1. Executive Branch / Local Government Notes
Civics and Economics
KGMS

2. I. Branches of Government: Executive Branch
A. Article II of the U.S. Constitution sets up the Executive Branch of Government
B. The Executive Branch of Government carries out or enforces the laws of the nation
C. National Executive Branch
a) Made up of President/ Vice President
1. (45th) President is Donald Trump (R)
2. Vice President is Mike Pence (R)

3. President
Donald Trump
Vice President
Mike Pence

4. 1. 35 years old 2. Natural-born citizen 3. Lived in US for 14 years
D. Qualifications to hold office
1. 35 years old
2. Natural-born citizen
3. Lived in US for 14 years
Fun Facts:
Youngest President –Theodore Roosevelt (age 42),
The youngest president elected to office was John F. Kennedy (age 43 years, 236 days).
Oldest President – Ronald Reagan (69 years old)
First President Born in the United States-
Martin Van Buren

5. 1.Each Presidential Term is 4 years
E. Term Limit –
1.Each Presidential Term is 4 years
2. The 22nd amendment states that presidents can only be elected to 2 four year terms.
Fun Facts –
22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951.
Longest Serving President – Franklin D. Roosevelt (4 Terms)
Shortest Serving President - William Henry Harrison –(32 days in office)

6. 3. Other officials may participate if requested by the president.
F. Departments
1. Cabinet departments, agencies, and regulatory groups interpret and help with carrying out laws.
2. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General.
3. Other officials may participate if requested by the president.

7. Examples of Independent Agencies
G. Cabinet
1. Purpose – To advise the president.
2. Headed by the Secretaries of the 15 executive departments 
H. Independent Agencies
1. Created by Congress to help the President carry out the duties of the office, but are completely separate from departments.
Examples of Independent Agencies
CIA EPA FEC NASA

8. II: Functions of the Executive Branch
A. The President of the United States is the Chief Executive Officer of the nation
• Executes the law of the land
• Prepares the annual budget for congressional action
• Appoints cabinet officers, ambassadors, and federal judges
• Administers the federal bureaucracy

9. B. State of the Union Address
1. Article II, Section 3 - “He shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient."

10. 2. Given in January each year to:
To discuss proposed legislation
To appeal to the American public
To highlight certain citizen heroes
C. Presidential power is broad in both domestic and foreign affairs, but there are limits on what the President can and cannot do.

11. III: Ways the executive branch influences policy making
A. The executive branch plays a key role in the policymaking process.
• Proposing legislation in an annual speech to Congress (State of the Union Address)
• Appealing directly to the people
• Approving or vetoing legislation
• Appointing officials who carry out the laws

12. IV: Roles of the President:
A. The President exercises power as:
Chief of State: Ceremonial head of the government
Speeches, awards, ceremonies
Chief Executive: Head of the executive branch of government
Appointments, cabinet, executes laws
Chief Legislator: Proposer of the legislative agenda
Meets with Congress, Sign / veto legislation, SOTU

13. Commander-in-Chief: Head of the nation’s armed forces
Heads military, inspects troops and bases
Chief Diplomat: Architect of American foreign policy
Meets foreign leaders, determines foreign policy
Chief of Party: Leader of the political party that controls the executive branch
Supports party members, sets party platform
Chief Citizen: Representative of all of the people
Educate citizens on issues, represent people of USA

14. B. Presidential power has grown in the years since the Constitution was ratified.

15. V: Order of Succession
A. Amendment 25 of the U.S. Constitution establishes Presidential Succession: if the President were to die or become unable to fulfill the duties of office he or she would be replace by the
1. Vice President
2. Speaker of the House
3. President Pro Tempore of the Senate

16. 4. Secretary of State
5. Secretary of the Treasury
6.Secretary of Defense
7. Attorney General
8.Secretary of the Interior
9. Secretary of Agriculture
10.Secretary of Commerce 11. Secretary of Labor
12. Secretary of Health and Human Services
13. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
14. Secretary of Transportation
15. Secretary of Energy
16. Secretary of Education
17. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
18. Secretary of Homeland Security

18. VI: State Level Executive Branch
A. The executive power is exercised by the Governor who is elected for a four-year term of office. The Governor appoints members of his cabinet, who oversee specific functions of government.
The VA Governor’s Mansion … commonly referred to as the Executive Mansion. (Richmond, VA)

19. B. The Lieutenant Governor and the Attorney General are executive branch officers who are elected for a four- year term of office.
C. Made up of the Governor and Lt. Governor
1. Governor – Terry McAuliffe, Democrat
2. Lt. Governor – Ralph Northam, Democrat
D. Term Limits – Governor is restricted to 1 four year term, but can run again after being out of office for at least 4 years.

