Executive Branch

Executive Branch

Major RolesStandard 13: Describe the organization of the executive branch, and explain the functions of its various offices (e.g., president, vice president, National Security Council, and advisory and general staff)

LT 13.1President and the Cabinet

I can determine importance in the major executive departments that comprise the cabinet, and describe both the individual roles of the department and the cabinet’s role as an advisory body to the president

Executes law and decisions made by Congress

Appoints Cabinet members, Federal Judges, and Department Heads

Commander and Chief of the Military

Can not make laws but can issue Executive Orders

Current: Barack Obama

The President

Ready to take over Presidency should the need arise

President of the Senate (tie breaking vote)

Elected on same ballot with President◦ 12th Amendment

Role varies based on assignments of Pres

Current: Joe Biden

Vice President

Cabinet Advisors to President15 Department heads

Appointed by President, confirmed by CongressCalled “Secretary

Secretary of State Secretary of 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

Current Cabinet

Create a biography book for one cabinet office. Your book should include the following:

Cover – name of cabinet and your name Page 1 – General info who currently holds the

office and years the person has held the cabinet Page 2 – Responsibilities of the Cabinet (at least

5). What is the person in charge of? Page 3 – Historical info. When was the Cabinet

created and by whom? Page 4 – Paragraph (3-5 sentences) describing

why is the cabinet important. Label each tab

Cabinet Biography Book

Road through Presidency

Standard 14: I can describe the constitutional qualifications required for serving as president and the election process.

LT 14.1 Constitutional Guidelines

I can determine the importance of the constitutional guidelines for presidents.

35 Years Old Natural Born

Citizen Lived in U.S. for

14 Years Same for Pres and

VP

Constitutional Qualifications

4 year terms Limited to 2 terms

◦ 22nd Amendment◦ FDR only president to serve more

Terms

Perks

President Vice President

Lives in Whitehouse Salary: $400,000 Allowances:$50,000 Travel:

◦ Air Force One◦ Marine One◦ Armored Limo

Lives in Naval Observatory

Salary: $230,700 Travel:

◦ Air Force Two◦ Marine Two◦ Armored Limo

Retirement: $200K/yr for life

Allowances for office and travel

Secret Service protect for life

Life After Presidency

14 VPs have become President

6 returned to Senate Public Service Retirement pension Example: Al Gore

Life after Vice Presidency

Write a paragraph explaining the importance of the 22nd Amendment.

Notebook Item 19 – Presidential Terms

LT 14.2 Presidential Elections

I can question the relevance of the electoral college in modern American society.

Two Party System Helps candidates

gain support 3rd Parties exist but

rarely win elections

Political Parties

Primary Election: an election to select the Presidential nominee for a specific party

Caucus: a convention to select a Presidential nominee for a specific party

Occurs state by state

Nominating Candidates

Large Conference held by each political party to officially nominate a Presidential candidate

Example: Democratic National Convention to nominate Barak Obama as 2012 candidate

National Convention

Running Mate: the presidential candidate’s choice for Vice President

Polls: surveys taken to try to predict how people will vote and why

Presidential Campaigns

Electoral College Popular vote: the # of

individual Americans who voted for a particular candidate

Electoral Vote: the number of electors won by a particular candidate

Electors: representatives pledged to a particular candidate

Electoral College

Popular voting takes place state by state

Candidate winning majority popular vote in a state gets all electors for that state

270 Electoral votes = win

Electoral College Process

Not all people represented equally Electors not required to vote according to popular vote Candidate with the most votes will not necessarily win Outdated system

Problems with Electoral College

Ceremony Jan 20 (or 21st)

Presidential Oath Inaugural Address:

Speech made by President

Inauguration

Electoral College Short Essay The founding fathers established the

electoral college as a way to indirectly elect the President. Should America keep the electoral college or should Presidents be elected by popular vote? Support your opinion with at least 2 reasons.

¾ Page in length

Turn in when complete.

Standard 15: Constitutional Powers

I can describe the constitutionally defined powers of the executive branch.

LT 15.1I can determine the important presidential powers defined in Article II of the Constitution.

Commander and Chief Call in the National

Guard Make treaties (requires

Senate approval) Appoint Ambassadors Receive Ambassadors

Military Powers

Appoint Cabinet Advisors

Appoint Supreme Court Justices

Fill vacancies in Congress

Appointments must be “confirmed” by the Senate

Appointments

Federal Pardons State of the Union

Address Veto congressional

legislation

Other Powers

Emergency laws issued by President◦ Same effect as laws◦ Can be overturned by

Supreme Court◦ Effective for limited time

Article II “take care that laws are faithfully executed”

Ex: Emancipation Proclamation

Executive Orders

How does the President check Congress? How does Congress check the President? How does the President check Supreme

Court? How does the Supreme Court check the

President?

Checks and Balances

Watch the video clip and record each time one of the Presidential Candidates claims he will do something that he does not have direct power to do.

Example: Paul Ryan says that the Romney/Ryan stance on abortion is that it should not be legal except in the case of rape or incest; the president can not make or change abortion laws.

What can the President really do?