The Executive Branch Unit Four

History of the Executive Branch Did not exist under the Articles of Confederation Americans wanted one elected person other countries could identify and respect They didn’t want someone who would be more powerful than everyone else

Electing a President Able to serve two successive four- year terms (per the 22nd Amendment in 1951) The delegates of the Constitutional Convention created the Electoral College They wanted only wise, politically experienced citizens electing the president

Minimum Qualifications Be a natural-born citizen (or born to American citizens in a foreign country) Be at least 35 years old Have lived in the US for at least 14 years (not necessarily right before the election)

Presidential Perks Earns $400,000 a year (Washington earned $25,000) Lives in the White House—rent free Travels for free via Air Force One Receives just over $200,000 each year after leaving office, plus insurance, Secret Service protection, and money to staff an office (per the Former Presidents Act of 1958)

Vice Presidential Perks This salary is connected to the cost of living, and comparable to other executives with federal jobs; Biden earns just over $230,000 a year (John Adams earned $5000) In 1974, Congress selected a house to serve as the Vice President’s residence Vice Presidents draw a pension through Congress after serving as the President of the Senate

Enumerated Presidential Powers enumerated powers refer to those specifically mentioned in the Constitution Command the Armed Forces Commission armed forces officers Pardon those guilty of some federal crimes Make treaties Appoint ambassadors Receive ambassadors and other public ministers

More Enumerated Powers Appoint Supreme Court justices Appoint people to jobs within the federal government Recommend legislation to Congress Convene one or both houses of Congress Enforce the laws that Congress has passed

Inherent Presidential Powers Powers the president uses that aren’t in the Constitution, but are necessary to get the job done Executive Order: to help interpret or carry out specific laws Executive Privilege: the right to keep executive branch information solely within the executive branch Executive Agreements: meet with foreign leaders and can create international agreements Emergency Powers: during times of crisis

Limitations of Presidential Power We have checks and balances between branches The media continuously reports on the president’s actions Active citizen participation

Removing a President The Constitution establishes a process to impeach (bring charges against) and remove the president for “treason, bribery, or other crimes and misdemeanors” Impeachment proceedings have been directed at three presidents Andrew Johnson (acquitted) Richard Nixon (resigned before he could be impeached) Bill Clinton (acquitted)

The Process A majority of the members of the House of Representatives must vote to impeach The Senate conducts the trial of the president; the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides All senators vote If 2/3 vote guilty, the vice president becomes president

The 25th Amendment Allows the Vice President to choose his own VP should he/she become president (due to death, assassination, impeachment, etc.) Included provisions for determining disability of a president, when power shifts to the VP, and how the president may regain power

VPs that Became President 1841-William Henry Harrison died in office, VP John Tyler became president 1850-Zachary Taylor died in office, VP Millard Fillmore became president 1865-Lincoln assassinated, VP Andrew Johnson became president 1881-James Garfield assassinated, VP Chester Arthur became president 1901-William McKinley assassinated, VP Teddy Roosevelt became president 1923-Warren Harding died in office, VP Calvin Coolidge became president 1945-Franklin Roosevelt died in office, VP Harry Truman became president 1963-JFK was assassinated, VP L.B. Johnson became president 1974-Nixon resigned, VP Ford became president

Line of Succession Secretary of Labor Vice President Should something happen to the President, there is a specific hierarchy according to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 Secretary of Labor Secretary of Health and Human Resources Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Energy Secretary of Education Secretary of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Homeland Security Vice President Speaker of the House Senate President Pro-Tempore Secretary of State Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General Secretary of Interior Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Commerce

The Executive Bureaucracy Presidents rely on aides, advisors, and entire agencies for help Divided into over 100 agencies, departments, boards, and commissions Has more than three million employees Divided into two main parts Executive Office of the President White House Office Staff Cabinet

Executive Office of the President Established in 1939, has 15 staff agencies to help the President Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Prepares and oversees the executive budget Council of Economic Advisors Created by the Employment Act of 1946 Prepares the annual economic report to Congress National Security Council (NSC) Created in 1947 Develops policy for national security and foreign affairs White House Office Staff

White House Office Staff Over 150 aides and advisors Work in the West Wing of the White House Help with daily affairs—scheduling, appointments, and public relations

The Cabinet A multi-agency advisory council to the President Heads of the agencies are called secretaries (except the head of the Department of Justice—that’s the Attorney General) The Agencies: Justice State Treasury Interior Agriculture Commerce Labor Defense Health and Human Services Housing and Urban Development Transportation Energy Education Veterans’ Affairs Homeland Security