United States Executive BranchUnited States Executive Branch

BackgroundBackground

Fewer specific powers for the president in Fewer specific powers for the president in the Constitution the Constitution

They were worried about placing too much They were worried about placing too much power in the hands of one personpower in the hands of one person

Electoral college chooses the president Electoral college chooses the president The executive branch has changed the The executive branch has changed the

most. most. This led to the 22This led to the 22ndnd Amendment Amendment

limiting President to 2 termslimiting President to 2 terms

QualificationsQualifications

According to According to Article 2Article 2 of the of the Constitution:Constitution:

At least At least 35 years old35 years old Natural born Natural born citizen of U.S.citizen of U.S. Resident of the U. S. for past Resident of the U. S. for past 14 years14 years 4 year term4 year term Two term limit: set in 1951 by 22Two term limit: set in 1951 by 22ndnd

AmendmentAmendment

Benefits and SalaryBenefits and Salary Salary is set by CongressSalary is set by Congress Originally, president earned $25,000Originally, president earned $25,000 $400,000 plus $50,000 $400,000 plus $50,000 for official for official

expensesexpenses Retired presidents receive a pension of Retired presidents receive a pension of

$161,200, an office and a staff$161,200, an office and a staff Annual Allowance for travel costs as wellAnnual Allowance for travel costs as well Lives in White House and has offices thereLives in White House and has offices there Camp David Camp David is in Maryland and is used for is in Maryland and is used for

weekends and holidaysweekends and holidays Air Force OneAir Force One, fleet of cars and helicopters, fleet of cars and helicopters

Presidential PowersPresidential Powers Leader of political partyLeader of political party Can sign or veto billsCan sign or veto bills Can make treaties with other nations, with the Can make treaties with other nations, with the

advice and consent of 2/3 of the Senateadvice and consent of 2/3 of the Senate Appoints, with Senate consent, diplomatic Appoints, with Senate consent, diplomatic

representatives, Supreme Court judges and other representatives, Supreme Court judges and other federal officialsfederal officials

President and Vice President only elected President and Vice President only elected officials that represent the nationofficials that represent the nation

Most important leader in international affairsMost important leader in international affairs Country’s chief educator and chief diplomatCountry’s chief educator and chief diplomat Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief Commissions all officers, with congressional Commissions all officers, with congressional

confirmation, of the armed forcesconfirmation, of the armed forces

Presidential PowersPresidential Powers Appoints ambassadorsAppoints ambassadors, White House , White House

staff, and members of various boards and staff, and members of various boards and commissions—to more than 3,000 commissions—to more than 3,000 positionspositions

Legislative Leader and uses annual State Legislative Leader and uses annual State of the Union Address to set forth programs of the Union Address to set forth programs and policies that the president wants and policies that the president wants Congress to put into effectCongress to put into effect

Prepares the federal government’s budgetPrepares the federal government’s budget Can pardon those guilt of crimes against Can pardon those guilt of crimes against

the federal governmentthe federal government Veto bills, Andrew Jackson was the first to Veto bills, Andrew Jackson was the first to

use this poweruse this power

Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

President makes foreign policyPresident makes foreign policy President has power to recognize new President has power to recognize new

governmentsgovernments, to attend summit meetings , to attend summit meetings with the heads of other nations, and to with the heads of other nations, and to make executive agreements with foreign make executive agreements with foreign governmentsgovernments

President is helped in foreign policy at the President is helped in foreign policy at the State and Defense departments, by the State and Defense departments, by the National Security Council, by foreign National Security Council, by foreign advisors in the White House and by experts advisors in the White House and by experts in the CIA and National Security Agencyin the CIA and National Security Agency

Limitations on Presidential PowersLimitations on Presidential Powers

Congress can check the executive by refusing to Congress can check the executive by refusing to appropriate funds for an initiative, whether domestic appropriate funds for an initiative, whether domestic or internationalor international

Congress can refuse to confirm presidential Congress can refuse to confirm presidential appointees, such as ambassadors or Supreme Court appointees, such as ambassadors or Supreme Court JusticesJustices

Only Congress can write and pass the laws that the Only Congress can write and pass the laws that the executive branch is constitutionally obligated to executive branch is constitutionally obligated to implement and enforceimplement and enforce

Until 1973, the President could unilaterally call up Until 1973, the President could unilaterally call up and deploy troops during war time. After the and deploy troops during war time. After the Vietnam War, Congress passed the Vietnam War, Congress passed the War Powers ActWar Powers Act that requires Congressional approval within 60 days that requires Congressional approval within 60 days of deploymentof deployment

Presidential SuccessionPresidential Succession

Can be removed form office through death, Can be removed form office through death, resignation, inability to perform duties or resignation, inability to perform duties or impeachment/convictionimpeachment/conviction

One has resignedOne has resigned 8 have died in office8 have died in office: William Henry : William Henry

Harrison after one month in 1841, Zachary Harrison after one month in 1841, Zachary Taylor, 1850, Abraham Lincoln assassinated Taylor, 1850, Abraham Lincoln assassinated 1865, James A Garfield assassinated 1881, 1865, James A Garfield assassinated 1881, William McKinley assassinated 1901, Warren William McKinley assassinated 1901, Warren Harding, 1923, Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1945, Harding, 1923, Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1945, John F. Kennedy assassinated 1963John F. Kennedy assassinated 1963