Chapter 6

The Executive BranchSection 1: The Presidency

Section 2: Powers and Roles of the President

Section 3: Executive Departments and the Cabinet

Section 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions

Section 1:Section 1: The PresidencyThe Presidency

The Main Idea

The president and the vice president are required to have certain qualifications.

Reading Focus• What are the qualifications and terms of office for

the presidency?• What are the duties of the vice president?• What are the rules of succession for the

presidency?

Qualifications for the presidency:

• Native-born U.S. citizen

• At least 35 years of age

• A resident of the United States for at least 14 years

Section 1:Section 1: The PresidencyThe Presidency

The Electoral College & Qualifications for President [02:26]

Terms of office:

• Four-year term and may be elected to a second term

• Salary of $400,000 per year plus $50,000 nontaxable allowance

Section 1:Section 1: The PresidencyThe Presidency

Becoming the President [03:16]

Duties and terms of office of the vice president:

• Takes over if the president dies, resigns, or is removed from office

• Presides over the Senate• Must meet the same constitutional

qualifications as the president• Salary of $186,300 per year plus $10,000

taxable allowance

Section 1:Section 1: The PresidencyThe Presidency

The order of presidential succession:

• The vice president

• The Speaker of the House

• The president pro tempore of the Senate

• Members of the president’s cabinet in the order in which their departments were created

Section 1:Section 1: The PresidencyThe Presidency

Question: What are the term of office and the duties of the vice president?

four years

SECTION 1

Vice President

four years

preside over the Senate remain prepared to assume presidency help presidential candidate get elected

Term of Office

Duties

The Main IdeaThe powers and roles of the U.S. president

affect not only the citizens of the United States but also people throughout the world.

Reading Focus• What are some of the leadership roles of the

president?• What powers does the president have?

Section 2:Section 2: Powers and Roles of the PresidentPowers and Roles of the President

The President and the Legislative Process

• Recommends laws to Congress in speeches, writing, or through State of the Union Address

• Sends Congress an economic message• Influences legislation with veto power

Section 2:Section 2: Powers and Roles of the PresidentPowers and Roles of the President

Congress and the Commander in Chief

• Only Congress can declare war.

• The president has the power to send troops into foreign lands.

• 1973—War Powers Act: requires troops to be recalled within 60 days unless approved by Congress to stay longer

Section 2:Section 2: Powers and Roles of the PresidentPowers and Roles of the President

President’s duties as foreign-policy leader and chief of state:

• Appoints officials to represent the United States abroad

• Travels to foreign nations to meet with leaders and representatives of other countries

• Serves as the nation’s chief diplomat and assumes final responsibility for treaties

• Symbolizes the United States and its people• Performs ceremonial duties

Section 2:Section 2: Powers and Roles of the PresidentPowers and Roles of the President

Question: What are the duties of the president as foreign-policy leader and chief of state?

SECTION 2

President’s Duties as Foreign Policy Leader and Chief of State

President’s Duties as Foreign Policy Leader and Chief of State

travel abroad to meet with foreign leaders

secure friendly relations with foreign governments

preserve the security of the United States

appoint officials to represent the United States inforeign countries

meet with leaders of foreign countries

assume responsibility for treaties with foreigncountries

Section 3:Section 3: Executive Departments and the CabinetExecutive Departments and the Cabinet

The Main IdeaThe executive branch of the U.S. government is

divided into several departments, each of which has certain duties.

Reading Focus• What is the Executive Office of the President,

and what is the cabinet?• What are the purposes of the Department of

State and the Department of Defense?• What are the other executive departments in the

federal government?

Executive Branch People [03:28]

The Executive Office of the President

• Established in 1939 and reorganized by each president

• Contains agencies and offices that advise the president on current issues

• The White House Office keeps the presidential schedule, writes speeches, and maintains relations with Congress, the press, and the public.

Section 3:Section 3: Executive Departments and the CabinetExecutive Departments and the Cabinet

The 15 executive departments work to improve life for all Americans.

Department of: • Agriculture (USDA)• Commerce (DOC)• Defense (DOD)• Education (ED)• Energy (DOE)• Health and Human Services (HHS)• Homeland Security (DHS)* *

newest executive department

• Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

• Justice (DOJ)• Labor (DOL)• State (DOS)• Interior (DOI)• Treasury• Transportation (DOT)• Veterans Affairs (VA)

Section 3:Section 3: Executive Departments and the CabinetExecutive Departments and the Cabinet

Question: What are the fourteen department secretaries included in the president’s cabinet?

SECTION 3

Cabinet Members

Secretary of State

Secretary of Treasury

Attorney General

Secretary of the Interior

Secretary of Agriculture

Secretary of Commerce

Secretary of Labor

Secretary of Defense

Secretary of Health and Human Services

Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development

Secretary of Transportation

Secretary of Energy

Secretary of Education

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Secretary of Homeland Security

The Main Idea• The Independent Agencies and Regulatory

Commissions of the U.S. government perform specialized duties.

Reading Focus• What are some examples of independent

agencies, and what duties do they perform?• What are regulatory commissions, and who

runs them?• What makes up the federal bureaucracy?

Section 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory CommissionsSection 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions

Running the Government [01:31]

Independent Agencies

• Perform specialized duties that do not fit into regular departments

• Some serve all of the departments and some assist the work of the entire government.

• Examples: – U.S. Commission on Civil Rights– Farm Credit Administration– Small Business Administration– National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Section 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory CommissionsSection 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions

Regulatory Commissions

• Independent agencies make rules and bring violators to court.

• Commission heads are appointed by the president and approved by Congress to serve long terms.

• Commissions are independent in order to freely do their jobs.

Section 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory CommissionsSection 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions

Regulatory Commissions (continued)

• Examples: – Federal Election Commission– Consumer Product Safety Commission– Securities and Exchange Commission– National Labor Relations Board

Section 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory CommissionsSection 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions

Executive Bureaucracies [02:19]

The Federal Bureaucracy

• Formed by the departments and agencies of the executive branch

• Almost 3 million workers

• Operates under heavy rules and regulations that create “red tape” but allow the executive branch to function

Section 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory CommissionsSection 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions

Question: What are some of the independent agencies and regulatory commissions of the federal government?

SECTION 4

Commission on Civil Rights

Farm Credit Administration

Federal Election Commission

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Securities and Exchange Commission

National Labor Relations Board

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Small Business Administration

Office of Personnel Management

General Services Administration

Independent Agencies

Regulatory Commissions

Chapter 6 Wrap-Up

1. What is the vice president’s role in the government?2. What limitation did the Twenty-second Amendment

place on the terms of the presidency?3. What is the purpose of the State of the Union Address?4. How does the president participate in the legislative

process?5. How does the Executive Office of the President serve

the president?6. What other position do the executive department

heads hold?7. Why are the independent agencies separate from the

executive departments?

1. What is the vice president’s role in the government?2. What limitation did the Twenty-second Amendment

place on the terms of the presidency?3. What is the purpose of the State of the Union Address?4. How does the president participate in the legislative

process?5. How does the Executive Office of the President serve

the president?6. What other position do the executive department

heads hold?7. Why are the independent agencies separate from the

executive departments?