Transcript The Executive Branch

Executive Branch:
Roles and Powers of
the President
Chapter 8-9
I Can:
Describe the structure, powers and authority
of the executive branch in order to
demonstrate an understanding of Article II of
the United States Constitution.
Warm Up
 If you were to design a “Help Wanted” poster
for the job of President of the United States,
what would it say?
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What qualifications would you want the
President to meet?
What characteristics do you think a person
should have to be President?
The Executive Branch:
Structure Review
President & Vice President
Main Function: Lead
Executive Branch
Cabinet
Main Function:
Advisors to the President
Departments and Regulatory Agencies
Main Function: Enforce laws
and regulations, and carry out policy
Demographic Characteristics
of Presidents
 Male—100%
 Caucasian—98%
 Protestant—98%
 British ancestry—82%
 College Education—78%
 Politicians—70%
 Lawyers—63%
 Top 3% wealth/social class—At least 50%
 Elected from large states—70%
Think About It…
 Interpret each of the following quotes.
 What message can be gleaned from
each quote?
 What seem to be the Presidents
attitudes’ toward their jobs?
"I sit here all day trying to
persuade people to do the things
they ought to have the sense to do
without my persuading them.
That's all the powers of the
President amount to."
33rd President, 1945-53
"No easy problem ever
comes to the President
of the United States. If
they are easy to solve,
somebody else has
solved them."
35th President, 1961-1963
National television address during the Cuban
Missile Crisis, October 1962
"The presidency has made
every man who occupied it,
no matter how small,
bigger than he was; and no
matter how big, not big
enough for its demands."
36th President, 1963-69
37th President, 1969-1974
In the aftermath of the Watergate scandal,
President Nixon departs the White House after
his resignation,
August, 1974
"Under the doctrine of the
separation of powers, the
manner in which the
president personally
exercises his assigned
executive powers is not
subject to questioning by
another branch of
government."
The President:
Qualifications and Term of Office
 Article II of the Constitution: the president
must be
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A natural born citizen of US
At least 35 years old
A resident of the US for 14 years before office
 Informal Requirements: government
experience, education, money, character
Presidents’ Term and Compensation
 22nd Amendment (1951) limits
Presidents to two terms.
 A Presidential term is four years.
 Current annual Presidential salary (set
by Congress) is $400,000.
 Benefits include pension, travel
expenses, medical/dental care, security,
and room & board in the White House.
Presidential Roles
 Head of State—ceremonial duties
 Chief Executive—heads federal offices
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and agencies that carry out laws
Chief Legislator—propose legislation;
veto power
Economic Planner—federal budget
Party Leader—patronage
Chief Diplomat—directs foreign policy
Commander in Chief—control of armed
forces
The President’s Powers and
Tools of Influence
control of armed forces, approves
legislation, appoints executive officials, and
appoints judges
 Article II
 Executive Order rules w/ force of law
 Executive Agreement pact btw. President and
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foreign head of state
Executive Privilege refusal to provide info to
Congress or a court
Reprieve postponement of legal punishment
Pardon release from legal punishment
Amnesty group pardon to people for an offense
against the government
Limits on Presidential Power
 Congressional override of veto
 Senate confirmation power
 Congressional “power of the purse”
 Impeachment
 War Powers Act
 Supreme Court
 Public Opinion
Closure:
 Think back to what we learned about checks and
balances…
 How do the President’s powers/duties interact with
the powers of the Legislative and Judicial
branches?
A Few of the Greats
The Electoral College
 # of Electors=# of states’ Representatives +
Senators
 Purpose—Founding fathers did not feel public knew
enough about leaders/popular leaders not always
best
 Debated Issues
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Winner Take All, 3rd Party Candidates, Election in
House
 Suggestions for reform
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Proportional representation, Direct Popular Election
BCR: Electoral College
The elimination of the Electoral College is a
proposal that has been made to expand
democracy in the United States.
 Do you agree or disagree with the proposal to
eliminate the Electoral College?
 Explain why you agree or disagree.
 Include details and examples to support your
answer.