Unit 4a: The Unit 4a: The Executive BranchExecutive Branch

From Washington to Obama From Washington to Obama and beyond….and beyond….

Some presidential Some presidential trivia…trivia…

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

Henry Harrison (105 minutes)Henry Harrison (105 minutes) Shortest Term: William Henry Harrison Shortest Term: William Henry Harrison

(32 days)(32 days) Longest Term: Franklin Roosevelt (12 Longest Term: Franklin Roosevelt (12

years)years) Tallest: Abraham Lincoln (6 feet, 4 inches)Tallest: Abraham Lincoln (6 feet, 4 inches)

Trivia, continued….Trivia, continued….

The ‘Teddy Bear’ was named for The ‘Teddy Bear’ was named for Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt

Largest feet: Warren Harding (Size Largest feet: Warren Harding (Size 14)14)

John F. Kennedy was the first Roman John F. Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic PresidentCatholic President

Father-Son combos: John Adams and Father-Son combos: John Adams and John Quincy Adams and George H.W. John Quincy Adams and George H.W. Bush and George W. BushBush and George W. Bush

…….and more trivia…..and more trivia….

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

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

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

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

The Roles of the The Roles of the PresidentPresident

Chief of StateChief of State Chief ExecutiveChief Executive Chief AdministratorChief Administrator Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief Chief LegislatorChief Legislator Chief of PartyChief of Party Chief CitizenChief Citizen

Chief of StateChief of State

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

representative of their dignity and representative of their dignity and majesty”majesty”

Chief ExecutiveChief Executive

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

Chief AdministratorChief Administrator

Head of Head of governmegovernment officesnt offices 2.7 2.7

million million employeeemployeess

2.5 2.5 trillion trillion dollar dollar budgetbudget

Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat

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

Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief

The President is the head of the The President is the head of the armed forcesarmed forces The Constitution says this person must The Constitution says this person must

be a civilian and not an active military be a civilian and not an active military membermember Washington, Grant, EisenhowerWashington, Grant, Eisenhower

Chief LegislatorChief Legislator

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

Chief of PartyChief of Party

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

ConstitutionConstitution

Chief CitizenChief Citizen

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

President Barack ObamaPresident Barack Obama Born August 4Born August 4thth, 1961., 1961. Columbia University Graduate.Columbia University Graduate. Law Degree from Harvard Law Degree from Harvard

University.University. Civil Rights attorney in Civil Rights attorney in

Chicago.Chicago. Served 3 terms in the Illinois Served 3 terms in the Illinois

Senate from 1997 – 2004.Senate from 1997 – 2004. Married with 2 children.Married with 2 children. Elected as the United States’ Elected as the United States’

first African American first African American President. President.

4444thth President President

Term and CompensationTerm and Compensation

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

repeal of the 22repeal of the 22ndnd Amendment. What do Amendment. What do you think?you think?

So you want to be So you want to be President, eh…President, eh…

What are the What are the formal formal qualifications?qualifications? A “natural born A “natural born

citizen” of the citizen” of the United StatesUnited States

Be at least 35 Be at least 35 years of ageyears of age

14 years a 14 years a resident within the resident within the United StatesUnited States

At least 100 million At least 100 million Americans meet Americans meet these these requirements! requirements!

$$$$$$

1789: $25,0001789: $25,000 2011: $400,000 + $50,000/yr 2011: $400,000 + $50,000/yr

expensesexpenses A nice house, big staff, protection, A nice house, big staff, protection,

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

Are you sure you want to be Are you sure you want to be President?President?

The Vice PresidentThe Vice President

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

--- John Adams--- John Adams

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

--- John Nance --- John Nance GarnerGarner

The Vice PresidencyThe Vice Presidency

Vice President must meet all the same Vice President must meet all the same qualifications as the Presidentqualifications as the President

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

Duties: Presides over Senate (breaks Duties: Presides over Senate (breaks ties)ties)

and helps to decide if the President is and helps to decide if the President is incapacitatedincapacitated

Vice President Joe BidenVice President Joe Biden Born November 20Born November 20thth, 1942 in , 1942 in

Scranton, PA.Scranton, PA. US Senator from Delaware US Senator from Delaware

from 1973 – 2008.from 1973 – 2008. Attended the University of Attended the University of

Delaware.Delaware. Doctorate from Syracuse Doctorate from Syracuse

University.University. Became the 47Became the 47thth Vice Vice

President of the United President of the United States on January 20States on January 20thth, 2008., 2008.

Order of Succession to the Order of Succession to the PresidencyPresidency

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 The Powers of the PresidentPresident

1.1. VetoVeto Bills from Congress Bills from Congress2.2. Call Congress into Call Congress into special sessionspecial session3.3. Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief of the Armed of the Armed

ForcesForces4.4. PardonPardon federal criminals federal criminals5.5. Make Make treatiestreaties with other countries (with with other countries (with

Senate approval)Senate approval)6.6. AppointAppoint ambassadors, federal court ambassadors, federal court

judges, Supreme Court justices, top judges, Supreme Court justices, top government officials (all with Senate government officials (all with Senate approval)approval)

The State of the UnionThe State of the Union The Constitution The Constitution requiresrequires that the that the

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

Executive OrdersExecutive Orders

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

Only Congress can make lawsOnly Congress can make laws President can issue Executive Orders to President can issue Executive Orders to

ensure laws are ensure laws are being carried out properlybeing carried out properly

Criminal MattersCriminal Matters

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

1.1. PardonPardon ~ a declaration of forgiveness ~ a declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment (Ex: and freedom from punishment (Ex: Richard Nixon was pardoned by Gerald Richard Nixon was pardoned by Gerald Ford)Ford)

2.2. AmnestyAmnesty ~ a pardon toward a group of ~ a pardon toward a group of people (Ex: Jimmy Carter gave amnesty to people (Ex: Jimmy Carter gave amnesty to Vietnam era draft dodgers)Vietnam era draft dodgers)

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

Military and War PowersMilitary and War Powers

Only Only CongressCongress has the power to declare has the power to declare WarWar

Only the Only the PresidentPresident has the power to has the power to order American troops into battleorder American troops into battle The Five ‘Declared Wars’:The Five ‘Declared Wars’:

The War of 1812, Mexican American War, Spanish The War of 1812, Mexican American War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War IIAmerican War, World War I, World War II

Many military actions (including Vietnam and the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan) have been authorized by Congress without a formal declaration of war

Why has the President’s Why has the President’s power grown so much in power grown so much in

the past 100 years?the past 100 years? The unity of the PresidencyThe unity of the Presidency

One President, 535 in CongressOne President, 535 in Congress As the nation becomes more complex, As the nation becomes more complex,

the executive branch has had to take the executive branch has had to take on more powerson more powers

Crisis PointsCrisis Points War, the Depression, natural disasters, War, the Depression, natural disasters,

terrorismterrorism Mass mediaMass media

The President is one a truly ‘public’ figureThe President is one a truly ‘public’ figure

The Executive BranchThe Executive Branch(aka The Bureaucracy)(aka The Bureaucracy)

Executive Office of the PresidentExecutive Office of the President ““The West Wing”…The West Wing”…

The CabinetThe Cabinet Secretaries of…Secretaries of…

Independent AgenciesIndependent Agencies From the CIA to the Postal Service…From the CIA to the Postal Service…

The Executive Office of the The Executive Office of the President (EOP)President (EOP)

The President’s closest Advisors who The President’s closest Advisors who work in the west wing of the White work in the west wing of the White HouseHouse Chief of Staff: most powerful in White Chief of Staff: most powerful in White

HouseHouse Press Secretary: speaks to the press on Press Secretary: speaks to the press on

behalf of the President every daybehalf of the President every day Several Councils and groups, including:Several Councils and groups, including:

National Security CouncilNational Security Council Office of Management and BudgetOffice 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 National Security CouncilCouncil

Advise the President on Advise the President on all matters dealing with all matters dealing with the nation’s securitythe nation’s security PresidentPresident Vice PresidentVice President Secretaries of State, Secretaries of State,

Treasury and DefenseTreasury and Defense Head of the military’s Head of the military’s

Joint Chiefs of StaffJoint Chiefs of Staff Director of National Director of National

IntelligenceIntelligence

Office of Management and Office of Management and Budget (OMB)Budget (OMB)

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

The OMB oversees that the spending The OMB oversees that the spending is carried out properlyis carried out properly Based on a ‘fiscal year’ (a year that Based on a ‘fiscal year’ (a year that

doesn’t follow the calendar)doesn’t follow the calendar) US Govt. fiscal year is October-SeptemberUS Govt. fiscal year is October-September

The CabinetThe Cabinet

15 specialized departments15 specialized departments Leaders are appointed by the President Leaders are appointed by the President

and confirmed by the Senateand confirmed by the Senate The President can fire Cabinet The President can fire Cabinet

membersmembers Cabinet members are there to advise Cabinet members are there to advise

the President in their area. They are the President in their area. They are also in line for succession to the also in line for succession to the PresidencyPresidency

Cabinet DepartmentsCabinet Departments State – foreign policyState – foreign policy Treasury - $ and taxes- Treasury - $ and taxes-

IRSIRS Defense – militaryDefense – military Justice – Enforce fed Justice – Enforce fed

law- prisonslaw- prisons Interior – public lands Interior – public lands

& parks& parks Agriculture – farm and Agriculture – farm and

USDA- food stampsUSDA- food stamps Commerce – Census, Commerce – Census,

trademarks, tradetrademarks, trade Labor – workplace Labor – workplace

safety, enforces labor safety, enforces labor laws- unemploymentlaws- unemployment

Cabinet Departments Cabinet Departments (cont.)(cont.) Health and Human Health and Human

Services – health Services – health research, FDA, Medicare research, FDA, Medicare and Medicaidand Medicaid

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

Transportation – Transportation – highways, mass transithighways, mass transit

Energy – Nuclear plants, Energy – Nuclear plants, energy researchenergy research

Education – aid to Education – aid to schools, educational schools, educational researchresearch

Veterans Affairs – benefits Veterans Affairs – benefits for Veteransfor Veterans

Homeland Security – Homeland Security – Borders, preparedness Borders, preparedness and response, FEMAand response, FEMA

Department of StateDepartment of State

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

Department of JusticeDepartment of Justice

- Eric Holder is the first African American Attorney General

- This is the only position not known as a ‘Secretary’

- These are the attorneys who prosecute federal crimes

Independent AgenciesIndependent Agencies

These agencies are not part of the These agencies are not part of the President’s cabinet. They operate President’s cabinet. They operate independently of who is Presidentindependently of who is President Office of Personnel ManagementOffice of Personnel Management NASANASA CIACIA FCCFCC USPSUSPS

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College

States’ Electoral votes are based on States’ Electoral votes are based on number of Reps + number of Senatorsnumber of Reps + number of Senators Ex: NC has 13 Reps and 2 Senators = 15 Ex: NC has 13 Reps and 2 Senators = 15

Electoral VotesElectoral Votes The candidate who gains the majority The candidate who gains the majority

vote in the state gets ALL of that vote in the state gets ALL of that state’s Electoral votesstate’s Electoral votes

A candidate needs 270 to gain the A candidate needs 270 to gain the Presidency out of 535 totalPresidency out of 535 total

Electoral Map of 2008Electoral Map of 2008

Obama: 365 Electoral Votes, 53% of popular vote

McCain: 173 Electoral Votes, 46% of popular vote

Election of 2000Election of 2000

Electoral Vote Popular Vote

Bush: 271 50,456,002

Gore: 266 50,999,897