Unit 4: Structure and functions of the federal government

UNIT 4: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Chapter 7: The Executive Branch

CONTENT STATEMENTSLaw and public policy are created and implemented by three

branches of government; each functions with its own set of powers and responsibilities.

The political process creates a dynamic interaction among the three branches of government in addressing current issues.

What are three qualities that make a good leader?

What are some examples of good leaders?

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Section 1: The Presidential Office

Presidential vocabulary Executive

Having the power to put plans, actions, or laws into effect.

Bureaucracy A system of government in which most of the

important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives

Administration The process or activity of running a business,

organization, etc.

Roles of The

President

Chief Executive

Commander in Chief

Head of State

Party Leader

Chief Agenda Setter

Foreign Policy

Director

Roles of the President Chief Executive—carries out the nation’s laws Commander in Chief—leader of the nation’s

armed forces Chief Agenda Setter

State of the Union Address Budget proposal

Representative on the Nation Chief of State—symbolizes the US and its

people Foreign Policy Leader—our plans for dealing

with other countries Party Leader

QUALIFICATIONS TO BE PRESIDENT

Native Born

Citizen

Reside In US for 14

years

Must be at least

35

TERMS AND LIMITS OF PRESIDENT

4 Year Term 2 term limit

A president can serve a total of ten years… how is that possible?

“It’s good to be President” $ 400,000/ year Salary $50,000/ year expense allowance White House & Camp David “The Beast”, Marine One, Air Force One

AIR FORCE ONE

DISCUSS… Does the President make too much ?

Median Income in U.S. Home $50,000 Fortune 500 CEO’s $10,600,000

Order of successionPresident Vice

PresidentSpeaker of the House

President Pro Temp

Secretary of State

Secretary of Treasury

Secretary of Defense

Attorney General

Secretary of the Interior

Secretary of Agriculture

…

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Section 2: Presidential Powers

Power of the Presidency Executive Powers Diplomatic Powers Judicial Powers Legislative Powers

Executive Powers

Execute Laws• Executive orders- A

regulation made by the president that has the effect of law

Appoint Officials• Ambassadors• Supreme Court

Justices• Executive Depts

& Agencies

Executive Privilege• Executive branch

“confidential information” • The privilege, claimed by

the president for the executive branch of the US Government, of withholding information in the public interest

Recognize other nations

Committing troops

Diplomatic Powers

Judicial Powers

Legislative Powers

Veto—pres can veto law passed by

CongressRecommend Legislation Lobbying

Growth of Presidential Power

Presidential power has increased over time, mostly because of the men who have held the office

Do you think the President has too much power? Why or why not?

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Section 3: Presidential Nomination and Election

How do we nominate presidential candidates?

Framers did not set a means for nominating presidential candidates, only for electing the President and VP

Nomination procedures have changed over time 1800’s—Congressional caucuses were used Later, national conventions used to nominate

Presidential primaries Choosing delegates for the conventions Show voter preference Some states use caucuses instead of primaries These are held early in the year

Most weak candidates are eliminated Most nominees are known before the convention

National Nomination Convention Speeches Adoption of a party platform State roll call of votes for the candidates Candidate who wins the nomination then campaigns for several

months before the general election is held

The Electoral College Actually chooses the president and VP Each state has electoral votes = to number in

Congress Popular vote in each state determines who the

electors will vote for 3 criticisms of electoral college

Candidate can win election and lose popular vote A state’s electoral votes do not have to reflect its

popular vote A strong bid by a third-party or independent candidate

could mean that neither major-party candidate receives the majority of the electoral votes, throwing the election into the House of Representatives

2008 Electoral Votes

2012 Electoral Votes

ELECTORAL COLLEGE WEBPAGE

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/about.html

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Section 4: Executive Office of the President and the Cabinet

THERE ARE 2 PARTS TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH:

1. Executive Office of the President 2. The Cabinet

Executive Office of the President

1. White House Office Before Civil War

No help Presidents paid for help out of own pocket

Today Large office staff President picks—no Senate approval Chief of Staff is leader

Controls access to the President Advisors

National security Domestic policy Speechwriters How to deal with Congress Press secretary Deal with mail

20,000 letters/week Thousands of emails

Many, many others

Executive Office of the President

2. National Security Council Set up in 1947

Improve coordination among gov depts. That deal w/ national security issues (CIA, FBI, State Dept)

National Security Advisor is head Sometimes travel to other countries to negotiate

3. Office of Management and Budget Executive branch agencies submit budgets to the

OMB Helps Pres. prepare budgets

4. Council of Economic Advisors Set up in 1946

Econ advise to President

Executive Office of the President

5. National Economic Council Set up in 1993 (Clinton)

Monitor and advise the Pres on US trade and industrial technology

6. The Vice President Constitution

Lead the Senate Take over if President can’t perform duties

Today—move involved Help agencies run more smoothly Many more important duties

II. The Cabinet 15 departments that assist the president in

carrying out the work of the executive branch Heads are called secretaries (Exception:

Attorney General) Early days—president relied heavily on

Cabinet for advice Today—not as much because of White House

staff Pres does not need full Cabinet meetings Each deal with specific area

Cabinet Dept. of Agriculture Dep. of Interior Dept. of Commerce Dept. of Justice Dept. of Defense Dept. of Labor Dept. of Education Dept. of State Dept. of Energy Dept. of Transportation Dept. of Health and Human Services Dept. of the Treasury Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Dept. of Veteran Affairs Dept. of Homeland Security

Cabinet website

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet