The Executive Branch Mrs. Cox Paisley I B Civics- 7.

The Executive BranchThe Executive Branch

Mrs. CoxMrs. Cox

Paisley I BPaisley I B

Civics- 7Civics- 7

The Office of the PresidentThe Office of the President

President is leader of the executive President is leader of the executive branch.branch.

To be president-age at least 35To be president-age at least 35 Must be born in USMust be born in US Lived in the US for at least 14 yearsLived in the US for at least 14 years So far all presidents have been male.So far all presidents have been male. Most have been lawyersMost have been lawyers

The Office of PresidentThe Office of President

All presidents have been Protestant All presidents have been Protestant Christians except for John F. Kennedy Christians except for John F. Kennedy who was Catholic.who was Catholic.

Presidents serve 4 year termsPresidents serve 4 year terms The Constitution did not state how The Constitution did not state how

many terms a president could serve. many terms a president could serve. The 22The 22ndnd amendment limits a amendment limits a

president to two terms.president to two terms.

The Office of the PresidentThe Office of the President

The Vice President is elected with the The Vice President is elected with the president. president.

VP qualifications are the same as VP qualifications are the same as those of the president.those of the president.

VP leads the Senate but does not vote VP leads the Senate but does not vote unless there is a tie vote.unless there is a tie vote.

The VP becomes president if the The VP becomes president if the president dies, resigns or is removed president dies, resigns or is removed from office.from office.

The President’s JobThe President’s Job

The Constitution gives the President The Constitution gives the President many powers.many powers.

To call special meetings of CongressTo call special meetings of Congress To reject bills passed by CongressTo reject bills passed by Congress He is commander in chief of the armed He is commander in chief of the armed

services.services. With Senate approval the president With Senate approval the president

can make treaties with other countriescan make treaties with other countries

The President’s JobThe President’s Job

Can appoint government officials Can appoint government officials (judges, ambassadors)(judges, ambassadors)

Constitution requires the president to Constitution requires the president to make reports to Congress-this is make reports to Congress-this is done through the State of the Union done through the State of the Union address every January. address every January.

Roles of the PresidentRoles of the President

Chief executiveChief executive Commander in chiefCommander in chief Legislative leaderLegislative leader Chief diplomatChief diplomat Head of stateHead of state Economic leaderEconomic leader Party leaderParty leader


As chief executive, the president executes As chief executive, the president executes laws passed by Congresslaws passed by Congress

Sometimes the president issues executive Sometimes the president issues executive orders to make sure that laws are carried orders to make sure that laws are carried out.out.

Appoint federal judgesAppoint federal judges Grants pardons- which allows people to Grants pardons- which allows people to

avoid punishment for crimes they avoid punishment for crimes they committed.committed.


President can grant reprieves and President can grant reprieves and amnesty.amnesty.

Amnesty is a pardon for a group of Amnesty is a pardon for a group of people.people.

A reprieve delays punishment.A reprieve delays punishment. Commander in chief of the armed Commander in chief of the armed

services.services.


Congress and the President share the Congress and the President share the power to make war.power to make war.

Congress declares warCongress declares war The President has the power to order The President has the power to order

troops into battletroops into battle This allows a president to back up This allows a president to back up

decisions with force.decisions with force.


The president can influence which The president can influence which laws are passed.laws are passed.

The president can present plans that The president can present plans that suggests laws for Congress to pass.suggests laws for Congress to pass.

Congress considers bills that might Congress considers bills that might or might not support the president’s or might not support the president’s planplan


As chief diplomat, the president As chief diplomat, the president directs foreign policydirects foreign policy

President greets foreign visitorsPresident greets foreign visitors President does ceremonial duties President does ceremonial duties

such as awarding medals for bravery.such as awarding medals for bravery. President is also the countries President is also the countries

economic leader.economic leader.


President is also the nation’s economic President is also the nation’s economic leader.leader.

President deals with unemployment and President deals with unemployment and other economic issues.other economic issues.

President plans the federal budget.President plans the federal budget. The president leads his political party.The president leads his political party. The president also helps those that are The president also helps those that are

running for president and other elected running for president and other elected offices.offices.

Presidential SuccessionPresidential Succession

In 1947 Congress passed the Presidential In 1947 Congress passed the Presidential Succession Act.Succession Act.

