The Executive Branch

5.1 The Executive Branch &5.3 Duties of the President

Today’s Agenda

• Begin 5.3 & 5.4• Homework• Pretend that Congress is debating to repeal

the 22nd Amendment. Write a headline and 1-2 paragraphs of your opinion of this amendment.

What are the most important characteristics needed to become the president?

• Intelligence• Expertise• Military

experience• Vision of

America• Gender• Likeability• Physical

Attraction• Charisma• Other

Factors?

ObjectivesAt the end of this lesson you should be able

• Who is in charge of the Executive Branch

• What qualifications are required to be the president

• What are the roles of the president

• Who aids the president complete his job

• What are president’s paid, benefits they receive

• How long can presidents serve

Who is in Charge of the Executive Branch?• Article II, Section 1 – The

executive power shall be vested in the President– Must carry out laws passed

by Congress• Executive branch is offered

referred to as the “White House”

• West Wing– Area of White House

where President and staff work

• Oval Office– President’s office

What are the President’s Roles?Chief Executive

– As head of executive branch, president executes/ enforces the law

Chief Diplomat– main architect and representative of

American foreign policy to worldCommander in Chief

– Supreme commander of militaryChief Legislator

– Main architect of the nation’s public policies

– Bully Pulpit– Position from which to espouse his

position Begin at 1:10:00

How does the president fulfill all of these roles?• Vice President

– May act as an advisor to President– May act as an ambassador for president’s

policies• Cabinet

– 15 advisers to president who head various departments within the White House

– Appointed by president and approved by congress

– Important Departments• Secretary of State

– Helps president with foreign relations

• Secretary of Defense– Helps president with running the

military

What are the Pay and Benefits of a president?• Pay was first set at $25,000 a year

(by Congress) • Currently, paid $400,000 a year• Congress has also approved an

expense allowance for the President, which is currently $50,000 a year

• Live in the 132-room mansion (White House)

• Large suite of offices, a staff, the use of Air Force One, lifetime health insurance, lifetime secret service

• Most powerful position in the world

How long can a president serve? • Original Constitution placed no limit on the

number of terms a President might serve• Washington created tradition by only

serving 2 terms• Broken by FDR

– Elected 4 terms– 1933-1945

• 22nd Amendment– placed limits on presidential terms– may not be elected more than twice– Supporters felt that unlimited terms

gave one person too much power• Lame Duck

– Critics say 22nd Amendment strips power away from president because congress is less inclined to cooperate with him (or her)

FDR served 4 terms1933-1945

Ticket Out or Homework

• Pretend that Congress is debating to repeal the 22nd Amendment. Write a headline and 1-2 paragraphs of your opinion of this amendment.