cleaned up? Chief Executive10. A presidential press conference is planned for next week. How should plans to cut down on government paperwork be announced?

Chief Executive

• Those powers not explicitly written in the Constitution

• Similar to “necessary and proper” powers of Congress

• In the modern era (since 1933), the President’s informal powers may be significantly more powerful than his formal powers

Informal Powers

Why has the President’s power grown?

• Article II is vague – “to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”

• Expanded bureaucracy – 15 cabinets, independent agencies (ie. CIA)

• 20th century – US faced Depression and wars; had to act in emergencies

• Modern media (TV) allows candidates to appeal directly to the American people for support of his agenda

• The President in pop culture – we perceive him to be all-powerful

Executive Orders• Orders issued by the President that

carry the force of law• Clinton’s “Don’t ask don’t tell”

gays in the military policy• FDR’s

internment of Japanese Americans (EO 9066)

• GWB trying suspected terrorists in military tribunals

Notice for Japanese “relocation,” 1942

Executive Agreements• International agreements, usually related to trade, made

by a president that has the force of a treaty; does NOT need Senate approval

• Jefferson’s purchase of Louisiana in 1803 • GWB announced cuts in

the nuclear arsenal, but not in a treaty; usually trade agreements between

US and other nations

Executive Privilege• Claim by a president that he has the right to decide

that the national interest will be better served if certain information is withheld from the public, including the Courts and Congress

• Nixon did not want to turn over private tapes in the midst of Watergate – claimed EP

President v. Congress• Prez’s power has grown tremendously, BUT– Congress has oversight power– Prez has a TERM LIMIT (22nd amendment),

Congress does NOT

Closing Questions• Why are informal powers more important

than formal powers, particularly to modern presidents?

• Identify several advantages and disadvantages of the use of the president’s informal powers.

• Has the use and perhaps abuse of the informal powers created an “Imperial Presidency?” Defend your answer.

Reminders

– QUIZ WEDNESDAY on the executive branch• Presidential qualifications• Expressed and informal powers of the Presidents• 7 roles/jobs of the President

– Following the President on social media journal due MONDAY!!!! BE WORKING ON IT!

Analyzing Presidential Decisions

Scenario #1

• The President issues an order that women in the armed forces may now serve in a direct combat capacity during wartime.

EXPRESSED (formal) Powers in the Constitution

Informal Powers

Commander in Chief – civilian leader of the military 

Chief Executive – responsible for the Department of Defense

Executive Order – similar to Truman’s desegregation of the military & Clinton's "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell" policy 

Scenario #2

• The president and the Secretary of State negotiate an agreement with North Korea to end its designs on building a nuclear weapon. In exchange, the U.S. will commit $15 billion in humanitarian aid to the North Korean people suffering from mass starvation, and forgive up to $25 billion in loans by the North Korean government to U.S. banks. The president consulted Congress, but did not request a treaty.

EXPRESSED (formal) Powers in the Constitution

Informal Powers

Commander in Chief – involves military Foreign Powers: Appoint ministers (Secretary of State)Negotiate treaties – though may not require formal treaty

Executive Agreement - POTUSnegotiates agreement with N. Korea  Chief Legislator – needs $ from Congress 

Scenario #3

• A major earthquake hits 80 miles south of San Francisco incurring enormous damage with hundreds feared dead or missing, and billions of dollars in property damage. The president mobilizes the National Guard as well as regular army units to assist in the rescue effort and to help maintain order. He instructs agencies of the federal government (ex. FEMA, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security) to send aid. After visiting the “Quake Zone,” the President addresses a joint session of Congress and requests short and long term financial assistance for the affected areas.

EXPRESSED (formal) Powers in the Constitution

Informal Powers

Commander in Chief – mobilizes National Guard & military Chief Executive – mobilizes agencies of federal government

Legislative Powers – recommend measures to Congress  

Chief Legislator – takes lead by addressing Congress

Scenario #4

• In his State of the Union Address, the president outlines a comprehensive plan to overhaul the Social Security system including an option to privatize Social Security accounts. He expects Congress to pass his plan in its entirety.

EXPRESSED (formal) Powers in the Constitution

Informal Powers

Legislative powers:State of the Union addressRecommend measures to Congress Chief Executive – head of all executive depts.. including Social Security Administration

Chief Legislator – President initiates his domestic agenda to the Congress 

Political Party Leader – expects the assistance and loyalty of members of his party in Congress

Scenario #5

• In a 7-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down an Oklahoma law requiring the teaching of intelligent design in public schools. As an act of defiance, the governor of Oklahoma orders the closing of several public schools which had refused to teach the intelligent design curriculum. The president of the United States commits National Guard troops to forcibly open the public schools and restore order.

