We will focus on the Federal Executive Branch –
The President
What is the Cabinet?
Cabinet
A group of people appointed to advise the President.
As the President’s closest and most trusted advisers, members of the
Cabinet attend weekly meetings with the President at the White House.
Executive Leadership
Secretary
A member of the cabinet responsible for leading a specific department
Secretary John Kerry
Department of State
Advises the President on foreign policy and promotes peace with other nations.
Meets with foreign leaders to discuss relationships with the United States and form alliances.
Secretary Chuck Hagel
Department of Defense
Is responsible for providing the military forces needed to fight war and protect America.
The four major branches of the armed forces are: Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force
Secretary Jack Lew
Department of Treasury
Performs three basic functions: Proposes fiscal policy to
CongressServes as the financial
manager for government; Makes American coins and
currency.
Attorney General Eric Holder
Department of Justice
Serves as legal counsel for citizens by enforcing the law.
Brings lawsuits against people or organizations that discriminate against citizens
Secretary Arne Duncan
Department of Education
Establishes education policy and coordinates financial assistance to education.
Its mission is to ensure equal access to public education for all (K-12 and College)
SecretaryAnthony Foxx
Department of Transportation
Maintains the nation’s interstate highways, waterways, and air traffic.
Promotes the construction of subway systems and other mass transit.
1.Presidential Nomination
Notes:Allows the President to choose people
he likes (agrees with) for jobs
2.White House Review
Notes: Allows others in executive branch to approve
of the President’s choices
3.Paperwork and Financial
Disclosure
4.FBI Investigation
5.Senate Confirmation
Hearings
Notes:Allows legislative branch to interview appointees and
check qualifications for the job
6.Senate Majority Vote
Notes:Allows legislative branch to have final approval over all
executive nominees
Student-led Notes
Meet Michelle…
My girlfriends and I wanted to look good for prom, so we bought some new cosmetics at the mall. Within a week we all developed the same rash
What could the government have done to protect Michelle and her friends?
Meet Diana…
My son was flipping through the local channels on Monday afternoon looking for cartoons but instead
found the best of Girls Gone Wild.
What could the government have done to prevent this from happening?
Meet Dawnette…
My father lived downwind from a rubber plant. After years of breathing in toxins he died at age 50
from lung cancer.
What could the government have done to prevent this from happening?
Regulation A rule or a law.
Regulatory Agency
Government groups that make and enforce regulations.
Why Do We Regulate?
Regulatory agencies exist to ensure the safety and welfare of citizens
Much like a referee protects players and fans from rule breakers
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Ensures the safety of consumers when purchasing food and drugs
Makes sure food and drugs are safe and labeled appropriately
Makes sure cosmetics are safe
Tests all new medicines before they enter the market
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Makes sure that consumers are protected and being told the truth about the products they buy
Investigates complaints against companies and created the national “Do Not Call” list
Provides information on things like buying and selling cars, using credit, and identity theft
Federal Communication Commission (FCC)
Regulates all communications by radio, television, cable, and satellite
Enforces regulations designed to ensure that content of programming is appropriate
Issues licenses for radio and television broadcast stations
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Regulates and oversee all aspects of airplane maintenance and flight
Writes airline safety regulations like requiring pilot rest breaks
Develops and operates air traffic control systems
Conducts research and development for airplanes
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Protects public health and the environment for future generations
Sets and enforces standards for fuel economy (miles per gallon)
Enforces standards for air and water quality
Controls and decreases air and water pollution
Which Agency?Government fines DuPont for
dumping hydrochloric acid into county stream.
Which Agency?Government fines DuPont for
dumping hydrochloric acid into county stream.
Environmental Protection Agency
Which Agency?Recall has been ordered for beef from cows that may have been infected with Mad Cow
Disease.
Which Agency?Recall has been ordered for beef from cows that may have been infected with Mad Cow
Disease.
Food and Drug Administration
Which Agency?People are tired of getting called by telemarketers, so they ask to be put on the
government’s “do not call” registry.
Which Agency?People are tired of getting called by telemarketers, so they ask to be put on the
government’s “do not call” registry.
