•THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS POWERS OVER BOTH THE LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL
BRANCHES. THIS SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES ENSURES THAT NO GROUP BECOMES TOO POWERFUL.
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH: CHECKS AND BALANCES
•EXECUTIVE BRANCH POWERS OVER LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
1. VETOES ACTS OF CONGRESS 2. CAN CALL CONGRESS INTO A SPECIAL SESSION–
•DECEMBER 8, 1941—ROOSEVELT DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DECLARE WAR AGAINST JAPAN AFTER THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR. HE NEEDED CONGRESS.
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH: CHECKS AND BALANCES
•EXECUTIVE BRANCH POWERS OVER JUDICIAL BRANCH
2. THE PRESIDENT CAN GRANT REPRIEVES OR PARDONS .
1. APPOINTS SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.
•AFTER THE WATERGATE SCANDAL , RATHER
•THE PRESIDENT CAN “INFLUENCE” THE COURT
THAN HAVE THE COUNTRY DRAGGED DEEPER
BY SELECTING A CHOOSING A JUDGE THAT CARRIES THE SAME POLITICAL IDEALS.
INTO CRISIS. PRESIDENT FORD PARDONED THE RECENTLY RESIGNED RICHARD NIXON FROM
•REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT =
FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES
REPUBLICAN JUDGE
CHECKS THAT LIMIT THE POWER OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
•LEGISLATIVE BRANCH POWERS OVER THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
• 1. SENATE APPROVES TREATIES AND APPOINTMENTS
• 2. CONGRESS CAN OVERRIDE VETOES • 3. IMPEACH A PRESIDENT
President Nixon resigning as President of the United States
CHECKS THAT LIMIT THE POWER OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
• JUDICIAL BRANCH POWERS OVER THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
• SUPREME COURT MAY RULE THAT EXECUTIVE ACTS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
•THE POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ARE DEFINED IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND THE CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA
•THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL CARRIES OUT THE LAWS.
•THIS INCLUDES (AMONG MANY RESPONSIBILITIES)-
•EXECUTING THE LAWS OF THE LAND •PREPARING THE ANNUAL BUDGET •APPOINTING CABINET OFFICERS, AND FEDERAL JUDGES
•OVERSEE THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY
THE PRESIDENT RECEIVES HELP FROM: Unlike the powers of the president, their responsibilities are not defined in the Constitution
VICE PRESIDENT
CABINET MEMBERS
HEADS OF EXECUTIVE AGENCIES
President of the United States
Vice President
Members of the Presidents cabinet> heads of the 15 executive departments Federal agencies –such as the National Security Council
Presidential Cabinet : Departments of: 1. State 2. Treasury 3. Defense 4. Justice 5. Interior 6. Agriculture 7. Labor 8. Health 9. Transportation 10. Energy 11. Education 12. Veterans affairs 13. Homeland Security 14. Housing and Urban Development 15. Commerce
PRESIDENCY: QUALIFICATIONS, TERMS AND BENEFITS QUALIFICATIONS
TERM OF OFFICE
NATIVE BORN CITIZEN
ELECTED TO A 4 YEAR TERM
AT LEAST 35 YEARS OLD
NO TERM LIMITS SET IN THE U.S.
U.S. RESIDENT FOR 14 YEARS
CONSTITUTION
22 AMENDMENT SET A 2 TERM LIMIT.
BENEFITS $400,000 A YEAR PLUS $50,000 ALLOWANCE
USE OF AIR FORCE ONE AND A FLEET OF CARS AND HELICOPTERS
WHITE HOUSE AND CAMP DAVID
VICE-PRESIDENT: QUALIFICATIONS, DUTIES AND BENEFITS QUALIFICATIONS
DUTIES
BENEFITS
MUST MEET THE SAME
TAKES OVER IF THE PRESIDENT DIES
$186,300 ANNUALLY
QUALIFICATIONS AS THE PRESIDENT
OR IS REMOVED FROM OFFICE
ORDER OF PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION • • • •
VICE PRESIDENT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
PRESIDENT PRO-TEMPORE OF THE SENATE MEMBERS OF THE CABINET IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY WERE CREATED
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION AND AMENDMENTS
•8 U.S. PRESIDENTS HAVE DIED WHILE IN OFFICE.
