Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Executive Powers: Part 1

Chapter 14: section 1 and 2

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Topics

I. Growth of the Office

II. The Executive Powers

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

I. Growth of the Office

A. Early Executive power

B. Why has executive power grown?

C. The Modern Presidency

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

A. Early Executive power

• Typically was weak.– Limited by Washington himself– Many believed in stronger State governments– Executive branch had a small staff

• Congress was seen to have most of the power.– It was the first branch– It was deemed as inherently more democratic

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

B. Why has executive power grown?

• Personal style matters

• The Legislative branch is divided.– The President is unified

• The Power of crisis has impacted the power of the Presidency

• Many expect stronger action from the executive to address modern issues

• Media tends to focus on the Presidency.

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

C. The Modern Presidency

• People usually look to one leader.– It is easier.– Sets the agenda.

• Influence of the media.

• Rise of the Federal bureaucracy to execute the law

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

The Constitution

• The power of the president has changed considerably since George Washington took power in 1789.

• Washington could have been king, but choose not to be.

                                             

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

• Washington more clearly defined the Presidency by holding regular cabinet meeting and setting a precedent of only serving two presidential terms, later to be broken by FDR.

• Washington displayed integrity while in office and led the country through its infancy

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Andrew Jackson President: 1829-1837

• Under “Jacksonian Democracy” the country would become more democratic, extending franchise to non-property owning males.

• Jackson used the power to veto extensively, and generally extended Presidential power over the legislative process.

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Abraham Lincoln 1861-1865• Lincoln expanded the

Presidency beyond the expressed limits of the constitution. Lincoln was criticized for crushing anti-northern dissent during war among individuals he claimed were “guilty of disloyal practices”. By the end of the war 13,000 people had been arrested under military authority.

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Theodore Roosevelt• Considered the first

activist president, Roosevelt used his bully pulpit to sway public opinion for progressive reform and an aggressive foreign policy.

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Franklin Roosevelt• More than any other

President, FDR strengthened the role of the Presidency by enacting massive New Deal programs during the Great Depression and taking a strong hand in directing America’s war effort during World war II.

                                           

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Lyndon Johnson

• LBJ continued the activist trend by constructing a program known as the Great Society, a program he hoped would create greater economic and social equality in the United States.

                                            

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Richard Nixon

• In the 1970s there was a strong reaction among Americans against Presidential authority, resulting mainly from our nation’s involvement in the Vietnam War and Richard Nixon’s abuse of power in the Watergate scandal.

                                         

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Ronald Reagan

• Ronald Reagan gained the Presidency as part of a conservative (Jeffersonian) backlash against the centralization of government brought about by New Deal and Great Society programs.

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

II. Executive Power

A. Executive Powers

B. The Federal Bureaucracy

C. Appointment powers

D. Executive Privilege

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

A. Executive Powers

• Main job of the president is to insure that all federal laws, treaties, and court decisions are faithfully executed.– Often referred to as ordinance power.

• Executive orders, an implied power, permits the President to issue an order to carry out the law.– Truman and Desegregation of Military.– FDR and Japanese Internment

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

B. Federal Bureaucracy

• The President is the boss of the vast federal bureaucracy

• deciding policy and issuing orders for departments and agencies to carry out.

• Roughly 2.7 million people work for the executive branch

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

C. Appointment Powers

• The President may appoint executive Secretaries.– All cabinet posts

• Defense, State, Treasury and Attorney General.• Federal Judges.

– Must have approval of senate.

• Lower jobs are filled by Civil Service.

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

D. Executive Privilege

• The president can claim executive privilege to secretly conduct foreign affairs.– Issues of National Security– It is necessary, but how democratic is it?

• The Supreme Court decision United States v. Nixon stated that President Nixon could not withhold tapes he claimed contained sensitive information.

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Terms

• Executive article

• Imperial presidency

• Executive order

• Federal Bureaucracy

• Executive privilege

• United States vs. Nixon

Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.

In summary

• Why has executive power grown?

• What is executive power?

• What is an executive order?

• What is the function of the Federal bureaucracy?

• Why is executive privilege controversial?