The Executive Branch

Powers of the President  Commander in Chief  Appointments & Nominations Appoints heads of executive departments Nominates Federal Judges  Foreign Policy Power to Make Treaties  Ensures that the laws are “faithfully executed”  Sets the Domestic Policy Agenda Proposes legislation to Congress Delivers a “State of the Union” Address

Congressional Limits on Presidential Power  Congressional Override 2/3 of both Houses  Confirmation power Appointments and nominations must be confirmed by the Senate Treaties must also be confirmed  Power of the Purse  Power to Impeach

Term & Salary  Term Length: 4 years  Maximum Number of Terms: 2 22nd Amendment  Salary: $400,000 per year Plus, $100,000 Travel Allowance Compensation is determined by Congress

Qualifications  Constitutional Requirements: Natural Born Citizen of the U.S. Resident of the U.S. for 14 Years 35 Years Old  Other qualifications?

Qualifications (cont.)  Informal Requirements: Government Experience Moderate Political Beliefs $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ WASP (until 2008)

Presidential Succession  25th Amendment (Ratified in 1967) Establishes the order of presidential succession;  President  Vice President  Speaker of the House  President Pro Tem of the Senate  Secretary of State V.P. takes over when Pres. is disabled

Impeachment  Impeach - To remove from public office  According to the Constitution, the President may be impeached for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” The House of Representatives votes whether or not to impeach; The Senate conducts the impeachment trial; The Chief Justice presides over a presidential impeachment.

The Vice President  Constitutional Duties: Presides over the Senate and votes when there is a tie; Helps determine if the President is disabled and takes over when he is.  Other duties are delegated to the V.P. by the President.

The Cabinet  Congress is given the power to establish executive departments (ex. Dept. of State, Dept. of Treasury) President has the power to appoint the heads (known as Secretaries) of these departments; The Senate must confirm these appointments.  The V.P., 14 Dept. Secretaries and other top executive officials make up the President’s cabinet. The role of the Cabinet is to serve as political advisors to the President.

Cabinet Departments  State Department - handles diplomatic relations with foreign nations and sets foreign policy;  Defense Department - Runs the military and is in charge of national defense;  Treasury Department - In charge of regulating nation’s finances by setting both monetary and fiscal policy; Includes the SEC, Bureau of Engraving & Printing, U.S. Mint, IRS, and Federal Reserve

Cabinet Departments cont.  Justice Department - Oversees the nation’s legal affairs; The head of the department is called the Attorney General Includes the FBI, DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office  Department of Homeland Security - responsible for protecting the U.S. from terrorist attack and responding to natural disasters Includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol and FEMA