This act states that the Speaker of the This act states that the Speaker of the House becomes president if both the House becomes president if both the president and the vice president die or president and the vice president die or leave office.leave office.

The president pro tempore of the Senate is The president pro tempore of the Senate is next in line. The secretary of state comes next in line. The secretary of state comes next.next.


Government leaders had to decide what should Government leaders had to decide what should happen if the president dies, or leaves office.happen if the president dies, or leaves office.

The order of succession had to be decided. The The order of succession had to be decided. The Constitution talks about the issue in a general Constitution talks about the issue in a general way.way.

It says that if the president dies or leaves office It says that if the president dies or leaves office the VP takes over the the VP takes over the ““powers and dutiespowers and duties”” of the of the president. It does not specify becomes president. It does not specify becomes president.president.

The first time this happened John Tyler decided The first time this happened John Tyler decided he should become president.he should become president.


Passage of the 25Passage of the 25thth Amendment helped Amendment helped answer other questions about presidential answer other questions about presidential succession. succession.

2525thth Amendment explains other questions Amendment explains other questions about presidential succession.about presidential succession.

If the president dies or leaves office the VP If the president dies or leaves office the VP becomes president and chooses another becomes president and chooses another VP.VP.

Congress must approve the new VP.Congress must approve the new VP.


The amendment also allows the VP to The amendment also allows the VP to help determine whether the help determine whether the president is disabled and cannot do president is disabled and cannot do the job.the job.

If the president is not able to do the If the president is not able to do the job, the VP would then act as job, the VP would then act as president until the president is able president until the president is able to go back to work.to go back to work.

Presidential Advisers and Presidential Advisers and Executive AgenciesExecutive Agencies

In 1801 few people helped President In 1801 few people helped President Thomas Jefferson do his job.Thomas Jefferson do his job.

Today, more than 2,000 people work for Today, more than 2,000 people work for the Executive Office of the President the Executive Office of the President (EOP) which was created in 1939.(EOP) which was created in 1939.

Many different offices make up the EOP.Many different offices make up the EOP. The White House Office works directly The White House Office works directly

for the President.for the President.

Organization of the Federal Organization of the Federal BranchBranch

The EOP includes the White House The EOP includes the White House staff made of the president’s 10 to staff made of the president’s 10 to 12 closest political advisers.12 closest political advisers.

The most powerful member of the The most powerful member of the White House staff is the chief of staff.White House staff is the chief of staff.

Other top advisers are the deputy Other top advisers are the deputy chief of staff an the press secretary, chief of staff an the press secretary, who provides news to the public.who provides news to the public.


The Office of Management and The Office of Management and Budget ( OMB) prepares the national Budget ( OMB) prepares the national budget and monitors how much budget and monitors how much money the government spends.money the government spends.

The National Security Council (NSC) The National Security Council (NSC) helps the president manage military helps the president manage military and foreign policy. and foreign policy.


The Office of Administration provides The Office of Administration provides support to the groups that work for support to the groups that work for the executive branch.the executive branch.

Finally, the Council of Economic Finally, the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) helps guide the Advisers (CEA) helps guide the president on issues such as inflation president on issues such as inflation and foreign trade.and foreign trade.

The CabinetThe Cabinet

The president chooses a group of 14 The president chooses a group of 14 people to advise him or her.people to advise him or her.

This group makes up the cabinet.This group makes up the cabinet. Each cabinet member leads an Each cabinet member leads an

executive department.executive department. Most of the members of the cabinet Most of the members of the cabinet

are called secretaries.are called secretaries.


The head of the Department of The head of the Department of Justice is called the attorney general.Justice is called the attorney general.

The newest department is the The newest department is the department of Homeland Security. It department of Homeland Security. It was formed in 2002. This department was formed in 2002. This department works to defend the nation against works to defend the nation against terrorist attacks.terrorist attacks.


The cabinet members advise the The cabinet members advise the president. They talk about issues president. They talk about issues related to their departments. related to their departments.

Ex: the secretary of agriculture tells the Ex: the secretary of agriculture tells the president about the nation’s farmers. president about the nation’s farmers.

