The Executive Branch Chapter 9

Term of Office Elected for one term of 4 yearsElected for one term of 4 years Must run for reelectionMust run for reelection No president may hold office for more than 2 termsNo president may hold office for more than 2 terms

Limited Power The President cannot make laws but can only carry out those laws made by CongressThe President cannot make laws but can only carry out those laws made by Congress Congress must approve many presidential decisionsCongress must approve many presidential decisions

Qualifications and Salary Must be 35 years oldMust be 35 years old Natural-born citizen of the United StatesNatural-born citizen of the United States Must have lived in the United States for 14 yearsMust have lived in the United States for 14 years Salary is set by CongressSalary is set by Congress Currently is: $Currently is: $

Roles of the Presidency The Framers did not describe exactly how the President should fulfill the duties of this new officeThe Framers did not describe exactly how the President should fulfill the duties of this new office Throughout the years the roles have been more clearly definedThroughout the years the roles have been more clearly defined

Chief Executive Head of the executive branchHead of the executive branch The president makes sure laws are being carried outThe president makes sure laws are being carried out The President only makes broad decisions, leaving the details to other officialsThe President only makes broad decisions, leaving the details to other officials The President can also issue an executive order, which are rules and regulations that governments must followThe President can also issue an executive order, which are rules and regulations that governments must follow The President cannot violate the constitution or laws passed by CongressThe President cannot violate the constitution or laws passed by Congress As chief executive, the President also appoints about 4,000 executive branch officialsAs chief executive, the President also appoints about 4,000 executive branch officials Congress must approve many top appointmentsCongress must approve many top appointments

Commander in Chief Leader of the armed forcesLeader of the armed forces Expected to set military goals and approve military tacticsExpected to set military goals and approve military tactics Try to stay out of day to day operationsTry to stay out of day to day operations

Chief Diplomat The most important representative of the United StatesThe most important representative of the United States Leads in making foreign policy - the set of plans for guiding our nation’s relationship with other countriesLeads in making foreign policy - the set of plans for guiding our nation’s relationship with other countries The President appoints ambassadors - the officials representatives to foreign governmentsThe President appoints ambassadors - the officials representatives to foreign governments Can also make executive agreements - agreements with other countries hat do not need Senate approvalCan also make executive agreements - agreements with other countries hat do not need Senate approval

Legislative Leader The President has power to influences what laws will be and how they are enforcedThe President has power to influences what laws will be and how they are enforced Congress is expected to condenser the President’s ideas and not act alone in making lawsCongress is expected to condenser the President’s ideas and not act alone in making laws The President helps set domestic policy - a set of plans for dealing with national problemsThe President helps set domestic policy - a set of plans for dealing with national problems

Judicial Powers The President chooses Supreme Court justices and other federal judgesThe President chooses Supreme Court justices and other federal judges The Senate must confirm the appointmentsThe Senate must confirm the appointments The President may limit the power of the judicial branch by putting off or reducing the punishment of someone convicted of a crime in federal courtsThe President may limit the power of the judicial branch by putting off or reducing the punishment of someone convicted of a crime in federal courts Can give a pardon, a release from punishmentCan give a pardon, a release from punishment

The White House Staff Bureaucracy - an organization of government departments, agencies, and offices Administration - a team of executive branch officials Staff gives advice and information to help aid the President’s decisions Includes a chief of staff, key advisors, press secretaries legal experts, speechwriters, office workers, and researchers

Special Advisory Groups Groups that help the President make decisions on domestic and foreign policyGroups that help the President make decisions on domestic and foreign policy Examples: Office of Management and Budge (OMB) and National Security Council (NSC)Examples: Office of Management and Budge (OMB) and National Security Council (NSC)

The Vice PResident The President decides what the Vice President will doThe President decides what the Vice President will do If the President dies or leaves the office, the Vice President may become PresidentIf the President dies or leaves the office, the Vice President may become President May serve as “acting President” if the President falls seriously illMay serve as “acting President” if the President falls seriously ill

The Cabinet/Executive Departments The number of departments has grown over the years from 3 to 15The number of departments has grown over the years from 3 to 15 They do much of the work connected with carrying out the nation’s laws and running government programsThey do much of the work connected with carrying out the nation’s laws and running government programs The President appoints the head of each executive departmentThe President appoints the head of each executive department The Senate must approveThe Senate must approve The head of the Department of Justice is the Attorney General, the others heads are know as “Secretaries”The head of the Department of Justice is the Attorney General, the others heads are know as “Secretaries” Cabinet - an important group of policy advisors to the President

Regulatory Commissions The executive departments do not carry out all the duties of today’s executive branchThe executive departments do not carry out all the duties of today’s executive branch Many tasks are carried out by approximately 60 independent agenciesMany tasks are carried out by approximately 60 independent agencies There are three types of agencies:There are three types of agencies: 1.Executive Agencies 2.Regulatory Commissions 3.Government Corporations

Freedom to Take Action Treaties Treaties - formal agreements between nations The Senate may reject any treaty, but once the President has committed the United States to a treaty, it is hard for the Senate to say no Executive Privilege - the right some information secret from Congress and the courts

Presidential Power Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase bought Louisiana Territory for $15 million and doubled the size of the United States Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase bought Louisiana Territory for $15 million and doubled the size of the United States Did he have the power the buy the territory?Did he have the power the buy the territory? Madison believed that the President he had the right to make treaties and that gave him the right to buy the territoryMadison believed that the President he had the right to make treaties and that gave him the right to buy the territory Truman and the Steel Mills- in 1952 steelworks said they would not work unless certain demands were met, but the steel-mill owners would not agree to their demands. President Truman knew that steel was needed to make weapons for the soldiers in Korea Truman and the Steel Mills- in 1952 steelworks said they would not work unless certain demands were met, but the steel-mill owners would not agree to their demands. President Truman knew that steel was needed to make weapons for the soldiers in Korea He put the Secretary of Commerce in control of the mills, the steel companies said that the President had no right to take control of private property, but Truman said he was acting as commander in chiefHe put the Secretary of Commerce in control of the mills, the steel companies said that the President had no right to take control of private property, but Truman said he was acting as commander in chief Nixon and Watergate- Nixon and member of his staff were accused of covering up White House involvement in a 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the Watergate office Nixon and Watergate- Nixon and member of his staff were accused of covering up White House involvement in a 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the Watergate office When the Senate asked to examine the tapes Nixon refused to release them, claiming executive privilegeWhen the Senate asked to examine the tapes Nixon refused to release them, claiming executive privilege