UNIT 4: the EXECUTIVE BRANCH Presidential Powers
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UNIT 4: THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH p. 24A-B Presidential Powers The Constitution says surprisingly little about presidential powers 1. Military Powers: Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces 2. Executive Powers: appoints heads of executive departments (Especially his cabinet and other top officials) 3. Foreign Policy Powers: the president makes treaties, meets with heads of state, hosts foreign officials, and appoint ambassadors to represent the U.S. in foreign nations 1 Presidential Powers 4. Judicial powers: appoints federal court judges and pardons people convicted of federal crimes 5. Legislative Powers: Most important job as the president is to ensure that the laws are “faithfully executed” Delivers annual State of the Union message to Congress Proposes legislation Presidential Terms Originally, the Constitution did not specify term limits, but Washington set a precedent of two terms After FDR broke that tradition and was elected for four terms, that changed nd 22 Amendment (1951)- two terms/10 years 2 It’s Good to be Chief! $400,000 a year plus $100,000 for expenses Air Force One, planes, helicopters, and limou sines Free medical, dental and health care Live in the White House Have a staff to cook, clean, and do whatever they need or want Lifet ime pension Air Force One Facts There are two planes in this fleet “While on the aircraft, the PresidentPresident and staffstaff have access to a full range of services, including communications systems, secure and non-secure voice, fax and data communications, along with access to photocopying, printing, and word processing.” 85 telephones, 19 televisions, in-flight refueling, freezer holds about 2,000 meals, ready to operate medical facility and an on- board doctor 3 4 Qualifications 1. NATURAL born citizen 2. At least 35 years old 3. Resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years ***other, unwritten qualifications – political experience, best chances are to have been a state senator or state governor, access to serious money and be a moderate on most issues ***white, male, wealthy, married, and Protestant also seems to be typical qualifications! Presidential Succession 4 presidents have died by bullets, 4 have died of natural causes while in office th 25 Amendment (1967) – seen as necessary after JFK’s assassination in 1963 – this amendment sets forth that the VP becomes pres if pres dies and that the pres can nominate a VP if the VP resigns or dies First used during Nixon’s term when his Vice President resigned in 1973 and he nominated Gerald Ford as his V.P. 5 Presidential Succession (order) Vice President Attorney General SkSpeaker of the House Secretary of the IIinterior President pro tempore of Secretary of Agriculture the Senate Secretary of Commerce Secretary of State Secretary of Labor Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of Health & Secretary of Defense Human Services What does the VP do? 1. President of the Senate 2. He helps decide whether the president is disabled and acts as president in cases when this happens (health reasons, was shot, etc.) 3. Mostly, his duties have depended on what the president gives him to do! 6 Electing the President Let’s watch a video on the Electoral College! Electoral College- compromise agreed on at the Constitutional Convention Each state chooses electors (as many as Representatives and Senators) that cast votes for the president –the president is NOT popularly elected 12th Amendment- parties must cast separate ballots for president and vice president Reflection Questions from Video What is the constitutional basis for the Electoral College and why was the system put in place? What is the common strategy to get to 270, and what role do “safe” and “swing” states play? How is a president chosen when none of the candidates receives a majority of the electoral college vote? Why did the 2000 election reenergize critique of the Electoral College? Are you satisfied with the current system? 7 The Electoral College Today In reality, a vote for the Republican candidate is a vote for a repp(ublican elector (there are a total of 538 electors) The District of Columbia gets 3 electors In all states except Maine and Nebraska it is a winner-take-all system Election of president: the Tuesday after the first Monday in November Electoral College does not meet until the Monday after the second Wednesday in December Only a very few electors have not gone with the state’s wishes Election 2008 8 Inauguration Occurs at noon on January 20th in the year following the presidential election The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court administers the Oath of Office The Cabinet Established to act as advisors to the president Each nominee for Secretary of each cabinet position must be approved by the Senate Secretaries need to show geographic balance, as well as gender and race representation They need to be politically acceptable to all, but political patronage and loyalty are also consideration http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet 9 The Executive Office The nine areas of the Executive Office provide more direct advice to the president, in many cases, than his cabinet These are to help organize and execute the many programs of the executive who employ experts in many complex fields, like science White House Staff These are appointed WITHOUT consent from the Senate These tend to be long supporters/friends of the president chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, White House counsel and the press secretary (think West Wing) The staff range from specialists in certain areas to political strategists and to see that the president’s wishes are carried out 10 The President’s Cabinet Defense – Chuck Hagel State – JhJohn Kerry Treasury – Jack Lew Interior – Sally Jewell Justice – Attorney General Eric Holder Agriculture – Thomas Vilsack Commerce – Rebecca Blank Labor – Seth Harris The President’s Cabinet HUD – Shaun Donovan TiTransportation – Ray LHdLaHood Energy – Steven Chu Health and Human Services – Kathleen Sebelius Education – Arne Duncan Veterans Affairs – Eric Shinseki Homeland Security – Jeh Johnson 11.