Federal Trade Commission
Which Agency?Government requires Southwest and United
Airlines to install locks on their cockpit doors to prevent
hijacking.
Which Agency?Government requires Southwest
and United Airlines to install locks on their cockpit doors to
prevent hijacking.
Federal Aviation Administration
Executive Order
A policy issued by the President that has the force of
federal law
How do executive orders work?Executive orders are just like laws.
If you disobey them you can go to jail.
How do executive orders work?
Executive orders do not have to be approved by Congress.
When can Executive Orders be used?An executive order can be issued as long as..
It does not violate the Constitution.
Only gives instructions to those people who work for the President.
What can Congress do if it disagrees?Congress can pass a new law that reverses the order.
This is the same as when the Supreme Court uses judicial review to strike down one of their laws.
Bonus QuestionWhat do you think the President would most
likely do with a bill that reverses his executive
order?
Bonus QuestionWhat do you think the
President would most likely do with a bill that reverses
his executive order?
HE WOULD VETO IT!
War PowersWar powers are divided. The constitutional
principle of checks and balances requires the President and Congress to work together when taking the nation to war.
Congress has the power to officially declare war and raise an army while the President is the Commander in Chief of the military. But it is often unclear which branch has MORE power than the other when disagreements happen.
War Powers Resolution, 1973The War Powers Resolution states that the
President’s power as Commander-in-Chief to introduce U.S. forces into hostilities [armed conflict] can only be used after war is declared or in a national emergency.
It specifically requires that the President to consult [talk] with Congress before introducing American forces into hostilities and report on their progress every 60 days.
PARDONSDefinition: The President can forgive a
person of their crime and remove the punishment for it
This is an example of:
Checks and Balances or Federalism?
PARDONSDefinition: The President can forgive a
person of their crime and remove the punishment for it
This is an example of:
Checks and Balances
**Presidential (executive branch) use of a pardon
is a check on courts (judicial branch)**
List of pardons by former U.S. Presidents: Which one do you disagree with the most?
George Washington
Pardoned leaders of the “Whiskey Rebellion”, many farmers who rebelled against the government for raising taxes on whiskey
Ronald Reagan
Pardoned FBI agents who broke in and planted illegal wire taps on the phones of government leaders
Bill Clinton Pardoned his brother, Robert Clinton, for possession of cocaine
George W. Bush
Pardoned Daniel Pue for illegally dumping hazardous waste into communities
HSA SAMPLE QUESTIONSWhich of these is a responsibility of the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? A. to manage the use of public airwavesB. to evaluate the contents of medicationsC. to review the safety of household
appliancesD. to investigate the practices of financial
firms
HSA SAMPLE QUESTIONSWhich of these is a responsibility of the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? A. to manage the use of public airwavesB. to evaluate the contents of medicationsC. to review the safety of household
appliancesD. to investigate the practices of financial
firms
HSA SAMPLE QUESTIONSThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires
that all products labeled “Made in the USA” be “all or virtually all” made in the United States.
Which of these is the main reason for the
above requirement? A. to increase the advertising industry’s profitsB. to encourage more foreign importsC. to enforce truth-in-advertising standardsD. to lower the cost of manufactured goods
HSA SAMPLE QUESTIONSThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires
that all products labeled “Made in the USA” be “all or virtually all” made in the United States.
Which of these is the main reason for the
above requirement? A. to increase the advertising industry’s profitsB. to encourage more foreign importsC. to enforce truth-in-advertising standardsD. to lower the cost of manufactured goods
HSA SAMPLE QUESTIONSWhich of these government agencies is
directly responsible for monitoring business competition?
A. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)B. Federal Communications Commission
(FCC)C. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)D. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
HSA SAMPLE QUESTIONSWhich of these government agencies is
directly responsible for monitoring business competition?
A. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)B. Federal Communications Commission
(FCC)C. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)D. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
HSA SAMPLE QUESTIONSWhich of these is a function of the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA)? A. to issue airline ticketsB. to finance new airlinesC. to hire airline pilotsD. to regulate airline traffic
HSA SAMPLE QUESTIONSWhich of these is a function of the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA)? A. to issue airline ticketsB. to finance new airlinesC. to hire airline pilotsD. to regulate airline traffic