Unit 3: The Executive Branch

UNIT 3: THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

CHOICE BOARD

Learning Objective:

Analyze the strengths / weaknesses of the American Presidency as set forth in Article II of the US Constitution.

AnalyticalCreate a T-Chart listing 4 strengths and 4 weaknesses of the American Presidency as set forth in Article II of the Constitution. Be specific with each!

PracticalWrite a 2 paragraph Federalist or Antifederalist Paper either supporting / rejecting Article II. Specifically explain the positives / negatives of the office of President as dictated by this Article.

CreativeCreate a color poster explaining either the strengths or weaknesses of the Presidency as set forth in Article II. Write & illustrate at least 4 points to support your claim.

Some presidential trivia…

Youngest: Theodore Roosevelt (42) Oldest: Ronald Reagan (69) Longest Inaugural Address: William Henry Harrison

(105 minutes) Shortest Term: William Henry Harrison (32 days) Longest Term: Franklin Roosevelt (12 years) Tallest: Abraham Lincoln (6 feet, 4 inches)

Trivia, continued….

The ‘Teddy Bear’ was named for Theodore Roosevelt

Largest feet: Warren Harding (Size 14) John F. Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic

President Father-Son combos: John Adams and John Quincy

Adams and George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush

….and more trivia….

President with most Grammy Awards: Barack Obama (2, both for Spoken Word performance)

Shortest and lightest President: James Madison (5 feet, 4 inches and +/- 100 pounds

Only President to not belong to a political party: George Washington

President who regularly went skinny dipping in the Potomac River: John Quincy Adams

The Roles of the President

Chief of State Chief Executive Chief Administrator Chief Diplomat Commander in Chief Chief Legislator Chief of Party Chief Citizen

Chief of State

The ceremonial head of the government and the symbol of all Americans “…the personal embodiment and representative of

their dignity and majesty”

Chief Executive

The President has broad powers to carry out and enforce the laws of the United States

Chief Administrator

Head of government offices 2.7 million

employees 2.5 trillion

dollar budget

Chief Diplomat

The President conducts foreign policy and is the nation’s spokesperson to the rest of the world

Commander in Chief

The President is the head of the armed forces The Constitution says this person must be a civilian

and not an active military member Washington, Grant, Eisenhower

Chief Legislator

The President is the main source of public policies and for the most part sets the agenda for what Congress works on

Chief of Party

The President is the leader of his or her political party. Parties are not mentioned in the Constitution

Chief Citizen

The moral leader of the nation and the person who protects the interests of the people

Term and Compensation

The President serves a FOUR year term. According to the 22nd Amendment, he or she may only serve two full terms (or ten years in case he or she took over during another person’s term)

Some Presidents have called for a repeal of the 22nd Amendment. What do you think?

Presidential Qualifications

What are the formal qualifications? A “natural born

citizen” of the United States

Be at least 35 years of age

14 years a resident within the United States

$$$

1789: $25,000 2012: $400,000 + $50,000/yr expenses A nice house, big staff, protection, cars, Air Force

One, Camp David, travel and entertainment funds and great health care!

Are you sure you want to be President?

The Vice President

“I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may become everything.”--- John Adams

“ The Vice Presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm spit.”

--- John Nance Garner

The Vice Presidency

Vice President must meet all the same qualifications as the President

VPs take over if President dies, resigns, or is incapacitated (25th Amendment)

Duties: Presides over Senate (breaks ties) and helps to decide if the President is incapacitated

Vice President Joe Biden

Born November 20th, 1942 in Scranton, PA.

US Senator from Delaware from 1973 – 2008.

Attended the University of Delaware. Doctorate from Syracuse University. Became the 47th Vice President of the

United States on January 20th, 2008.

Order of Succession to the Presidency

Vice President Speaker of the House

President pro tempore of the Senate

Secretary of State Secretary of Treasury Secretary of Defense

Attorney General Secretary of the Interior Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Commerce

Secretary of Labor 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 Powers of the President

1. Veto Bills from Congress

2. Can call Congress into special session Called when action is needed from Congress but they

have ended their session (Go to war, finish the budget, etc.)


3. Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces

4. Pardon federal criminals


5. Make treaties with other countries (with Senate approval)

6. Appoint ambassadors, federal court judges, Supreme Court justices, top government officials (all with Senate approval)

Presidential Pardons

The President can assist those being charged with federal crimes in 3 ways:

1. Pardon - a declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment (Ex: Richard Nixon was pardoned by Gerald Ford)


2. Amnesty - a pardon toward a group of people (Ex: Jimmy Carter gave amnesty to Vietnam era draft dodgers)


3. Reprieve - order to delay a person’s punishment until a higher court can hear the case (Ex: in the case of a person on death row)

Executive Orders

-A rule or command that the President issues that has the force of law

Only Congress can make laws President can issue Executive Orders to

ensure laws are being carried out properly

The State of the Union

Not technically a power, but this gives the President the opportunity to speak directly to the policymakers in the US and direct them toward his vision for the country.