20. VII: Functions of the State Level Executive Branch
A. The Governor of Virginia exercises the formal powers granted by the Virginia Constitution.
B. In carrying out both the formal and informal powers of the office, the Governor fills several roles including:
• Chief of State
• Chief Legislator
• Chief Administrator
• Party Chief
• Commander-in-Chief

21. C. Cabinet secretaries and departments, agencies, commissions, and regulatory boards:
• Administer laws
• Enforce the laws
•Regulate aspects of business and the economy
• Provide services

22. Qualifications to become Governor
Must be a U.S. citizen
Live in the state you represent ( VA at least 5 years)
Have to be at least 30 years old or older to run.

23. Influence on policy making
The Governor can influence policy making through a number of ways some of them include:
propose new legislation
carries out laws within the state
veto laws passed by the General Assembly
approves state budget
And just like the President, the Governor of every state is expected to give out a yearly address to the public called the State of the State Address.

24. Part 3: Local Government Notes:
I: What is Local Government
A. Local governments in Virginia are political subdivisions created by the General Assembly.
B. The units of local government in Virginia are counties, towns, and cities. Local governments exercise legislative, executive, and judicial powers.
C. All Virginia counties have an elected Board of Supervisors that exercises legislative powers, enacting ordinances (local laws) and adopting an annual budget.

25. D. All Virginia counties have an elected or appointed School Board that oversees the operation of the K-12 public schools in the county.
E. All Virginia towns have an elected Town Council that exercises legislative powers, enacting ordinances and adopting the town's annual budget. A mayor is elected either by the voters or the Town Council members.
F. All Virginia cities have an elected City Council that exercises legislative powers, enacting ordinances and adopting an annual budget. A mayor is elected by the voters or the City Council members.
G. All Virginia cities/counties have an elected or appointed School Board that oversees the operation of the K-12 public schools in the city/county.

26. II: Which powers do local government exercise?
A. In Virginia counties, towns, and cities a manager may be hired by the elected legislative branch to oversee the operations of the local government.
B. In every Virginia locality, courts resolve judicial disputes. Judges of the circuit courts, district courts, juvenile and domestic relations courts, and small claims courts hear cases in each locality.
C. The Virginia Constitution requires that voters in every locality elect a sheriff, a clerk of the circuit court, a commissioner of revenue, and a treasurer.

27. D. Virginia local governments exercise defined and limited powers, including the power to
• enforce state and local laws
• promote public health
• educate children
• protect the environment regulate land use
• levy and collect taxes
• protect public safety

28. III: Relationship Between State and Local Government
A. The authority of local governments in Virginia is derived from the state
B. All powers of the local government are given to them by the Constitution of Virginia and acts by the General Assembly.
C. Not all counties and cities are given the same powers. Cities have charters and their powers are listed in the city charter.

29. IV: How do localities enact ordinances?
A. An elected Board of Supervisors is responsible for passing laws (ordinances) for the county.
B. An elected council is the local legislative body in independent cities and incorporated towns.
C. Individuals have the greatest influence on the decisions made by local government officials.
D. All citizens can learn the importance of the individual’s participation in the law-making process through direct participation and simulations.
E. Local governments may be required to formulate, adopt, and implement public policies in response to international issues and events.

30. Local Government and International Issues -
A. International issues and events that would require policy decisions by local government officials could include the following
• Responding to public health concerns
• Planning for the public safety in the event of an act of terrorism
• Preparing economic development policies in response to the global economy
• Implementing policies to protect the environment, e.g., wildlife conservation.