The Executive BranchThe Executive Branch

I. The Executive I. The Executive BranchBranch

A.A. Enforces the lawsEnforces the laws

B.B. Head of Executive Branch is the Head of Executive Branch is the PresidentPresident1.1. Can make quick decisions in crucial situationsCan make quick decisions in crucial situations

2.2. Both Congress and courts take time to get things Both Congress and courts take time to get things donedone

II. The PresidentII. The President

A.A. Article II of the Constitution Article II of the Constitution 1.1. ““take care that the laws be take care that the laws be

faithfully executed”faithfully executed”2.2. ““preserve, protect, and defend the preserve, protect, and defend the

Constitution of the United States”Constitution of the United States”

B.B. No titles of NobilityNo titles of Nobility1.1. ““Mr. President” only Mr. President” only

C.C. $400,000 per year $400,000 per year

III. Qualifications for III. Qualifications for the President the President

A.A. Article II, Section 1 Article II, Section 1 1.1. Must be 35 years old Must be 35 years old

2.2. Must be a “natural born citizen”Must be a “natural born citizen”

3.3. Must have been a resident of the US for Must have been a resident of the US for at least 14 years at least 14 years

IV. Vice President IV. Vice President

A.A. Same qualifications as President Same qualifications as President B.B. No term limits No term limits C.C. The Constitution called for the runner up in the The Constitution called for the runner up in the

electoral college to become VP electoral college to become VP 1.1. Changed by 12Changed by 12thth amendment amendment

D.D. Specific Duties enumerated in the ConstitutionSpecific Duties enumerated in the ConstitutionA.A. Successor to Presidency, Presides over Senate Successor to Presidency, Presides over Senate

E.E. Other duties (not listed)Other duties (not listed)1.1. Chairman of the Board of NASAChairman of the Board of NASA2.2. Member of board for Smithsonian Member of board for Smithsonian 3.3. Advisor to President Advisor to President 4.4. Spokesman for AdministrationSpokesman for Administration

F.F. Most feel that it is a thankless and powerless role Most feel that it is a thankless and powerless role 1.1. John Adams – “most insignificant office…ever…John Adams – “most insignificant office…ever…

conceived…”conceived…”

V. Electing a President V. Electing a President – Primary Elections – Primary Elections

A.A. Each political party selects one Each political party selects one candidate to run to maximize their candidate to run to maximize their power power

B.B. Most political parities hold Most political parities hold Primary Primary ElectionsElections to determine who their to determine who their candidate will becandidate will be

1.1. Candidates try to win delegates from each Candidates try to win delegates from each state to represent them at the Party’s state to represent them at the Party’s nominating convention nominating convention

2.2. Each party announces their candidate at the Each party announces their candidate at the nominating convention nominating convention 1.1. Each party has slightly different rules Each party has slightly different rules

C.C. In 2012 the Republicans chose Mitt In 2012 the Republicans chose Mitt RomneyRomney

1.1. 23 candidates for president from various 23 candidates for president from various parties, independents, and write-in parties, independents, and write-in candidates candidates

Bob Barr – Libertarian Presidential hopeful

VI. The Electoral VI. The Electoral College College

A.A. Article II, Sec. 1 Article II, Sec. 1 B.B. Each STATE votes for Each STATE votes for

president president 1.1. the people in each state the people in each state

vote to tell their state vote to tell their state who to vote for who to vote for

1.1. Vote for electors Vote for electors pledged to vote for a pledged to vote for a certain candidate certain candidate

C.C. Each state’s number of Each state’s number of electors is the total electors is the total number of Senators and number of Senators and Representatives from Representatives from each stateeach state

D.D. A candidate needs 270 A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win (a electoral votes to win (a majority)majority)1.1. 538 total electors 538 total electors

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College

E.E. ““Faithless Electors”Faithless Electors”1.1. 157 cases, but none have ever 157 cases, but none have ever

changed the outcome of an changed the outcome of an electionelection

2.2. 24 states have laws punishing 24 states have laws punishing faithless electorsfaithless electors

3.3. Most recent case was in 2004 Most recent case was in 2004 where a Minnesota elector voted where a Minnesota elector voted for John Edwards for John Edwards

