Bellwork Read pages 414-418 Answer questions 1-4 on page 418.

BellworkRead pages 414-418Answer questions 1-4 on page 418.

A Wider View of the Executive Branch

Americans tend to be against “Big Government” in the abstract, but demand all kinds of government services.

Because of these services, we need a way to keep them organized and working.

This bureaucracy works with the president to determine the specifics of how legislation will be implemented.

Label notesPresidents Cabinet

Why it Works:

Hierarchy (chain of command) can speed action by reducing conflicts over who has the power to make decisions.

Job Specialization: each person has defined duties.

Formalized Rules: decisions are based on a set of known standards, not on the whim of many individuals.

Work out bills

Give input on potential laws

Delegate duty

Discuss most important issues of law

Pass laws

Carry out and decide details of law

How the Bureaucracy Fits In:

The West Wing of the White House

The President’s closest advisors work in the West Wing of the White House, near the oval

office.

The Cabinet

• 15 advisors that help the President make decisions and set government policy

• Each advisor is the head of an executive department (appointed by the president and approved by the Senate)

Thomas Jefferson

Secretary of State

Henry Knox

Secretary of War

Alexander Hamilton

Secretary of the Treasury

Edmund Randolph

Attorney General

U.S. ConstitutionArticle 2, Section 2

“The President…may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices”

The Cabinet of President Washington

President Obama’s Cabinet

Secretary of State John Kerry

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta

Attorney General Eric Holder

Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner

Secretary of Homeland Security

Janet Napolitano

There are now 15 Cabinet Departments

Cabinet Matching GameEach set of cards contains the names of

the 15 executive positions in the President’s Cabinet and the responsibilities of each department.

Use pgs. 426-427 to help you match the cabinet positions with their duties.

Design a Seal - Background

The seal features an American bald eagle in the center.

The eagle is holding a ribbon in its beak and the ribbon has the motto of the United States printed on it. (“E PLURIBUS UNUM” means “Out of many, one.”)

The eagle is holding an olive branch, which symbolizes peace, and the olive branch has 13 olives and 13 leaves.

The eagle is holding 13 arrows that stand for the 13 original colonies. The arrows symbolize the acceptance of the need to go to war in order to protect our country.

There is a shield on the front of the eagle and the shield has 13 red and white stripes (symbolizing the 13 original colonies).

Above the eagle are 13 white clouds, 13 white stars, and lots of tiny stars.

There is a circle of 50 white stars on a blue background around the eagle.

The words “Seal of the President of the United States “surround the seal.

Design a Departmental Seal

Choose 1 of the 15 cabinet departments (pg. 426-427)

Create 4 symbols that represent the principal functions of this department.

Create a 5-ish word slogan to represent the work this department does.

Combine your symbols and slogan into an official seal for this department. Be sure to write “Department of ____” on there somewhere.

There are now 15 Cabinet Departments

Executive Department Report CardYou will create a report card for 2 of the executive

departments based on how well you think they are fulfilling their mission.

There are 4 options - please choose 3 Department of State (diplomacy/foreign policy) Department of Commerce (exchange between buyers

and sellers) Department of Defense (military) Department of Transportation

Your Report Card can be designed however you’d like, but MUST include this information:

Name of Department Grade – based on mission statement (see rubric) Explain the grade you gave using specific examples

from the press releases. One Paragraph Minimum!

Exit Slip

X1: How are members of the President’s Cabinet selected?

X2: What is the function of the President’s Cabinet?