executive branch chapter 7 section 1. “the president of the united states carries with it a...

Executive Branch Chapter 7 Section 1

The president of the United States carries with it a responsibility so personal as to be without parallelNo one can make decisions for himEven those closest to himnever know all the reasons why he does certain things and comes to certain conclusions. To be President of the United States is to be lonely, very lonely at times of great decisions. -Harry S. Truman

Presidential Requirements At least 35 years old At least 35 years old Native-born US citizen Native-born US citizen Resident of US for at least 14 years Resident of US for at least 14 years (US Constitution, Article II, Section 1)

Background Past Presidents have all been: White (except Obama) White (except Obama) Male Male Protestants (except for Kennedy) Protestants (except for Kennedy) Other interesting facts: 1 st Pres: George Washington 1 st Pres: George Washington 1 st VP: John Adams 1 st VP: John Adams 1 st Pres. to die in office: William H. Harrison 1 st Pres. to die in office: William H. Harrison

Term of Office Four years Four years Two-term limit or 10 years Two-term limit or 10 years (if began during anothers term) Franklin D. Roosevelt & 22 nd Amendment(1951)- Roosevelt was elected to a 4 th term in 1944. Congress passed the 22 nd Amendment, which limits each president to two elected terms in office or a maximum of 10 years. Franklin D. Roosevelt & 22 nd Amendment(1951)- Roosevelt was elected to a 4 th term in 1944. Congress passed the 22 nd Amendment, which limits each president to two elected terms in office or a maximum of 10 years.

Election Process Two steps of Election of President: Two steps of Election of President: Popular Election: citizens vote for electors Popular Election: citizens vote for electors Electoral College: electors vote for president Electoral College: electors vote for president

Electoral College 538 Electors (Washington, D.C. has 3) 538 Electors (Washington, D.C. has 3) The number of electors each state receives is the states number of senators + number of representatives The number of electors each state receives is the states number of senators + number of representatives How many electors does Alabama get? Meet at state capitals after popular election Meet at state capitals after popular election Most states use winner-take-all method (candidate who wins popular election receives all of the electors votes) Most states use winner-take-all method (candidate who wins popular election receives all of the electors votes) Must win 270 votes to be elected (one more than half) Must win 270 votes to be elected (one more than half) What are the consequences of president being elected by Electoral College, rather than popular election?

Salary/Benefits $400,000/year $400,000/year White House (gym, bowling alley, heated pool) White House (gym, bowling alley, heated pool) Camp David (estate in Maryland) Camp David (estate in Maryland) Presidential Fleet of special cars, helicopters & airplanes Presidential Fleet of special cars, helicopters & airplanes

Presidential Succession (1947 Presidential Succession Act) 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. 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

25 th Amendment There were still questions about how to handle this situation, so 20 years later, in 1967, Congress passed the 25 th Amendment. If President dies or leaves office, VP becomes President and chooses another VP If President dies or leaves office, VP becomes President and chooses another VP **(Senate & House must approve)

25 th Amendment, continued Has only been used 3 times: Has only been used 3 times: 1973 VP Spiro Agnew resigned and was replaced by Gerald Ford 1973 VP Spiro Agnew resigned and was replaced by Gerald Ford 1974 Nixon resigned; Ford became president and appointed Nelson Rockefeller as VP 1974 Nixon resigned; Ford became president and appointed Nelson Rockefeller as VP 1985 Ronald Reagan underwent surgery, he appointed George H.W. Bush as acting president 1985 Ronald Reagan underwent surgery, he appointed George H.W. Bush as acting president

Chapter 7, Section 2 The Presidents 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 Powers Veto, or reject, bills Veto, or reject, bills Call Congress into special session Call Congress into special session Serve as Commander in Chief Serve as Commander in Chief Receive foreign leaders Receive foreign leaders Make treaties (requires Senate approval) Make treaties (requires Senate approval) Make appointments Make appointments Cabinet Cabinet Supreme Court judges Supreme Court judges Ambassadors Ambassadors Pardon or reduce penalties of those convicted of federal crimes Pardon or reduce penalties of those convicted of federal crimes (This comes from Article II of the Constitution.)

Roles of the President Chief Executive Chief Executive Gives executive orders, a rule or command that has the force of law. (Ex. Harry Truman issue executive order to integrate the armed forces in 1948) Gives executive orders, a rule or command that has the force of law. (Ex. Harry Truman issue executive order to integrate the armed forces in 1948) May give pardon, reprieve or amnesty. May give pardon, reprieve or amnesty. Pardon: declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment Pardon: declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment Reprieve: delay persons punishment until higher court hears case Reprieve: delay persons punishment until higher court hears case Amnesty: pardon toward group of people Amnesty: pardon toward group of people Chief Diplomat Chief Diplomat Directs foreign policy Directs foreign policy Commander in Chief Commander in Chief In charge of the army, navy, air force, marines and coast guard In charge of the army, navy, air force, marines and coast guard Has power to order troops into action Has power to order troops into action **Only Congress can declare war. This is an example of checks and balances. Also, president must get approval from Congress if troops are there for more than 90 days.

