Executive Branch
ENFORCE LAWS
The President’s Roles
 Chief of State-ceremonial head of state
 Chief Executive
 Chief Administrator of Federal Govt
 Chief Diplomat-foreign policy
 Commander in Chief
 Chief Legislator-sets shape of public policy
 Chief of Party-leader of his political party
 Chief Citizen-representative of the people
Job Description
 Qualifications
 Natural-born Citizen
 35 years old
 Resident of the US for 14 years
 Term
 Four year term with two-term limit*
 Pay and Benefits
 $400,000 w/ $50,000 expenses, $19,000 entertainment
 Can not receive any other pay
 Fringe Benefits-White House, Plane, Car, Camp David, etc
 $145,000 lifetime pension
Presidential Succession and VP
 Succession-Presidential Succession Act of 1947
 The plan by which a presidential vacancy is filled
 Dies, resigns, removed
 VP, Speaker, President pro temp, Sec. of State
 Presidential Disability
 Temporary disability-either informed by Pres. or Cabinet/VP
 Inform Congress to resume
 Vice Presidency-President in waiting
 Preside over Senate
 Help decide question of presidential disability
 Importance of the Office
 Ready to take Presidency at any moment
 If vacated, Pres nominate & Congress confirm
Changing View of Presidential Power
 Power has Grown
 One person instead of many
 People look to President in times of emergency
War-WWI, WWII, Vietnam, etc
 Financial Crises-Great Depression, current status
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Congress delegating authority to Pres.
Attention-press, their party, & the public
 How Presidents Viewed Their Power
 Broader views of powers-strong & effective
 Narrower views of powers-only do what is allowed
President’s Powers
 Executing the Law
 Carries out nations laws-even if they disagree
 Ordinance Power
 Executive branch under authority of Pres
 Executive orders-these have force of law
 Appointing Power
 Cabinet, judges, ambassadors, etc-confirmed by Senate
 Removal Power
 Appointees
 Exceptions-federal judges, independent agencies
Diplomatic and Military Powers
 Power to Make Treaties
 Must be approved by Senate by 2/3
 Executive Agreements-pact b/n Pres & for. official
 Most international agreements
 Do not require Senate approval
 Power of Recognition
 Acknowledge the legal existence of a country
 Can determine a new governments future-Panama & Israel
 Recall ambassadors-persona non grata
President’s Dominant Role in Military Affairs
 Few limits to role of commander in chief
 Use of military w/out declaration of war
 Over 200 times-Vietnam & Korea
 May use military to keep domestic peace
 Wartime Powers-much greater
 War Powers Resolution-1973
 Inform Congress of troop use abroad w/in 48 hours
 Congressional approval if commitment lasts 60 days
 Congress may end combat at any time
 Constitutionality disputed
 Selective Service: All young males are required to sign up for
the draft after they turn 18
Legislative Powers
 State of the Union, Budget, Economic Report
 Recommends legislation
 Veto Power
 Outright veto-overturned by 2/3 vote in each house
 Pocket veto-not signed & Congress adjourns w/in 10 days
 Line-item veto-no longer allowed
 Call special sessions of Congress
 May adjourn Congress if two houses can’t agree
Judicial Powers
 Grant reprieves and pardons-federal offenses
 Reprieve-postponement of execution of sentence
 Pardon-legal forgiveness of a crime
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Must be accepted by the person
Any case except impeachment
 Commute sentences or fines
 Grant amnesty
 Pardon offered to group of law violators
 Appoints federal judges
Checks & Balances
oChecks on the Legislative Branch
•Veto Bills
•Can use public opinion to push legislation
oChecks on the Judicial Branch
•Can grant pardons, amnesty, and
commute (shorten) sentences except for impeachment
Executive Office of the President
 White House Office
 chief of staff, press sec, senior advisors, etc
 National Security Council
 VP, Sec of State & Def, CIA, Joint Chiefs of Staff
 Office of Management and Budget
 Prepares annual federal budget
 Plan to conduct govt and execute public policy
 Office of National Drug Control Policy
 Prepares annual drug control policy-uses 50 agencies
 Council of Economic Advisers
 Top three economists appointed by Pres
Other Units in Executive Office
 Office of Policy Development-domestic policy
 National Space Council
 Council on Environmental Quality
 Office of US Trade Representative
 National Critical Materials Council
 Office of Science and Technology Policy
 Office of Administration
Cabinet
 Product of custom
 Appointed by Pres.
 Confirmed by Senate
 Mostly men, few women or minorities
 Role
 Administrators of an executive department
 Advisers to President
Bureaucracy
 Bureaucracy
 Millions of employees administering public policy
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Examples: deliver mail, regulate nuclear power plants, control
epidemics, park rangers, write Social Security checks, census
takers, astronauts, Peace Corps volunteers, regulate banks, etc.
 Departments
 Secretary = head of the department
 Civil Service
o Competitive exam given to hire employees based on merit
o Prevents favors and nepotism
 Veterans get moved to top of the list
 Prevents dismissal for political reasons
Bureacracy
International Affairs
 Ambassadors & Diplomats
 Representatives of the US stationed at the capital of each
country
 Foreign Policy
 The actions taken in relation to other countries
 Foreign Aid
 Economic & military aid given to other countries
 United Nations
 Organization of countries to maintain international peace and
justice
 Deterrence
 Policy of military strength to prevent attacks