The State of the Union

The Constitution requires that the President report annually to Congress about the state of the country; this has become known as the “State of the Union Address”

Executive Orders Activity

After reading the article and answering the questions, complete the following:

With your partner, create four multiple choice questions – one from each section of the text.

Questions should have four GOOD options each – no silly / stupid options!

When this activity is completed, turn in your work, then work with your partner on your script.

Presidential Powers Activity: Truman’s Decision

1. You will be given a role to play. Stick to this role!

2. Get in your group: Political Appointees - Byrnes, Stimson, Bard, Conant, Bush Scientists - Oppenheimer, Compton, Teller, Szilard, Franck Generals - Marshall, Leahy, Eisenhower, Groves, Arnold

3. Groups will debate among themselves to determine a course of action. What will be acceptable to most?

1. 3 Reasons for this course of action must be written

Presidential Powers Activity: Truman’s Decision

4. Leaders will present their plan to Truman. Truman may ask them (or anyone on their team) specific questions.

5. After listening to AT LEAST the leaders (and anyone else he wishes to question), Truman will make a decision, announce it to the class, and explain at least two factors that made him make this decision.

Truman’s Decision Assignment

Choose one question to respond to in a one-paragraph response: What has this activity made you realize about the

job of President? What kind of person should seek the Presidency?

(relate your answer to this activity) Would you make a good or bad President? Why?

(relate your answer to this activity)

Term and Compensation

The President serves a FOUR year term. According to the 22nd Amendment, he or she may only serve two full terms (or ten years in case he or she took over during another person’s term)

Some Presidents have called for a repeal of the 22nd Amendment. What do you think?

Presidential Qualifications

What are the formal qualifications? A “natural born

citizen” of the United States

Be at least 35 years of age

14 years a resident within the United States

$$$

1789: $25,000 2012: $400,000 + $50,000/yr expenses A nice house, big staff, protection, cars, Air Force

One, Camp David, travel and entertainment funds and great health care!

Question:

How many votes does a Presidential candidate need to

become the President?

Answer:

270

The Electoral College

When we vote in a Presidential election, we vote for Electors, NOT the President.

Electors: People from a political party sworn to vote for their party’s candidate


How many electoral votes do we get? # of Representatives + # of Senators = # of Electoral

votes SC has 7 Reps and 2 Senators = 9 Electoral Votes


The candidate who gains the majority vote in a state gets ALL of that state’s Electoral votes


How many electoral votes are there? # of Reps + # of Senators + 3 for DC 538

A candidate needs a simple majority (270 votes) to win the Presidency

Electoral Map of 2008

Obama: 365 Electoral Votes, 53% of popular voteMcCain: 173 Electoral Votes, 46% of popular vote

Let’s Review What is the Electoral College?

How do we determine the number of electors each state gets?

How many electoral votes are there in total?

How many electoral votes does a candidate need to win?

Now we know what the formal structure of the Electoral College is…

…but what impact does it have on people campaigning for the Presidency?

…what impact does it have on voters throughout the US?

What Do You Think? What strategy did you pick throughout the

simulation?

Did you treat all states equally? Why/why not?

What happened to “votes” from the minority party in each state?

What impact do you think this system has on voter turnout in the US?

Problems with the Electoral College

1. Candidates don’t treat all states equally

2. Minority party votes in each state aren’t counted

3. Electors don’t have to vote for the candidate they promised to vote for


4. Smaller states get more votes per person Population of CA: 38,041,430 Electoral Votes: 55 Electoral votes per person: .000001

Population of MT: 1,005,141 Electoral Votes: 3 Electoral Votes per person: .000003

SC gets .000002


5. The Presidency can be won without a majority of the popular vote

Popular VoteBush: 50,456,002Gore: 50,999,897

Proposed Solutions

Every Congressional term since 1789 has seen proposed amendments to the Electoral system.

Four major suggestions are repeated over and over again in different forms… The District Plan The Proportional Plan District Popular Election The National Bonus Plan

CHOICE BOARD Text p. 382-384

Learning Objective:

Outline the advantages and/ or disadvantages of suggested reforms to the Electoral College.

AnalyticalWrite a one paragraph summary of the 4 major proposed reforms to the Electoral College. Include at least one major advantage / disadvantage for each.

PracticalWrite a one page letter to Congress explaining why one of the four proposed reforms is better than the Electoral College.

