THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, PARTICIPATION IN

GOVERNEMENT AND ELECTIONS

Unit 5- Chapters 13-17

Two Truths… One Lie◦The President gets paid to throw large parties.

◦The President can declare war ONLY if the nation’s security is threatened.

◦The President has the power to appoint ambassadors.

Two Truths… One Lie◦The President has the right to withhold certain information from Congress.

◦No president has ever made it to the Oval Office without being elected as president or vice president.

◦The president is allowed to campaign for others running for political office.

Two Truths… One Lie.

◦The power of the vice president has been increasing since the 1990s.

◦The President is one of the highest paid individuals in American society.

◦Seven Presidents were not born US citizens.

Your turn- to replace a missing or low notebook grade- create your own Two Truths… One Lie the Executive Branch

Formal Qualifications◦ Natural born citizen

◦ Be at least 35 years old◦ JFK was 43 when elected, but Theodore Roosevelt succeeded William McKinley at age

45◦ Five others took the oath of office before age 50: Polk, Pierce, Grant, Garfield and

Cleveland◦ Ronald Reagan was the oldest at 69

◦ Been a US resident for 14 years (total- not consecutively)

◦ May be elected for two four-year terms- 22nd Amendment◦ Only 1 elected term if succeeded another president for more than two years of their

term

Informal Qualifications MaleEuropean AncestryMiddle-agedWealthyProtestantCollege gradHealthyAttractiveMarriedPrevious leadership rolesMilitary experienceGood speaker/debaterParty identification

Challenge- replace a low class work or notebook grade:

Without considering President Obama, find 10 different exceptions to the informal qualifications listed here.

Compensation

◦Salary $400,000(2001)

◦$50,000 for expenses

◦$100,000 for travel

◦White House 132 rooms and office

◦Camp David Resort

◦Medical & Dental Care

◦Secret service protection-life

◦Pension

◦Transportation

25th Amendment 1967◦If President cannot complete his term, the V.P. becomes President-

◦Speaker of the House◦President Pro Tempore◦Cabinet Secretaries – in order of establishment (State, Treasury, Defense…)

◦If V.P. office is vacant, the President appoints one w/ Senate approval.◦Nixon elected 1968 & 1972◦1ST V. P. Spiro Agnew resigned b/c of income tax evasion◦Nixon appointed Gerald Ford VP◦Nixon Resigned b/c of Watergate scandal ◦Ford is President◦Ford appoints Nelson Rockefeller VP

The Electoral college

◦Each state will have electors = to the number of senators + representatives given to that state

◦Electors may not hold any other office

◦Electors will be appointed by state legislature

◦Electors will determine the pres. And vice-pres.◦23rd Amendment gave the District of Columbia 3 electors

Total 435+100+3=538 Elector votes

PRESIDENTIAL POWERS◦ Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces

◦ Grant reprieves & pardons for federal offenses

◦ Call special session of Congress

◦ Receive ambassadors

◦ Execute laws

◦ Appoint officials to lesser offices

◦ Make treaties

◦ Appoint ambassadors, judges, and high officials (some approved by Congress)

◦ Shares the power to approve legislation with the Legislative Branch

What is Foreign Policy?

• Definition: A nation’s external goals and techniques and strategies used to achieve them.

• American foreign policy includes national security policy, which is policy designed to protect the independence and the political and economic integrity of the United States at the insistence of the Depts. of State, Defense and the National Security Council.

Foreign Policy

Powers of the President in Making Foreign Policy

• Constitutional Powers (found in Article II)• solemnly swears to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United

States”• is commander in chief of the military• can make treaties (which are later ratified by the Senate)• can enter into executive agreements. No Senate approval needed.• can appoint ambassadors• can recognize foreign governments

• Informal powers• has access to information: CIA, State, and Defense Depts. NSA, FBI• is a legislative leader who can influence Congress’s foreign policy and funding• can influence public opinion: command the media• can commit the nation morally to a course of action

Tools of the President◦Diplomacy

◦Aid

◦Treaties

◦Sanctions

◦Military intervention

Tools of Foreign Policy

• Diplomacy – the process by which states carry on relations with each other (can also mean settling conflicts among nations through peaceful means)

• Economic aid – assistance to other nations through grants, loans or credits to buy the assisting nation’s products

• Technical assistance – sending individuals with expertise in agriculture, engineering or business to aid other nations

Tools of Foreign Policy

• Treaties- a historical pact, agreement, contract or peace between two major groups

• Sanctions- tool used by countries or international organizations to persuade a particular government or group of governments to change their policy by restricting trade, investment or other commercial activity

• Military Intervention- The deliberate act of a nation or a group of nations to introduce its military forces into the course of an existing controversy (must notify within 48 hours, 60 days on the ground, 30 days to withdraw without declaration of war)

Competing Views of Foreign Policy

• Moral Idealism – One theory of how nations act, it views all nations as willing to cooperate and agree on moral standards for conduct, but this is usually unsuccessful.