EXPRESSED (formal) Powers in the Constitution

Informal Powers

Chief Executive - “faithfully execute the laws;” in this case a Supreme Court decision Commander in Chief – commits National Guard troops

Scenario #6

• For several months, there have been credible reports that there is a mass genocide bring carried out by an African nation's government against ethnic minorities. Amnesty International estimates that more than 500,000 have been murdered thus far. In a speech to a joint session of Congress, the president of the US declares that he will commit 25,000 American troops to t assist the United Nations in an effort to stop the violence against civilians and restore peace to the country. In his speech, the president contends “as the last remaining superpower, the US has a moral obligation and the means to stop the murders of countless innocent men, women and children.”

EXPRESSED (formal) Powers in the Constitution

Informal Powers

Commander in Chief – commit US troops Head of State – Chief diplomat addressing UN

What makes a good President?

Demographic Characteristics of U. S. Presidents

• Male - 100%• Caucasian – 99.98%• Protestant - 97%• British ancestry - 82%• College education - 77%• Politicians - 69%• Lawyers - 62%• Top 3% wealth & social class - At least 50% • Elected from large states - 69%

“Fortunate Son” (CCR)

• What do you think this song is about, i.e. what’s going on? (Hint: You may incorporate historical information into your answer .)

• Compare and contrast these lyrics to the demographic characteristics of presidents. What connections can you make between the lyrics and those statistics?

• What do you think is the overall message of the songwriter?

Essential Question

• Is it important for the President to be able to identify with YOU?

• What would you change about the demographics of the American presidents? (ie. More women, a latino President, more African American presidents, wealth, religion, etc.)

Agree/Disagree• It is important for a Presidential candidate to look good.• An effective President must be an excellent public

speaker.• All Presidents must have military experience.• America is ready to vote for a woman President.• The President should be able to declare war without

the permission of Congress.• Let’s abandon the Electoral College and just have the

winner be one who receives the most votes from the people

Agree/Disagree

• Presidential candidates should be limited on how much they can spend on their campaign.

• The system would work better if the President and Vice President were from different parties.

• America would benefit from having a legitimate 3rd party option.

• I would not give the President the power to pardon.

Agree/DisagreeNumber your page 1-5. Next to each #, write whether you agree or disagree with each statement listed.

1. All Presidents must have military experience.2. America is ready to vote for a woman President.3. The President should be able to declare war without the

permission of Congress.4. Let’s abandon the Electoral College and just have the winner

be one who receives the most votes from the people5. The system would work better if the President and Vice

President were from different parties.

How much power should the President have?

Presidential Burials

• http://www.c-span.org/GrantsTomb/

White House Office• White House staff members/aides that

President appoints and works with daily. Appointed without Senate confirmation.

• Includes “assistant to the President”, “press secretary”, and “special consultant”.

Organization of White House Office:

Circular: Pyramid:President deals directly A “hierarchy” thatwith staff members communicates

through a “chief of staff”.

First Lady also has her own office/staff.

NY Times Exdorsements

• http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/10/28/opinion/presidential-endorsement-timeline.html

Executive Office of the President(EOP)

Originated with FDR, created in 1939 President’s personal “bureaucracy” Monitors work done in cabinet departments

and federal agencies. A group of offices, councils, boards devoted

to specific areas (national security, trade, budget, etc…)

Approximately 2,000 employees

EOP Overview cont’d…• Chief of Staff: Bill Daley

(formerly Rahm Emanuel)-- Highest ranking member of

office. Serves managerial and advisory role.

-- Senior aide to President. “Second Most Powerful Person in Washington”.

Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

-- Largest office in EOP- prepares budget & monitors funds spent by Congress.

-- Oversees budgets/records of Executive agencies.

Independent Agencies• Exist outside federal executive departments but

are still considered part of Executive branch.

Created by Congress President appoints people to them and they are

confirmed by the Senate.

Examples include…• CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)• FEC (Federal Election Commission)• FTC (Federal Trade Commission)

How much do they make?President of the United States $400,000 Executive Schedule

 Level 1: Cabinet-level officials $196,700 Level II: Deputy secretaries of departments, secretaries of military departments, & heads of major agencies

$177,000

 Level III: Under secretaries of departments & heads of middle-level agencies $162,900

 Level IV: Assistant secretaries & general counsels of departments, heads of minor agencies, members of certain boards & commissions

$153,200

 Level V: Administrators, commissioners, directors, & members of boards, commissions, or units of agencies

$143,500