1. The Executive Branch Article II of the Constitution

2. Qualifications of the President Constitution sets out 3 qualifications for the President in Article II  Age: at least 35 years or older JFK was youngest: 43. Reagan was oldest: 69  Natural-born US citizen  Must have lived in the US for at least 14 years Note: No other formal restriction is mentioned such as gender, class, social standing, etc.  Since there are over 100 million Americans that meet the above stated qualifications there must be additional informal requirements to further limit the number of people who run for office

3. Presidential Term Limit George Washington set the precedent for serving only two terms… …until FDR got elected to 4 terms The 22 nd Amendment is passed in 1945  Can be elected to 2 terms  A maximum of 10 years total If they finish out the last two years of the prior President, then go on to be elected for two terms

4. Presidential Pay and Benefits Pay:  1789: $25,000/year  2011: $400,000 plus $50,000/year for expense The Constitution forbids the President from receiving anything else from the government… …except for… Benefits:  White House: 132 room mansion on 18.3 acres  Their own staff and cars  Air Force One (and other planes and helicopters)  Camp David—hideaway resort in Maryland  Free healthcare, travel and entertainment funds  …and of course telling all of us what to do

5. Powers of the President

6. President’s National Security Powers Serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces  Can authorize the use of troops without a direct declaration of war from Congress Make treaties with other nations  Senate must approve any treaty before it becomes official Can nominate ambassadors to other nations  Again, he must get a majority Senate approval Can receive foreign ambassadors/leaders

7. President’s Legislative Powers Gives State of Union speech  Tries to convince Congress to act on certain issues Can recommend legislation to Congress  Cannot write bills. He can propose an idea for the bill but a member of Congress must submit it for him (Obamacare) Call Congress to a special session Can sign/veto laws that are passed by Congress

8. President’s Administrative Powers “Take care that the laws be faithfully executed” – Article II, section 3 Appoints the heads of each of the Executive Branch departments, Cabinet positions, and agencies Also appoints ambassadors, SC justices, and other officials (with Senate approval) **President names most of the names for the top spots of the Federal government. They add up to only a handful of the +2.8 million employees but they are the one’s who hold most of the power.

9. President’s Judicial Powers Appoints Federal judges (with Senate approval) Grants reprieves and pardons for Federal crimes, except for impeachment  Reprieve: postponement of execution  Pardon: legal forgiveness of a crime

10. Presidential Succession

11. Order of Presidential Succession 1. Vice President – Joe Biden 2. Speaker of the House – John Boehner 3. President Pro Tempore – Dan Inouye 4. Secretary of State – Hillary Clinton (4-19 are Cabinet positions in order of creation) 19. Secretary of Homeland Security – Janet Napolitano

12. The Federal Bureaucracy

13. What is a bureaucracy? A large, complex administrative structure that handles the everyday business of an organization  One of the most efficient and effective ways to organize people to do work 3 Main Features  Hierarchical Structure: built like a pyramid with a chain of command  Job Specialization: each bureaucrat has certain, defined duties and responsibilities  Formalized Rules: does its work according to a set of established regulations and procedures

14. The President Executive Departments & The President’s Cabinet Executiv e Office of the Presiden t Independent agencies

15. Executive Office of the President President’s Closest Personal Advisors Located mostly in the West (and East Wing) of the White House and the Executive Office Building. Help the President carry out the duties of the Chief Executive.  Examples: Chief of Staff, VP, Counsel to the President, Press Secretary, etc.

16. Cabinet and Executive Departments Each Department (which employs thousands of people) is headed by a “Secretary”, except for the Department of Justice which is headed by the “Attorney General”. The 14 Secretaries and the Attorney General make up the President’s  Cabinet positions are created as deemed necessary.  They are not specifically created by the Constitution but instead are a precedent set by G. Washington Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxSvi6JCCfk&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxSvi6JCCfk&feature=related

18. Independent Agencies *There are more than 150 total agencies* 1. Independent Executive Agencies Like Executive Departments, but do not have Cabinet status. Examples: NASA / CIA / FBI / IRS / NSA 2. Regulatory Commissions Regulate part of the economy Example: Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Federal Elections Commission (FEC) 3. Government Corporations Businesses the government owns / runs. Example: U.S. Postal Service 4. WEBSITE: http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml