Transcript The Executive Branch

The Executive Branch
The President and Vice President
Electing a President
The Cabinet and Executive Office
Presidential Powers
Role of the President
Leadership Styles
Ch. 8-9 Essays
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What is the ELECTORAL COLLEGE and how do
they select our President? What are 2 major
complaints about the ELECTORAL COLLEGE and
2 ways to “fix” it?
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What is the CABINET and how does it help the
President do his/her job?
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EXTRA CREDIT: List, in order, the presidents of
the United States. You can start at Obama or
Washington and go IN ORDER. ( ¼ point for
each president you get correct, up to you first
mistake)
Learning Objectives
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Be
Be
Be
Be
Be
able
able
able
able
able
to
to
to
to
to
list the duties of the President and Vice President
identify the President’s term, salary and benefits
explain what happens if the President is disabled
list the official and unofficial qualifications for president
explain the Line of Presidential Succession
What is it
 Why is it needed
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The President and Vice President
The President and Vice President
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Duties of the President
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Commander in Chief
Power of Appointment
Making Treaties (conducting foreign policy)
Make sure all laws of the US are faithfully executed
State of the Union
The President’s Term and Salary
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4 year terms (10 years maximum) – 22nd Amendment
$400,000 + benefits
White House, Air Force One, security, etc
 Lifetime pension (at least $148,000 per year)
 Free office/staff for life
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Presidential Qualifications
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Official
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35 years of age
Natural born citizen of the US
Live in the US for a minimum of 14 years
Unofficial
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Government Experience (Senator & Governor most common)
Large amount of money available for campaigning
Centrist Political Beliefs
Most are married, from families with a large amount of money
Want to lead a very powerful nation
Presidential Succession
25th Amendment
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Vice President
Speaker of the House
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security
Presidential Disability
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25th Amendment establishes process
 VP
becomes president
 If President becomes unable to perform duties
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Voluntarily hands over power to VP
Involuntarily
* VP and Cabinet must vote (majority)
 Explains
how President can regain powers
Vice President’s Role
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Only 2 Constitutional duties
 Presides
over the Senate and breaks any tie vote
 Helps decide if the President is disabled
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14 VP’s have become President
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9 because President died in office or resigned
George HW Bush is the last VP to become President
Gerald Ford is the last VP to become President because the
President died/resigned
Modern Responsibilities
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Depends on the President (how they will use the VP)
Modern day VP’s very active in the running of the country
* Clinton, GW Bush, Obama have had active VP’s
Learning Objectives
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Be able to explain what the “Electoral College” is and how it
operates
Identify 3 problems with the system
Explain possible fixes to the Electoral College and what would have
to happen for those fixes to go into place
Electing the President
Electing the President
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Original system: The Electoral College
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People of the day were uneducated/uninformed
Feared it would be a “popularity contest”
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Each state gets a number of “ELECTORS” equal to the number of reps in the
House plus the number in the Senate (Washington = 12 ELECTORS)
 In November, each state holds an election. Each state assigns their
ELECTORS based on how the state voted for President (Washington =
Obama = 11 ELECTORS)
 In December, ELECTORS cast their votes for President in Washington DC.
The candidate with the majority of ELECTORS wins the presidency
 If no candidate wins a majority, the House of Representatives votes for
President, Senate votes for Vice President
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Impact of Party Politics
Since 2 parties have emerged and the US used a 2 party system, the parties
select their electors and it is understood they will vote for their candidate
 1800 Election (Jefferson v. Burr) illustrated problem with system
 12th Amendment fixed that problem
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The Electoral College Today
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The Electoral College is still used today
Political Parties choose their nominees in summer conventions
 Indirect Election for President held in November, every 4 years
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Electoral College votes in December to cast official votes for President
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Electors vote for candidate that won their state (except MA and NB)
President usually announced the night of the general election
because the electoral votes can be counted unofficially
Ballots sealed and taken to Washington DC for a count
538 = members of Congress + 3 for Washington DC
270 needed to win
Ballots opened and counted on January 6 and the winner is officially
announced
Issues with the Electoral College
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Winner Takes All (may disagree with popular vote)
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2000 Election = Bush v. Gore
Third Party Candidates (may block one candidate from getting 50%)
 Election by the House (party politics will pick the president, not
qualifications)
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Ideas for Reform of the
Electoral College
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Electors from Congressional Districts
Each District would assign an elector
 State would assign 2 electors
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Proportional Delegates
The state’s general election would be broken down (55% to 45%)
 Electors would be divided according to that percentage
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Direct Election of the President and Vice President
Electoral College eliminated
 Voters directly elect the President and VP
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All of these ideas would required a
Constitutional Amendment
Inauguration on January 20 at noon
Letter to your elected
representatives (extra credit)
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Representative Derek Kilmer
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Senator Maria Cantwell
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311 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Patty Murray
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2467 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
448 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
President Barrack Obama
 The
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Name
Address
Date
Dear ______
Introduction
Issue – Concern, idea for fixing
Conclusion
Sincerely,
Signature
Printed, Typed name
Learning Objectives
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Be able to explain what the CABINET is
Be able to explain what the CABINET does
Be able to identify what the Executive Office is and what they do
The Cabinet
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The CABINET is made up of the Secretaries of the 15 major
departments, the Vice President and other top officials
The President meets regularly with the CABINET to get advice on
policy matters
Selection of the Cabinet
One of the first jobs of the President is to name his/her
cabinet
 “Secretaries” should have some credible expertise in the
policy areas in the department they will head
 The Senate will confirm the President’s appointments
 Party Patronage and loyalty play into the selection process
 Many find the politics, the pay, and Washington DC to be
unappealing and turn down the President’s request they
serve
 Candidates will be “vetted” both publically and privately
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The Role of the Cabinet
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The Cabinet: Historically
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Role they play varies on the President
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The Modern Cabinet
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More recent Presidents have tried to increase the role of the Cabinet
Clinton, both Bush’s and Obama use their Cabinets a lot
The Influence of the Cabinet
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Strong Presidents (Jackson, Lincoln, Roosevelt) used Cabinet very little
Others used extensively (FDR “Brain Trust”)
The Department determines, to some extent, how much
influence they have
“Inner Cabinet” State, Defense
Things limiting the Cabinet’s role
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Conflicting Loyalties
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Their department, Members of Congress, and Special Interest Groups
Secrecy and Trust
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Cabinet discussions may be “leaked” to the press
President will limit sensitive discussions to most trusted advisors
Executive Departments
Department of State
Secretary John Kerry
 Department of the Treasury
Secretary Jack Lew
Department of Defense
Secretary Chuck Hagel
Department of Justice
Attorney General Eric H. Holder
Department of the Interior
Secretary Sally Jewell
Department of Agriculture
Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack
Department of Commerce
Secretary Penny Pritzker
 Department of Labor
Secretary Thomas E. Perez
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(p. 276-279)
Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS)
Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell
Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD)
Secretary Julián Castro
Department of Transportation
Secretary Anthony Foxx
Department of Energy
Secretary Ernest Moniz
Department of Education
Secretary Arne Duncan
Department of Veterans Affairs
Secretary Robert McDonald
Department of Homeland Security
Secretary Jeh Johnson
The Executive Office
People and Agencies that directly assist the President
with advice and information
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Office of Management and Budget (OMB): prepares the national
budget each year that is presented to Congress
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National Security Council:
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National Homeland Security Council:
Keeps the President advised to National
Security issues (VP, Sec of Defense, Sec of State, Chief of CIA, Joint Chiefs of Staff)
Coordinate the agencies
that are working to fight terrorism
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Council of Economic Advisers:
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Other White House Offices
Assesses the economic health of the
nation and predicts future developments. Creates a plan to support a stronger
economy
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White House Staff: whatever the President assigns to them
 Press Secretary: the President’s representative with the press
Presidential Powers
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Constitutional Powers (Article 2)
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Need for a Strong Executive (to enforce the law)
Article 2: Chief Executive
Commander in Chief of the Military
Appoints Federal Judges and other appointed positions
Delivers annual “State of the Union” message to Congress
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Informal Sources of Power
Personal Exercise of Power (Broad vs. Strict view of the Presidency)
 Immediate Need of the Nation (Times of Crisis demand increased power to the Presidency)
 Mandate of the People (Media give President a forum based on support of the people)
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Limits on Executive Power
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Limitations by Congress
(Override Presidential Veto, Reject appointments, Approve budget,
Power of Impeachment, War Powers Act
Limitations by the Federal Courts (Judicial Review, Independent Judiciary)
 Limitation by the Bureaucracy (fail to provide info, misunderstand instructions, not
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completing task given)
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Limitations by Public Opinion
getting agenda passed)
(Without favorable public opinion, President has difficulty
Role of the President
Only country to combine these jobs into one position
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Head of State (ceremonial head of country) POLITICIAN
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Greets visiting dignitaries
Chief Diplomat for the US
Chief Executive (uses executive orders, appointments, and right to fire to
run the executive branch) BUSINESSPERSON
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Chief Legislator
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Pardons – release from legal punishments
Reprieves – postponement of legal punishments
(suggests legislation to Congress) POLITICIAN
Writes up legislation that supports his/her agenda
Trades political favors to get legislation passed
Veto threat
Economic Planner (set policy to direct national economy)
BUSINESSPERSON
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Writes up President Budget
Submits annual report (Budget) to Congress
Role of the President
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Party Leader
Head of the political party they represent
 Sets the agenda for that party
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Chief Diplomat
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Directs Foreign Policy making key decisions on how we deal with other
nations
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Power to make TREATIES
Power to make “Executive Agreements”
Recognition of Foreign Governments
Commander in Chief (civilian head of the military)
Power to Make War (War Powers Act)
 Military Operations and Strategy
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(Power to run day to day operations of the military)
Power to use any and all of the weapons of war
In times of crisis, asks Congress for special legislation
Uses military in times of crisis at home
Leadership Styles
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US President has had increasing responsibilities
as the US became a/the world power
Leadership Qualities and Skills
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Understanding the Public
Ability to Communicate!!!!
Sense of Timing
Openness to New Ideas
Ability to Compromise (or induce compromise)
Political Courage
Political Isolation
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Special Treatment
Voicing Opinions
Access to the President
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Dangers of Isolation
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Staying in Touch
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Ch 8-9 Essay Questions

What is the ELECTORAL COLLEGE and how do they
select our President? What are 2 major complaints about
the ELECTORAL COLLEGE and 2 ways to “fix” it?

What is the CABINET and how does it help the President
do his/her job?

EXTRA CREDIT: List, in order, the presidents of the
United States. You can start at Obama or Washington
and go IN ORDER. ( ¼ point for each president you get
correct, up to you first mistake)
Ch 8-9
“Need to Knows”
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Chapter 8
 Cabinet
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Who makes it up
How do they function
 Executive
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Office of the President
How do they support the President in doing his/her job
Chapter 9
 Presidential
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 Roles
Powers
Formal and Informal powers
of the President/VP
 Presidential Leadership Skills