The cabinet meets whenever the The cabinet meets whenever the president decides a meeting is needed.president decides a meeting is needed.


The VP sometimes has little authority. The VP sometimes has little authority. Some VP’s, however, are given more Some VP’s, however, are given more duties. duties.

The President’s spouse is called the First The President’s spouse is called the First Lady or the First Gentleman.Lady or the First Gentleman.

They can make important contributions to They can make important contributions to the country.the country.

Historically, First Ladies have often served Historically, First Ladies have often served the country by working for special causes.the country by working for special causes.

The Federal BureaucracyThe Federal Bureaucracy

The groups and employees that The groups and employees that make up the executive branch are make up the executive branch are called the federal bureaucracy.called the federal bureaucracy.

The federal bureaucracy does the The federal bureaucracy does the jobs that keep the government jobs that keep the government running each day. running each day.

It watches the activity of banks and It watches the activity of banks and other businesses.other businesses.


Hundreds of independent agencies Hundreds of independent agencies work for the branch.work for the branch.

There are three types of independent There are three types of independent agencies.agencies.

1. Executive agencies work with 1. Executive agencies work with special government programs, such special government programs, such as the space program.as the space program.


2. Government corporations act like 2. Government corporations act like private businesses but are run by the private businesses but are run by the government. The USPS is a government. The USPS is a government corporation.government corporation.

3. Finally, regulatory boards and 3. Finally, regulatory boards and commissions make rules that commissions make rules that businesses must follow.businesses must follow.


Most government employees are civil Most government employees are civil service workers. They operate the service workers. They operate the civil service system. Their jobs are civil service system. Their jobs are usually permanent.usually permanent.

In the 1800s, most government jobs In the 1800s, most government jobs were awarded as political favors. This were awarded as political favors. This is called the spoils system.is called the spoils system.


Each president would replace workers Each president would replace workers with his own supporters.with his own supporters.

In 1883 Congress passed the Pendleton In 1883 Congress passed the Pendleton Act, also called the Civil Service Reform Act, also called the Civil Service Reform Act, to reform the spoils system.Act, to reform the spoils system.

Now the civil service system is a merit Now the civil service system is a merit system. People are hired on the basis of system. People are hired on the basis of civil service work requirements.civil service work requirements.

Making Foreign PolicyMaking Foreign Policy

Foreign policy is the plan a nation follows Foreign policy is the plan a nation follows when dealing with other nations.when dealing with other nations.

The US has four main foreign policy The US has four main foreign policy goals:goals:

1. national security-keeping the country 1. national security-keeping the country safe from attacksafe from attack

2. trade with other countries2. trade with other countries 3. world peace3. world peace 4. spreading democracy4. spreading democracy

The President and Foreign The President and Foreign PolicyPolicy

The president guides US foreign The president guides US foreign policy with the help of special policy with the help of special departments and agencies within the departments and agencies within the executive branch of government.executive branch of government.

Congress plays a role in US foreign Congress plays a role in US foreign policy.policy.

It can declare war and stop some It can declare war and stop some military actions, and decides how to military actions, and decides how to spend money for defense.spend money for defense.


The President and Congress use many The President and Congress use many tools to meet foreign policy goals.tools to meet foreign policy goals.

With Senate approval, a treaty, or With Senate approval, a treaty, or formal agreement, helps the US work formal agreement, helps the US work with other nations.with other nations.

Without Senate approval, the president Without Senate approval, the president can make an executive agreement with can make an executive agreement with a foreign leader for a similar purpose.a foreign leader for a similar purpose.


The US also sends ambassadors to The US also sends ambassadors to other countries to represent the US other countries to represent the US government.government.

Some tools punish other countries. Some tools punish other countries. Trade sanctions make it hard for Trade sanctions make it hard for some countries to trade with the US.some countries to trade with the US.

Sometimes the US joins an embargo, Sometimes the US joins an embargo, an agreement among nations to an agreement among nations to refuse trade with a target nation.refuse trade with a target nation.


The president has the power to use The president has the power to use military force to carry out US foreign military force to carry out US foreign policy decisions.policy decisions.

The Executive Branch Mrs. Cox Paisley I B Civics- 7.

Documents

Transcript of The Executive Branch Mrs. Cox Paisley I B Civics- 7.