VII. Term Limits VII. Term Limits

A.A. Elected to a 4 year Elected to a 4 year termterm

B.B. FDR is the only FDR is the only president to serve president to serve more than 2 terms more than 2 terms (4 from 1933-45)(4 from 1933-45)

C.C. Two term limit as of Two term limit as of 1951 1951 1.1. 2222ndnd amendment amendment

D.D. Can serve 10 years Can serve 10 years total (no more than total (no more than 2 years of 2 years of another’s term)another’s term)

VIII. Roles of The VIII. Roles of The President President

A.A. The President serves in The President serves in the following roles: the following roles: 1.1. Chief ExecutiveChief Executive

1.1. Enforce the lawsEnforce the laws2.2. Makes crucial decisionsMakes crucial decisions

2.2. Head of StateHead of State1.1. Represents the United Represents the United

States States 2.2. Speaks for Speaks for all all the the

PeoplePeople3.3. Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief

1.1. Controls armed forces Controls armed forces 4.4. Chief Diplomat Chief Diplomat

1.1. Handles our foreign Handles our foreign policypolicy

B.B. Derived from Article II, Derived from Article II, Sections 2-4 Sections 2-4

IX. Head of IX. Head of StateState

A.A. Represents the United Represents the United States at functions or States at functions or ceremonies ceremonies

B.B. Awards medals & honors, Awards medals & honors, makes speeches makes speeches 1.1. Usually does not write or Usually does not write or

memorize his own memorize his own speeches speeches

2.2. Employs staff speech Employs staff speech writers whom he directs, writers whom he directs, advises, and revises with advises, and revises with

C.C. The most visible part of The most visible part of government government

D.D. Speaks for all the people, Speaks for all the people, since everyone votes for since everyone votes for the President the President

X. Commander and X. Commander and Chief Chief A.A. Commander and Chief of Commander and Chief of

the Armed Forces the Armed Forces 1.1. Commands over 1 Commands over 1

million military million military personnel personnel

2.2. Authorizes the use of Authorizes the use of troops overseas troops overseas

3.3. Can command troops to Can command troops to mobilize at a moment’s mobilize at a moment’s notice notice

B.B. Authorizes the use of the Authorizes the use of the National Guard to keep the National Guard to keep the peace/enforce the laws at peace/enforce the laws at home home

C.C. Congress can refuse to Congress can refuse to fund a military mission if it fund a military mission if it does not consider it does not consider it worthwhile worthwhile

Chief Diplomat Chief Diplomat

XI. Chief XI. Chief DiplomatDiplomatA.A. Makes treaties with other Makes treaties with other

nations nations 1.1. The Senate must The Senate must

approve any treaty approve any treaty before it becomes before it becomes official official

B.B. Nominates ambassadors Nominates ambassadors 1.1. Needs Senate approvalNeeds Senate approval

C.C. Receives ambassadors Receives ambassadors from other nationsfrom other nations

D.D. May make executive May make executive agreements (like a treaty) agreements (like a treaty) that function as law without that function as law without congressional consent congressional consent 1.1. Congress can nullify it Congress can nullify it

by passing legislation of by passing legislation of its own its own

Barack Obama with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown

XII. The President and XII. The President and Legislation Legislation

A.A. President cannot make a lawPresident cannot make a lawB.B. Presents his agenda in the State of the Union Presents his agenda in the State of the Union address to Congressaddress to CongressC.C. Recommends legislation to CongressRecommends legislation to Congress

1. When a President is elected he can make the 1. When a President is elected he can make the argument that the majority of Americans want argument that the majority of Americans want his agenda passed his agenda passed

2. The only official that represents all Americans2. The only official that represents all Americans But, CAN NOT introduce a billBut, CAN NOT introduce a bill

D.D. Convenes both houses of Congress in special joint sessionConvenes both houses of Congress in special joint session1.1. Only happened 27 times, last time was in 1948 when Harry Truman called Only happened 27 times, last time was in 1948 when Harry Truman called

Congress into session to pass his legislative agenda Congress into session to pass his legislative agenda