•1 RESIGNED •IN EACH CASE, THE VICE PRESIDENT TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE AND BECAME
PRESIDENT AS PROVIDED BY THE CONSTITUTION .
•25TH AMENDMENT– ADOPTED IN 1967 •NEW PRESIDENT PICKS HIS VP
WILLIAM H. HARRISON, NATURAL CAUSES
John Tyler-Vice President
ZACHARY TAYLOR, NATURAL CAUSES
• MILLARD FILMORE: VICE PRESIDENT
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, ASSASSINATED
Andrew JohnsonVice-President
JAMES A. GARFIELD, ASSASSINATED
• CHESTER ARTHURVICE PRESIDENT
WILLIAM MCKINLEY, ASSASSINATED
THEODORE ROOSEVELTVICE PRESIDENT
WARREN HARDING, NATURAL CAUSES
• CALVIN COOLIDGE- VICE PRESIDENT
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, NATURAL CAUSES
• HARRY S. TRUMAN-VICE PRESIDENT
JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATED
• LYNDON JOHNSONVICE PRESIDENT
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
• COMMANDER IN CHIEF: COMMANDER OF ALL OF THE ARMED FORCES.
FDR’s selection of Dwight D Eisenhower as the Supreme commander of the Allied forces was a show of the presidents power
It is said that the president wears many “hats”-that is he has many roles.
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
• CHIEF LEGISLATOR: RECOMMENDS LAWS TO CONGRESS
• APPROVES/VETOES LAWS
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
• ECONOMIC PLANNER: THE BUDGET
PREPARES
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
• JUDICIAL POWERS: APPOINTS FEDERAL JUDGES
• PARDONS/REPRIEVES
Time to poke some fun at some of our past presidents who have pardoned some questionable choices
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
• POLITICAL PARTY LEADER: • LEADER OF HIS POLITICAL PARTY • HELPS THE PARTY RAISE $$$ • CAMPAIGN FOR PARTY MEMBERS
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
• FOREIGN POLICY LEADER: SEEKS FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
• MAKES TREATIES • APPOINTS AMBASSADORS
HOW DOES THE PRESIDENT INFLUENCE LAWMAKING
• PROPOSING LEGISLATION (GIVING CONGRESS IDEAS FOR LAWS)
• GIVING THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: Annual speech to Congress that is an important way for a President’s agenda to be communicated to the public and to Congress
HOW DOES THE PRESIDENT INFLUENCE LAWMAKING
• APPROVING OR VETOING BILLS • APPOINTING OFFICIALS TO CARRY OUT THE LAWS: The President appoints the heads of cabinet departments, independent agencies and regulatory commissions.
• APPEALS DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS
• CONGRESS HAS THE POWER TO ESTABLISH, REORGANIZE AND TO ELIMINATE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS
• EACH DEPARTMENT AS A SPECIFIC AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS (CABINET)
• HEADS OF THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS MAKE UP THE PRESIDENT’S CABINET
• NOT MENTIONED IN THE CONSTITUTION, BUT EVERY PRESIDENT HAS HAD A CABINET
• ADVISE THE PRESIDENT AND HELP IMPLEMENT FEDERAL LAWS
• TITLE OF MOST CABINET MEMBERS IS SECRETARY
• HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES AND REGULATORY COMMISSIONS
• CREATED BY CONGRESS • HELP KEEP THE GOVERNMENT AND THE ECONOMY RUNNING SMOOTHLY
• SEPARATE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE THEY PERFORM SPECIALIZED DUTIES
• HELP TO CARRY OUT FEDERAL LAWS • PROVIDE PUBLIC GOODS AND
•
SERVICES SUCH AS NATIONAL DEFENSE, HIGHWAYS AND THE POSTAL SERVICE ENFORCE FEDERAL LAWS
• ESTABLISH GUIDELINES THAT PROTECT HEALTH AND SAFETY
• OVERSEE THE WAY INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES DO BUSINESS
THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY
• FORMED BY THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
• 3 MILLION PEOPLE WORK IN THE BUREAUCRACY
• OPERATES UNDER HEAVY RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT CREATE “RED TAPE
