1. Organization of the Executive Branch, President as Chief Executive Unit IV: The Presidency and the Bureaucracy Lesson 2 How is the Executive Branch organized to carry out policy?

2. As Chief Executive, the president presides over the administration of government. –Constitution: “take care that the laws be faithfully executed” –Today, federal bureaucracy spends $2.5 trillion a year and numbers more than 4 million employees. –Presidents appoint 500 high-level positions and 2,500 lesser jobs. Role of Pres as Chief Executive Running the Government: The Chief Executive

3. The Vice President –Few constitutionally-prescribed roles: As President of the Senate, casts tie-breaking votes if necessary. Helps determine presidential disability under 25 th Amendment and take over presidency if necessary –Selected by presidential nominee as running mate at national convention, often to “balance the ticket” –Power has grown over time, as recent presidents have given their VPs important job The Cabinet –Presidential advisors, not in Constitution –Heads of 14 departments (secretaries) and one Attorney General –Appointments must be confirmed by the Senate –Not so useful as advisors to president due to: larger and diverse in thinking Loyalties often divided between loyalty to pres and to own executive departments The VP and the Cabinet Running the Government: The Chief Executive

4. Bush’s VP: Dick Cheney Running the Government: The Chief Executive

5. The Cabinet Departments Running the Government: The Chief Executive

6. The Executive Office Made up of policymaking and advisory bodies Running the Government: The Chief Executive

7. Key Parts of Executive Office National Security Council (NSC) –Created in 1947 to coordinate the president’s foreign and military policy advisers –Members include the president, vice president, secretary of state and defense, and managed by the president’s national security adviser Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) –A three-member body appointed by the president to advise on economic policy Office of Management and Budget (OMB) –Prepares president’s budget proposal for Congress –Reviews proposals from departments and agencies Running the Government: The Chief Executive

8. The White House Staff –Chief aides and staff for the president –Meets daily with top people: Chief of Staff, liaison to Congress, press secretary, national security assistant –Top people are completely loyal to pres, pres relies on heavily for information, policy options, and advice The First Lady –No official government position, but most informal advisors, many get involved politically –Recent ones focus on a single issue, e.g., Hillary Clinton and health care Running the Government: The Chief Executive

9. White House Staff Running the Government: The Chief Executive