Unit 3:

The Executive Branch

Unit 3: The Executive Branch

Chapter 8 The PresidencyChapter 9 Presidential

LeadershipChapter 10 The Federal

Bureaucracy

Chapter 8 The Presidency

8.1 President and Vice President8.2 Electing the President8.3 The Cabinet8.4 The Executive Office

ACOS:

2. Analyze purposes, organization, functions, and principles of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

7. Trace the development and impact of the media on the political process and public opinion in the United States.

8. Identify roles political parties play in the functioning of the political system of the United States.

10. Identify constitutional provisions of the executive branch of the government of the United States.

8.1 President and Vice President

Duties of the President President’s Term and Salary Presidential Qualifications Presidential Succession The Vice President’s Role

Duties of the President

Command of military Appointment of some

federal officials Foreign Policy Enforcement of the

Law Lawmaking agenda

Duties of the President

Which of the presidential duties are

reflected in the pictures on the

following slides?

Obama’s State of the Union Address

Presidential Term and Salary

The 22nd amendment limits presidential terms to two. This amendment was

created in response to FDR’s 4 terms.

A VP can serve up to 10 years as president if he becomes president with two years or less left on his predecessor.

Presidential Term and Salary

Congress determines how much compensation presidents receive.

As of 2001, presidents make $400,000 annually. Presidents receive other benefits. Examples:

Air Force One Marine One Free medical, dental, and health care Rent free housing (The White House)

After retirement, they receive a pension of $148,400 a year.

Presidential Qualifications

Constitutional Requirements natural born citizen at least 35 years old resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years before taking

office Informal Requirements

Government experience Importance of money Moderate Political Beliefs Personal Characteristics

(ethnic, economic, racial, and gender backgrounds)

“The Johnson Treatment”

Johnson’s personal characteristics helped him “persuade” lawmakers.

“The Johnson Treatment”

Discussion Question

What do you consider the most important qualification for the office of the president?

Explain.

Presidential Succession

The 25th amendment establishes the order of succession for the presidency.

It also establishes procedure for a vacancy in the vice presidency.

It also sets the procedure if the president becomes disabled.

Discussion Question

In 1967, why was the 25th amendment added to the Constitution?

President Kennedy’s assassination helped show that the rules for succession were inadequate.

The Vice President’s Role

Balancing the Ticket President of the Senate Advisor to the President Representative of the

President Successor to the

President

Discussion Question

Why have recent presidents tried to give their vice presidents more responsibilities? To promote them as

future presidential candidates

To use their expertise To prepare them for the

highest office

Recent Vice Presidents who became President through the death of the President

Recent Vice Presidents who became President through the death of the President

Recent Vice Presidents who became President through the vacancy of the President

What does the father think is the most important requirement to become president?

He thinks access to money is the most important requirement to become president.

Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity

.

Does the cartoon make references to any of the formal qualifications for the office of president?

No.

Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity

Do you agree with the statement made in the cartoon? Why or why not?

Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity

8.2 Electing the President

The Original System Impact of Political Parties The Electoral College Today Electoral College Issues The Inauguration

ACOS:

2. Analyze purposes, organization, functions, and principles of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

7. Trace the development and impact of the media on the political process and public opinion in the United States.

8. Identify roles political parties play in the functioning of the political system of the United States.

10. Identify constitutional provisions of the executive branch of the government of the United States.

8.2 Electing the President

The Original System Impact of Political Parties The Electoral College

Today Electoral College Issues The Inauguration

The Original System

Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution states that the candidate with the majority of the electoral votes becomes president.

The candidate who comes in second wins the vice presidency.

Discussion Question

What political problem could result from the vice president being the second-highest electoral vote?

The vice president may be a political foe of the president.

The Impact of Political Parties

The Election of 1800 was decided by the House of Representatives.

To prevent a tie vote for president in the Electoral College, the 12th amendment was added.

It provided that electors must cast separate ballots for the president and vice president.

The Electoral College System Today

The Electoral College is still used to choose the president and vice president.

The College uses a winner-take-all system. Maine and Nebraska are the only

exceptions. Electoral votes go to the candidate

receiving the largest popular vote. Electors cast the official vote in

December.

Discussion Question

Should an elector be required to vote for the candidate who won that state’s popular vote? Explain.