CreativeCreate a color propaganda poster encouraging the US to adopt one of the proposed reforms to the Electoral College OR to keep it as it is. Include specific information detailing why your choice is the best!

Summary Questions

1. What is the Electoral College?2. List two problems with the Electoral

College3. What questions do you have about

the Electoral College that we haven’t addressed today?

4 Proposed Reforms to the Electoral College

1) The District Plan

Each state would get: 2 statewide electoral votes 1 electoral vote for each district in a state

1) The District Plan

Pro: Electoral votes would be divided rather than winner-take-all

Cons: The loser of the popular vote could still win! Gerrymandering would rig Presidential

elections

2) The Proportional Plan

Each candidate would get the same % of a state’s electoral vote as (s)he got of the popular vote

2) The Proportional Plan

Pro: Electoral votes would be closer to the popular vote per state

Cons: The loser of the popular vote could still win! Could undo our current two party system (is

that really so bad?)

3) District Popular Election

Do away with the Electoral College & elect the President by popular vote

3) District Popular Election

Pros: It’s easy Supports the ideals of democracy

Cons: Would require a Constitutional amendment Candidates would have to campaign much

harder in more places

National Bonus Plan

Keep the Electoral College 102 “Bonus” votes go to the winner of

the Popular vote

National Bonus Plan

Pro: Would normally guarantee that the

popular winner would win the Electoral College

Cons: New & unfamiliar

National Popular Vote Plan

Individual states agree to give all their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the nationwide popular vote.

Popular VoteBush: 50,456,002Gore: 50,999,897

National Popular Vote Plan

Pros:

Cons:

Homework Assessment

Value Characteristics:

4 Accuracy: All information given is accurate Completeness: All parts of the assignment totally addressed Clarity: Response is totally clear, info is easy to understand

3 Accuracy: Mostly accurate information given Completeness: Most parts of the assignment addressed Clarity: Response is mostly clear, easy to understand. Some

of the response is mildly disorganized.

2 Accuracy: Some accurate information given Completeness: Most parts of the assignment addressed Clarity: Parts of the response is clear, but some is presented

in a disorganized fashion.

1 Accuracy: Much of the information presented is inaccurate Completeness: Assignment is largely incomplete Clarity: Information is disorganized and unclear.

You will…

Come to consensus with a partner re: how your homework ranks. Write the number at the top of your page. Write a two sentence summary of why/how

you came to that conclusion.

CHOICE BOARD Text p. 382-384

Learning Objective:

Outline the advantages and/ or disadvantages of suggested reforms to the Electoral College.

AnalyticalWrite a one paragraph summary of the 4 major proposed reforms to the Electoral College. Include at least one major advantage / disadvantage for each.

PracticalWrite a one page letter to Congress explaining why one of the four proposed reforms is better than the Electoral College.

CreativeCreate a color propaganda poster encouraging the US to adopt one of the proposed reforms to the Electoral College OR to keep it as it is. Include specific information detailing why your choice is the best!

The Cabinet

15 specialized departments

Members are 1) appointed by the President and 2) confirmed by the Senate

The President can fire Cabinet members

Cabinet members advise the President on issues in their field

Which are the most important?

Cabinet Departments State – foreign policy Treasury - $ and taxes- IRS Defense – military Justice – Enforce Fed. law- prisons Interior – public lands & parks Agriculture – farm and USDA- food

stamps Commerce – Census, trademarks,

trade Labor – workplace safety, enforces

labor laws- unemployment

Cabinet Departments (cont.) Health and Human Services – health

research, FDA, Medicare and Medicaid

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – public housing, fair housing laws

Transportation – highways, mass transit

Energy – Nuclear plants, energy research

Education – aid to schools, educational research

Veterans Affairs – benefits for Veterans

Homeland Security – Borders, preparedness and response, FEMA

State Department

• Secretary of State John Kerry

• Advises the President about foreign policy matters & carries out his foreign policy choices.

Department of Justice

-Attorney General Eric Holder:- First African-

American Attorney General

-Prosecutes Federal Laws under the President’s orders

The US Treasury

Treasury Secretary: Timothy Geithner

Prints money

Collects revenue (IRS)

Pays the nation’s debts

Department of Defense

Secretary of Defense: Chuck Hagel

Coordinates & supervises all the national defense agencies

Why has the President’s power grown so much in the past 100 years?

The unity of the Presidency One President, 535 in Congress

As the nation becomes more complex, the executive branch has had to take on more powers

Why has the President’s power grown so much in the past 100 years?

Crisis Points Wars The Depression Natural disasters Terrorism

Mass media The President is truly a ‘public’ figure

What happens when the President abuses his power?

Impeachment

Impeach – To accuse

The Impeachment Process is the means by which elected officials can be removed from their office.

