6.1 Executive Branch – Requirements & Succession

Requirements

Unlike Congress – MUST be Native-born citizen.Age 35 +U.S. Resident for 14+ yearsTERM – 4 years. Up to 2 terms. FDR served 4 terms before the 22nd Amendment was passed.

Other Facts

$400,000/yr salary + a lot of allowance and benefits.Have all Presidents been W.A.S.P. Men?Most presidents were lawyers and held political office before President.

Vice PresidentSame requirements as President. WHY?Salary $208,100/yr + allowances.TWO real jobs –

President of SenateBecome President upon his death.

Many take on other roles in foreign policy, environmental issues, and many others.

Presidential Succession

8 presidents died in office, 1 resigned.New President chooses New VP.20th Amendment – Order of Succession

Pres -> VP -> Speaker of House -> Pres Pro Temp -> President’s cabinet in order of creation.Always One Designated Survivor

6.2 Roles of the President – A Man of Many Hats

President – Chief Executive

Head of 15 cabinet departments.

Executive Order – a command with force of law.

Appoint Supreme Court Judges.Grant Pardons (freedom of punishment), Reprieves (delaying sentence), & Commutation (lessening sentence).

President – Chief Diplomat

Direct the foreign policy – secure friendly relations with other countries while protecting national security.Make key decisions on U.S. actions and attitude toward other countries.

President - Commander in Chief

Control over nation’s armed forces.

Congress can declare war, but President controls when and where troops act.

War Resolutions Act (1971) – President can send troops for up to 60 days without approval from Congress.

President – Legislative Leader

Cannot introduce a bill, but is expected to propose ideas.Each President gives the State of the Union Address, which addresses any issues the president would like to see Congress tackle.Power to Veto or Pass laws

President - Head of State

Ceremonial function, like dining with queens, and giving medals to heroes.

President - Economic Leader

Expected to deal with our nation’s economic issues.Plan each year’s federal budget.

President - Party Leader

Leader of their political partyHelps raise party money and speak for campaigns of party members.

6.3 The Executive Cabinet – All the King’s Men

President’s CabinetThe Executive Branch also includes 15 departments.These departments have changed and grown over the years to meet the needs of the American people. Homeland Security (2003)Most of the heads of these departments are titled secretary; Secretary of Defense, Sec. Of Treasury.The head of the Dept of Justice is the Attorney General.

Department of State

Secretary of StateForeign Policy - Head of Ambassadors (highest U.S. representative in other countries) and Consulates (represent commercial trade in other countries)Also in charge of travel between countries – passports and visas.Secretary Hillary Clinton

Department of DefenseIn charge of military; military bases, disaster

relief, etc. Secretary of Defense is a civilian – ensure

nonmilitary control.Advised by highest ranking officers of each

branch of military – Joint Chiefs of Staff.Secretary Robert Gates

Other Departments Dept. of Homeland Security – protect

nation against further terrorist attacks. Secretary Janet Napolitano

Dept. of Treasury – promotes economic prosperity and stability. Secretary Timothy Geithner

Dept. of Justice – Supervise U.S. district attorneys and Marshalls, Legal advise to President, Supervise penal system. Attorney General Eric Holder

Dept. of the Interior – National Parks and reserves, Native American reservations, and U.S. territories. Secretary Ken SalazarDept. of Agriculture – Controls agriculture market, food programs and USDA. Secretary Tom VilsackDept. of Commerce – International market and trade, economic growth, and prevents unfair trade. Secretary Gary LockeDept. of Veteran’s Affairs – Provides benefits, education, burial, etc for U.S. Veterans. Secretary Eric Shinseki

Dept. of Energy – Control Energy production, conservation, pricing electric, nuclear, oil, etc. Secretary Steven ChuDept. of Health and Human Services – Social Security, Medicaid, Cancer and AIDS research. Secretary Kathleen SebeliusDept. of Housing and Urban Development – Community development, housing laws, housing subsidies. Secretary Shaun DonovanDept. of Education – Education reform, student loans, vocational education, etc. Secretary Arne Duncan

Dept. of Labor – Protects worker’s rights, maintains safe working environments, etc. Secretary Hilda SolisDept. of Transportation – Highway, Air control, Coast Guard, urban mass transit, etc. Secretary Ray LaHood

There is always room for more Executive Departments to be added.