Overview of the Executive Branch, Qualifications for, and Enumerated Powers of the Presidency Libertyville HS

Overview of the Executive Branch What is the purpose of the Executive Branch? (Brainstorm!) –Enforce laws –Run government –Keep the peace –Engage in foreign policy How does the Executive Branch carry out its purpose? (Brainstorm!) –Federal bureaucracy –Persuasion of people, Congress 2

Overview of the Executive Branch What are the roles the President plays? –Lead country –Lead military –Act as chief executive –Chief diplomat –Head of political party –Chief citizen –Etc. How does the President do his / her job? –By being elected –Through persuasion of people –Through persuasion of Congress –Formal Powers from Constitution –Informal Powers, from tradition 3

Overview of the Executive Branch With what branch does the President most often compete to run the government? –Legislative Branch! Why?!?! –Power struggle –Conflict built in to system (checks / balances) 4

Constitutional Qualifications for President / VP President –Age? 35 years of age –Born where? Natural born citizen –Residency requirement? Yes – 14 years in USA Vice President? –Same as president (20 th Am)20 th Am –Additionally, VP cannot be from same state as President 5

Enumerated Powers of President: C in C Formal Power? President designated Commander in Chief of Armed Services Executive / Congressional division of war power –Congress’ power = declare war, fund it –If Congress declares war, Pres gets special wartime powers Suspension of habeus corpus Right to direct troops without interference from Congress 6

Enumerated Powers of President: Appointment Formal Power? Power to select high ranking members of Executive Branch –Cabinet members –Federal judges –Ambassadors Checked by Senate power to advise and consent to presidential appointments –”Hold” of nominee –Filibuster available, as well “Recess appointment” –If congress goes into recess (vacation or adjournment) President may appoint person to position without approval of Senate –Person holds position until end of next congressional term 7

Enumerated Powers of President: Reporting Formal Power? Power to require reports from executive officers, cabinet members Establishes president’s authority over Executive Branch Makes president the Chief Executive of the US Government 8

Enumerated Powers of President: Pardons Formal Power? Pardon: release person from jail or prison Reprieve: relieve someone of death sentence Check / balance on the Judicial Branch Examples –Bill Clinton’s list of Pardonslist of Pardons –George W. Bush’s list of Pardonslist of Pardons –Barack Obama’s statistical abstract of his PardonsPardons 9

Enumerated Powers of President: Treaties Formal Power? President, through the State Department, has authority to enter into treaties with foreign governments Check / balance by Senate – 2/3 vote required to ratify treaty Ratified treaties are treated just like acts of Congress 10

Enumerated Powers of President: Reception Formal Power? Power to receive ambassadors from other countries President is the face of America to the rest of the world Power to receive ambassadors is also the power to recognize the legitimate government of a country 11

Enumerated Powers of President: Convening Formal Power? President empowered to give State of the Union to joint session of Congress – why? –President empowered to advance his legislative agenda in Congress Presidential power allows convening of either chamber of Congress –Convene to consider matters of importance to President –House has never been convened –Senate has been convened dozens of times – why? (think of what Senate does to presidential appointments…) 12