• Political Realism – Sees each nation acting principally in its own interest.

• We practice a blend of both: i.e. Most-Favored-Nation.

THE FEDERAL TAX SYSTEM/BUDGET

Ch. 16

The Power to Tax◦ Granted to Congress in the Constitution

◦ Limitations◦ Expressed

◦ Taxes used for public purposes only

◦ No taxes for exports- only can tax imports (they can regulate the export of certain items)

◦ Direct taxes must be evenly distributed based on a state’s population- part of 3/5th compromise (taxes paid based on slave population)

◦ Direct tax = taxes on land, buildings, property that is paid by the owner

◦ Congress has not imposed a direct tax since 1961 due to unequal wealth distribution

◦ Taxes must be uniform- set indirect tax rates at the same rate for all parts of the country

◦ Indirect tax= may be shifted to others for payment ex- fed tax on liquor is passed on to the consumer

Current Federal Taxes◦ Income tax- 16th Amendment

◦ Progressive tax= higher the income= higher the tax rate.◦ Individuals and corporations◦ Individuals= largest amount of federal income◦ Amount paid is after deductions (personal, dependents, certain expenses)◦ Filed by April 15th of every yea

◦ Social Insurances Taxes- social welfare programs AKA Payroll Taxes (they come out of your paycheck)◦ OA,S,DI- (social security)◦ Medicare◦ Unemployment programs

Taxes you may not know about…◦ Excise tax- fees on the manufacture, sale or consumptions of good or services-

gasoline, oil, tires, tobacco, liquor, alcohol, telephone services, airline tickets. Often called “hidden taxes” or “luxury taxes”

◦ Estate payable after a person dies, by their heirs and gift (paid by the receiver of a large sum of money)◦ The 1st 5.34 million of an estate is exempt (2014)◦ 14,000 in gifts is tax free

◦ Customs Duties- payable on goods bought in other countries (like on vacation)◦ Most items are taxable; but there are exceptions- Bibles Coffee and bananas ◦ Personal exemption is $200, $800 or $1600 (depends on where you visit)

Non-tax revenue and borrowing◦ The government makes more than $30 billion in interest on loans it makes and on

fees it charges- passport, patents, copyrights, etc.

◦ Congress has the right to borrow money◦ To help with short and long term crisis’ ◦ Finance large scale projects- WWI, WWII, Great Depression

◦ Deficit vs. Surplus

◦ Public Debt- what our government owes

Spending and the Budget◦ Prior to 1930s and 1940s it was minimal and had little impact on the economy

◦ Entitlements- benefits- remember OASDI- these must be paid to eligible individuals by law

◦ Defense- ◦ Check out the table on page 460- Which department spends the most? Which spends the

least?

◦ Controllable (20%) vs Uncontrollable(80%) expenses◦ Controllable= spending on highways, education, parks, civil service pay◦ Uncontrollable= entitlements, interest on debt

The Budget◦ Each agency develops their own budget- submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (under

the President’s control)

◦ Hearings to defend (and often cut) the budgets

◦ The President’s overall budget is compiled and sent to congress

◦ The Congressional Budget Committee (a standing committee) in each chamber reviews the proposal

◦ Goes to the CBO (Cong, Budget Office) provides info to both houses on the budget and House and Senate Appropriations committees

◦ Their subcommittees hold budget hearings to examine agency request (this is where lobbyists come into play)

◦ The two committees propose a concurrent resolution and must pass the (estimated) budget by May 15th

◦ By September 15th both must pass a second budget resolution- sets binding limits- no spending to exceed the limits set

◦ October 1 is the beginning of the fiscal year

Political Parties

◦Why do we have political parties?

◦Are these parties necessary?

◦What functions do political parties perform?