FYI: Faithless electors have never changed election results.

In 1976, a Washington elector voted for Ronald Reagan although Ford had won the state’s popular vote.

In 2004, a Minnesota elector voted for Jonathan Edwards for president and vice president.

9 other electors have broken with custom.

Electoral College Issues

Critics claim the winner-take-all system is unfair. It is possible for a candidate to lose the total

popular vote and win the electoral vote. A third-party candidate could prevent any

candidate from an electoral majority.

Electoral College Issues

The House of Representatives then determines the winner.

Suggestions to improve the electoral college have been made.

Some believe the Electoral College should be replaced by direct election.

Bush/Gore 2000

Bush/Kerry 2004

Discussion Question

How can the Electoral College be improved?

Read pages 224-225.

Issues to Debate 8-2Should the Electoral College Be Replaced? Create charts listing the advantages and disadvantages of the Electoral College and of a direct election. Evaluate your charts and decide whether they support the Electoral College or direct election of the president. Then form two groups accordingly. Have group members merge their charts into a group chart showing the advantages of the system they support. Allow each group to explain one advantage at a time and the other group to debate that advantage until all advantages have been explained and debated. Tally the number of students in each group and note which system each group supported.Concluding the Debate Hold a secret-ballot vote for the Electoral College or for direct election, and tally the results. Compare these totals with the total number of students in each group. Discuss the changes in number of votes and number of group members. Ask who originally supported one system and later voted for another to evaluate why they changed their views.

The Inauguration

The new president is sworn into office in an inauguration ceremony.

All leading officials from the three branches attend the January 20 ceremony.

8.3 The Bureaucracy

The Selection of the Cabinet The Role of the Cabinet Factors Limiting the

Cabinet’s Role

ACOS:

2. Analyze purposes, organization, functions, and principles of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

7. Trace the development and impact of the media on the political process and public opinion in the United States.

8. Identify roles political parties play in the functioning of the political system of the United States.

10. Identify constitutional provisions of the executive branch of the government of the United States.

The Selection of the Cabinet

The president selects cabinet members based on: Background Geographical balance Interest group relations Administrative skills Minority characteristics

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet

The Selection of the Cabinet

Members are usually college graduates and leaders in their field.

The Senate must confirm appointments.

The Role of the Cabinet

Members are the heads of executive departments. The president determines the members’ roles. Modern presidents rely less on the cabinet than their

predecessors. Some cabinet members

form the president’s “inner cabinet” like the secretaries of state, defense, and treasury.

Washington’s Cabinet

George Washington

President

John AdamsVice President

Alexander Hamilton

Secretary of the Treasury

Edmund Randolph

Attorney General

Henry KnoxSecretary of War

Thomas JeffersonSecretary of State

Factors Limiting the Cabinet’s Role

The president does not necessarily have their complete loyalty.

Members may disagree over presidential policies amongst themselves.

Secrecy among a large cabinet is difficult.

The president may not know the members personally.

Discussion Questions

Do you think the president should appoint to cabinet positions people

he knows and trusts or relative strangers who have dspecialized

expertise? Explain.

Creating a “Who’s Who” Booklet Research the people who currently hold each executive branch position mentioned in this unit. Write a brief paragraph about each official, providing background information and major accomplishments while in office. Include a picture or a drawing of each person in their “Who’s Who” booklet. Share booklets with the class.

Project

8.4 The Executive Office

Executive Office Agencies The White House Office

Executive Office Agencies

The Executive Office of the President (EOP): Was created in 1939. Grown rapidly because

Presidents add new agencies to address new problems.

Presidents want experts nearby to advise them about complex issues.

Federal programs sometimes require coordination between different agencies.

Executive Office Agencies

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the largest agency in the EOP.

It prepares the national budget that the president submits to Congress each year.

Executive Office Agencies

The National Security Council advises the president on military and foreign policy.

The Council of Economic Advisers helps the president develop economic policy.

National Security Council

The White House Office

The president appoints staff without Senate confirmation.

The White House Office is the most important office of the EOP.

The WHO staff members: Gather information and provide advise Ensure executive departments and agencies

carry out the president’s policies. Presents the president’s view to the outside world. Deciding who and what information gets through to the

president.

Test Tomorrow!