Other Roles, cont. Legislative Leader Legislative Leader Most of the bills Congress considers come from the President and his legislative program, or the laws that he wants Congress to pass Head of State Head of State Living symbol of nation (Ex. Lighting national Christmas tree) Living symbol of nation (Ex. Lighting national Christmas tree) Economic Leader Economic Leader Plans federal budget Plans federal budget Party Leader Party Leader Gives speeches for other party members running for offices and helps raise money Gives speeches for other party members running for offices and helps raise money

Chapter 7.3 Making Foreign Policy

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

The President and Foreign Policy Foreign policy- the nations overall plan for dealing with other nations Foreign policy- the nations overall plan for dealing with other nations

Foreign Policy Basic Goal Basic Goal National security- ability to keep the country safe from attack or harm National security- ability to keep the country safe from attack or harm Other goals Other goals International trade International trade Promoting world peace Promoting world peace Promote democracy Promote democracy

Tools of Foreign Policy Creating treaties/executive agreements Creating treaties/executive agreements Appointing ambassadors Appointing ambassadors Foreign aid Foreign aid International Trade International Trade Military Force Military Force

Creating Treaties & Executive Agreements Treaty- formal agreement between the governments of 2 or more countries Treaty- formal agreement between the governments of 2 or more countries Ex. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Ex. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Executive agreement- agreement between the president and the leader of another country Executive agreement- agreement between the president and the leader of another country

Appointing Ambassadors Ambassador- official representative of a countrys government Ambassador- official representative of a countrys government Must be: Appointed by the president Appointed by the president Approved by the Senate Approved by the Senate John Bolt US Ambassador to the UN

Foreign Aid Money, food, military or other assistance sent to other countries Money, food, military or other assistance sent to other countries Example: Marshall Plan (program used to rebuild Western Europe after WWII) Example: Marshall Plan (program used to rebuild Western Europe after WWII) George Marshall won the Nobel Peace Prize for developing the Marshall Plan.

International Trade Ability to make agreements with other nations about the exchanging of products Ability to make agreements with other nations about the exchanging of products Trade sanctions- efforts to punish another nation by imposing trade barriers Trade sanctions- efforts to punish another nation by imposing trade barriers Embargo- agreement among a group of nations that prohibits them all from trading with a target nation Embargo- agreement among a group of nations that prohibits them all from trading with a target nation

Americas longest embargo CUBAN EMBARGO 1962-present

Military Force As commander in chief, president may use military to carry out certain foreign-policy decisions As commander in chief, president may use military to carry out certain foreign-policy decisions Ex. Washington used troops to put down Whiskey Rebellion; Clinton ordered cruise missiles to be launched at terrorist facilities in Afghanistan & Sudan in 1998; Bush used military to invade Iraq in 2003

Chapter 7.4 Presidential Advisors

Executive Office of President presidents administration presidents administration Created by FDRs administration in 1939 Created by FDRs administration in 1939 2,000+ employees 2,000+ employees $100m budget $100m budget Responsibilities Responsibilities Prepare reports on special projects Prepare reports on special projects Help write bills Help write bills Check on other agencies Check on other agencies

Other Important EOP Agencies Office of Management & Budget Office of Management & Budget Prepares federal budget and monitors spending Prepares federal budget and monitors spending National Security Council National Security Council Assists president with military and foreign policy Assists president with military and foreign policy Office of Administration Office of Administration Council of Economic Advisers Council of Economic Advisers Gives presidents advice about economic matters Gives presidents advice about economic matters

White House Office ~500 people ~500 people Presidents political advisors Presidents political advisors Examples: Examples: Deputy Chief of Staff Deputy Chief of Staff Assistant for Domestic Affairs Assistant for Domestic Affairs Counsel (lawyers) Counsel (lawyers) Press Secretary Press Secretary

Cabinet 15 departments 15 departments Not mentioned in the Constitution Not mentioned in the Constitution Heads must be approved by Senate Heads must be approved by Senate Examples: Examples: Department of State Department of State Department of Treasury Department of Treasury Department of Defense Department of Defense Newest: Department of Homeland Security Newest: Department of Homeland Security

executive branch chapter 7 section 1. “the president of the united states carries with it a...

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