Questions to Consider

◦Defined – organization that sponsors candidates for political office◦Designated by nomination process

◦Party functions:◦Nominating candidates for election to public office◦Structuring the voting choice in elections◦Proposing alternative government programs◦Coordinating the actions of government officials

Political Parties

Nominating

◦Allows for “peer review”◦ Screening of candidates

Structuring Vote◦Reduction of number of candidates◦ Those with realistic chance of

winning

◦Predictable base of voters◦Why do individuals continuously support one party?◦“Straight-ticket”

Party Functions

Proposing Alternative Government

Programs

◦Policies candidate will pursue◦Usually align with party ideology

Coordinating Actions of Government

Officials

◦Create cooperation between numerous government agencies

Party Function cont’d

◦Many are formed from groups that split from major parties

◦Some propose radically different principles

◦Single-issue parties◦Free Soil Party -1840s and 1850s◦Prohibition Party

◦Usually express discontent with choices offered by major parties

Minor Parties

◦Tea Party – 2008 - Ron Paul

◦States’ Rights Democratic Party – 1948 - Strom Thurmond

◦Green Party – 2000 - Ralph Nader

◦American Independent Party – 1968 – George Wallace

◦Progressive Party – 1924 – Robert La Follette

◦Reform Party – 1992 – Ross Perot

Minor Parties

◦National convention◦ Assembly of delegates every four years for the purpose of

nominating a candidate for president

◦National committee◦ Governs each party between conventions

◦ Republican National Committee (RNC)

◦ Democratic National Committee (DNC)

◦Congressional party conferences◦ Occur at the beginning of each congressional session

◦ Party leaders

◦ Committee assignments

◦Congressional campaign committees◦ Raise its own funds for support of candidate in congressional

elections

National Party Organization

◦Party machine – agency that dominated local politics by controlling elections◦Patronage◦ Social services

◦Example: Tammany Hall in New York City

◦Expanded government limited the ability of the party machine

State & Local Organizations

http://www.history.com/topics/presidential-elections/videos#primaries-caucuses-and-conventions

PRIMARIES, CAUCUSES, & CONVENTIONS

CongressionalPrimary electionsOpen Primary vs. Closed Primary

◦Open primary – voters of any affiliation may vote in primaries of any party they choose◦Cannot vote in more than one primary

◦Closed primary – must be registered with a given party to vote in that party’s primary

◦ Semi-closed – unaffiliated voters may choose a party primary to vote in.

◦ Top two (blanket) primary – voters choose from all candidates; top two face off in general election

http://www.fairvote.org/congressional-and-presidential-primaries-open-closed-semi-closed-and-top-two#.Txt1umNSTus

◦Special primary◦Select delegates to attend party’s national nominating

convention

◦Winner-take-all◦Candidate with plurality (most votes) takes all delegates

Delegates – member of political party

Usually longtime party member; Vote for nominee at national convention

◦Caucus◦Series of meetings across states◦Candidates discussed then voted for

Presidential Primaries

TELECTORAL COLLEGE

Electoral College

http://www.history.com/topics/presidential-elections/videos#ask-history-electoral-college

◦Constitution establishes for election of the president by a group (college) of electors representing the states

◦Voters are actually casting their ballots for electors that are pledged to one candidate

◦23 Amendment to the Constitution◦3 electoral votes awarded to Washington D.C.

538 Total Electoral Votes (270 needed to win)

Warm Up!Examine this political cartoon: What do you believe it is saying about the Electoral College? How is it saying this?

Key Points!◦ Every four years the people of the United States elect a president,

but not directly.

◦ According to the Constitution, the presidency is awarded to the candidate with the most electoral votes, not the most popular votes.

◦ Made up of:◦ State-elected officials, party leaders, or persons who have a personal or

political affiliation with the Presidential candidate

The Electoral Collegein Five Easy Steps

Step 1:

In November of a presidential election year, each state holds an election in which all eligible citizens may vote.

Citizens vote for a “ticket” which includes a candidate for president and a candidate for vice president.

The Electoral Collegein Five Easy Steps

Step 2:The outcome of the popular vote in

each state determines the electors who make the actual choice of president and vice president.

Each state has as many electors as it has senators and members of the House of Representatives, for a total of 538.

(The District of Columbia gets three electors even though it has no representation in Congress.)

The Electoral Collegein Five Easy Steps

Step 3:In December, the electors meet in

their state capitols to cast their ballots for president and vice president.

States may or may not require their electors to vote with the popular majority, and they may or may not give all of their electors to the winner of the statewide popular vote.

The Electoral Collegein Five Easy Steps

Step 4:These ballots are opened, counted,

and certified by a joint session of Congress in January.

The Electoral Collegein Five Easy Steps

Step 5:If no candidate wins a majority of the

electoral votes or if the top two candidates are tied, the House selects a president from among the leading five candidates.

Each state's delegation has a single vote.

The Senate selects a vice president by the same process. (This hasn't happened since 1876, but it almost happened in 2000.)

Summary!◦ The “ticket” with the most popular votes is not guaranteed the presidency.

◦ Candidates are not competing for the nation as a whole, but for individual states and their electoral votes.