Civics 2.3
Executive Powers
Objective: Identify the function and
powers of the executive branch of
government
I. The Executive Branch

A. The President

1. Must be at least 35 years old

2. Must be a native-born citizen
B. Election Process

1. Presidential Elections happen every 4 years

2. We elect a president through the Electoral
College

a. to win a candidate must win half (at least 270)
of the 538 electoral votes

b. if neither candidate wins a majority, the House
of Representatives selects the President
Brought to You by the 25th Amendment
3. Term of Office

a. Presidents serve a 4-year term.

b. The 22nd Amendment (1951) – limits each
president to two elected terms in office or a
maximum of 10 years.
C. Organization of the Executive Branch

1. The Executive Branch is
structured like a pyramid

a. President – head of EB

b. Vice President – 2nd in
command

c. Cabinet – group of
presidential advisors they
also head top-level
executive departments
 d.
The Federal
Bureaucracy –
the agencies (fall
under the cabinet
members) and
employees of the
executive branch
President
Vice President
Cabinet Members
(Example – Secretary of
Homeland Security)
Federal Bureaucracy /Agencies
(FEMA, TSA, USSS)
D. Powers of the President

1. The Main Duty of the President is to enforce/carry out the the law. They
also have the power to…
 a.
veto (reject) bills passed by congress
 b. In Charge of the military
1. War Powers Act: the president can send
troops into battle. Must tell congress 48
hours before hand and the troops must
come home after 60 days
Powers Continued
 c.
Make treaties with other countries
 d. appoint heads of executive
agencies, federal judges and
ambassadors
 e. pardon or reduce sentences of
those convicted of crimes
Roles of the President Foldable
 The
President has many roles or
“Hats” that he or she must wear
 Their job is very diverse and they must
make decisions on many different
topics
 Let’s make a foldable to help us
remember their role or “Hats”!
Economic Leader
Creates
a national budget and
helps improve the country’s
economy. Deals with issues like
minimum wage and unemployment
Judicial Leader
The
President appoints Judges to
the Supreme Court and issues
pardons and reprieves

Pardon: forgiving someone of committing a crime

Reprieve: delaying someone’s punishment until another court can hear the
case
Legislative Leader

Propose legislation (help come up with ideas for
laws)

Call Special Sessions of Congress

Veto

Pocket Veto
Chief Diplomat
Directs
foreign policy (our
relationship with other countries)
Head of State
 Acts
as a symbol for America. This
position is typically ceremonial and
used for good will missions
Commander in Chief
Head
of the country’s armed
forces (military)
Chief Citizen
The
President should represent all
of the American people. He/she
works for their interests and
provides moral leadership.
Party Leader
Head
of the political party
he/she belongs to. Helps raise
funds and awareness for their
political party
Chief Executive
 Carry’s
Out/enforce the nations laws
Helped
by his/her VP & Cabinet
 Executive
Order: rule or command that
has the force of law
Photo Opp!
 Let’s
look at some photos of US
Presidents
 Determine which role of the President
they are fulfilling in the photos
 Write your answers in the chart
provided on your notes
Image 1
President Reagan signs a
bill to law
President Kennedy
calls a special
session of
Congress
President Obama
address Congress
Image 2
Bush walks with
Emir of Qatar
Clinton
brings the
leaders of
Palestine
and Israel
together
President
Obama
dines with
the
President
of India
Nixon shakes
hands with a
Russian
diplomat
Image 3
Bill Clinton & Al Gore
at the Democratic
National Convention
Obama a
Democratic
Rally
Reagan at a
Republic
Debate
George and Barbara
Bush at the
Republican National
Convention
Image 4
Bush with
members of
the Air Force
VP Biden
recites the
Pledge of
Allegiance with
members of
the military
President
Obama and
the Cabinet in
the War Room
Bush poses
with
Marines
Image 5
Clinton
discusses his
ideas to
improve
American
business
Obama
speaks on
his plan
for
creating
Jobs in
America
Bush signs a bill
designed to boost the
economy
Image 6
Reagan meets with
members of his
cabinet to discuss
the running of the
country
Obama meets with the
directors of FEMA to
discuss how to enforce
the law after a
national emergency
Image 7
The Reagans meet with Mother Theresa
President
Johnson
meets with
the Pope
Clinton presents
a soldier with
the Medal of
Honor
Bush
Senior
meets
with
Nelson
Mandela
Image 8
Obama
appoints
Supreme
Court
Justice
Sotomayor
Reagan
Appoints
Supreme
Court Justice
Scalia
Clinton Pardons a Turkey at
Thanksgiving
Image 9
Obama
meets with
senior
citizens at
a nursing
home
Bush throws the
first pitch at the
Beijing Olympics
The
Obama
family
enjoys a
day at
the park
Bush takes a
break from
working on his
ranch in Texas