How Does The System Work?

Each Branch of the Government is involved. A 2/3 Vote is needed in each portion of the

process Two trials are needed to decide two main

issues:

1) Impeach or not (House) 2) Remove or not (Senate)

Duties of our Government:

House of Reps: Vote to bring charges

Senate: Vote to remove

Chief Justice: Presides over Presidential impeachment hearing and trial.

Presidential Impeachments:

How many Presidents have been impeached?

Presidential Impeachments:

How many Presidents have been impeached?

The Presidents: Andrew Johnson—1867

Richard Nixon—1974 Bill Clinton—1999

Recent Case Studies:

Richard Nixon—1974

Nixon Background:

VP for Eisenhower in the 1950’s Ran against JFK in 1960—Had the

election won until the end—”TV Debates”

Leaves politics—home to California Talked into running again in 1968

Nixon Notes

War in Vietnam a huge issue in campaign Nixon wants, “Peace with Honor” Promises removal of troops from

Vietnam War winding down leading into the

election of 1972 Nixon is the overwhelming favorite

Nixon Notes

Election of 1972—Democrats self destructing. Republicans knew their every move.

Top Democratic candidates all seem to fall apart once they gain any momentum.

In the end, George McGovern from SD ends up being the top candidate for Dem’s.

Then comes the “Watergate Break-in”

Watergate Break-in:

June 1972 Break in at the Democratic National

Committee headquarters. How they are caught: Years that follow are trouble for Nixon—

starts with Spiro Agnew Adds Gerald Ford as VP

Who was involved?

Washington Post Reporters in Court following a drug case.

“Woodward and Berstein” Notice White House Lawyers in same

courtroom pleading out case for burglars.

Election of 1972 goes off without notice—Nixon vs. McGovern from SD!

Reporters follow their leads:

Evidence Follows up the chain of command all the way to Nixon.

Two years of trials, hearings, firings, Top White House people going to Jail.

End For Nixon

White House Tapes ordered to court Nixon at first refuses—finally gives them up—18

minutes missing. “Saturday Night Massacre” Nixon fires top aids and

prosecutor Archibald Cox. Impeachment rumored on Capital Hill. Multiple Articles of Impeachment argued—as many

as 17 different charges pending against Nixon. Resigns August 1974.

Clinton Impeachment

“Whitewater” Whitewater, not Watergate! Investigation into improper actions while

as Governor of Arkansas. Hillary and Bill Clinton involved. Question was—Who all is involved, and

to what degree?

Bill Clinton Background:

Whitewater Case

After being elected in 1992, investigation starts in 1994 about improper activity.

“Whitewater” land company. Improper/Insider holdings while as

Governor.

Congress Moves to Investigate:

Appoints: Ken Starr

Deep investigation into all issues while as Governor.

What did he find?

No evidence of wrong doing in Whitewater.

Deals were made, no evidence against Bill or Hillary.

Did find questions of sexual misconduct while as Governor.

Starr starts to dig.

Starr uncovers Monica Lewinsky

Starr’s Report:

Has Lewinsky on tape admitting affair. Clinton denies misconduct in front of

Grand Jury. Starr breaks the case Government moves toward

impeachment

Articles of Impeachment

Two Articles of Impeachment

1) Lying under oath

2) Obstruction of Justice.

Clinton Impeached!

Goes to Trial for Removal:

Need Two Thirds vote for removal: 67/100Get 50/100 on one voteGet 41/100 on the otherClinton stays as President

Whitewater Final Story:

Starr commission fades away Clinton finishes out 2nd term Record popularity rating—near 75% of

all Americans

The Executive Branch(aka The Bureaucracy)

Executive Office of the President “The West Wing”…

The Cabinet Secretaries of…

Independent Agencies From the CIA to the Postal Service…

The Executive Office of the President (EOP)

The President’s closest Advisors who work in the west wing of the White House Chief of Staff: most powerful in White House Press Secretary: speaks to the press on behalf of the

President every day Several Councils and groups, including:

National Security Council Office of Management and Budget

Most powerful and critical office in the EOP for the President. This White House Office contains the President’s top advisors. The Chief of Staff is the most powerful.

National Security Council

Advise the President on all matters dealing with the nation’s security President Vice President Secretaries of State, Treasury and

Defense Head of the military’s Joint Chiefs

of Staff Director of National Intelligence

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The OMB prepares the federal budget, which the President presents to Congress

The OMB oversees that the spending is carried out properly Based on a ‘fiscal year’ (a year that doesn’t follow the

calendar) US Govt. fiscal year is October-September

Unit 3: The Executive Branch

Documents

Transcript of Unit 3: The Executive Branch