E.E. Approves laws passed by Congress Approves laws passed by Congress 1. Has 10 days to sign or veto 1. Has 10 days to sign or veto 2. If president fails to sign bill within 10 days and Congress is in session, it becomes a law 2. If president fails to sign bill within 10 days and Congress is in session, it becomes a law

anywayanyway1. If congress is not in session the bill is vetoed indirectly (“Pocket Veto”)1. If congress is not in session the bill is vetoed indirectly (“Pocket Veto”)

XIII. The President and XIII. The President and the Economy the Economy

A.A. Gets credit/blame for the Gets credit/blame for the economy, but… economy, but… DOES NOT DOES NOT CONTROL THE ECONOMY!CONTROL THE ECONOMY!

B.B. Reacts to economy Reacts to economy 1.1. Some of his proposed Some of his proposed

legislation can help or hurt the legislation can help or hurt the economy economy

2.2. Monitors unemployment, Monitors unemployment, taxation, business, and general taxation, business, and general economic welfare of the US economic welfare of the US

The Presidential The Presidential CabinetCabinet

XIV. The Presidential XIV. The Presidential CabinetCabinet

A.A. Comprised of heads Comprised of heads of each executive of each executive department department

B.B. Other advisors Other advisors C.C. Advise and work Advise and work

with the President with the President D.D. Not outlined in Not outlined in

Constitution Constitution 1.1. George Washington George Washington

created the first created the first cabinet comprised of cabinet comprised of Departments of War, Departments of War, State, and Treasury State, and Treasury

XV. Executive XV. Executive Departments Departments A.A. President Obama has 15 departments President Obama has 15 departments

including Homeland Security, Labor, including Homeland Security, Labor, Education, Defense, Agriculture, etc. Education, Defense, Agriculture, etc.

B.B. Help the President carry out, Help the President carry out, enforce, or execute the laws enforce, or execute the laws

C.C. Keep the President informed on Keep the President informed on matters in their jurisdiction matters in their jurisdiction

D.D. Can suggest legislation to President Can suggest legislation to President E.E. ““The administrative arms of the The administrative arms of the

President”President”

XVI. Executive PowersXVI. Executive Powers

A.A. Execute laws Execute laws 1.1. Use of National Guard Use of National Guard

if necessary if necessary

B.B. MAKES DECISIONSMAKES DECISIONS1.1. Becomes hero or Becomes hero or

scapegoat scapegoat

C.C. Appoints Appoints ambassadors, judges, ambassadors, judges, cabinet memberscabinet members

D.D. Can request written Can request written opinions and reports opinions and reports from executive from executive officials officials

Checks and Balances Checks and Balances

On the Legislative Branch (Congress)On the Legislative Branch (Congress)– Can Veto Bills proposed by CongressCan Veto Bills proposed by Congress– Can convene special sessions of CongressCan convene special sessions of Congress

Only happened 27 times, last time was in 1948 Only happened 27 times, last time was in 1948 when Harry Truman called Congress into when Harry Truman called Congress into session to pass his legislative agenda session to pass his legislative agenda

– Vice President presides over the Senate Vice President presides over the Senate

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

On the Judiciary On the Judiciary (Courts)(Courts)– Can appoint Can appoint

Federal/Supreme Court Federal/Supreme Court judges judges

Must be approved by Must be approved by CongressCongress

– Grant pardons for Grant pardons for Federal Crimes (except Federal Crimes (except impeachments)impeachments)

President Bush granted 189 President Bush granted 189 pardons pardons

Can also commute (reduce) Can also commute (reduce) sentences (11)sentences (11)

Federalism Federalism State of Indiana State of Indiana Chief executive is called the Chief executive is called the

Governor Governor State police are the most visible State police are the most visible

arm of the executive branch arm of the executive branch – Enforce Indiana laws Enforce Indiana laws

Federalism Federalism City of Valparaiso City of Valparaiso Chief executive for local Chief executive for local

government is called the Mayor government is called the Mayor Valparaiso Police Dept. and Porter Valparaiso Police Dept. and Porter

County Sheriffs Dept. County Sheriffs Dept.