Article II of the
U.S. Constitution
The Executive Branch
What is the purpose of the
Executive Branch?
To enforce the laws that
the Legislative Branch
has created.
Who is in charge of the Executive
Branch?
Who can become President?
What you must be.
• The President must be a
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natural born citizen.
Must have lived in the
U.S. for 14 years
(although they do not
have to be consecutive).
Must be at least 35 yrs.
old.
• There are no limitations
to a person based on …
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Race
Gender
Religion
Experience
How long can a President serve
in office?
• The President serves a four year term in office.
• Originally, the Constitution did not specify how
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many terms a President can serve.
Traditionally, everyone followed Washington’s
precedent of only serving two terms.
FDR broke the tradition and ran for four terms.
After FDR, the Congress passed the 22nd
Amendment, stating that no President may serve
more than two terms in office.
What is the compensation for a job
well done?
• $400,000/ yr. salary, not
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including other expense
accounts.
Secured transportation
including Air Force One,
helicopters, limos, etc.
Free medical and dental
benefits.
White House to live in.
Lifetime pension of
$148,400/ yr. +
expenses.
Who else makes up the Executive
Branch?
(Keep in mind, this is only a small sample of how big this branch really is.
The President is in charge of all of these different groups)
President
Vice-President
Secretary of State
Attorney General
FBI
INS
White House Staff
Secretary of
The Treasury
DEA
ATF
Secretary of War
(Dept. of Defense)
Secret Service
What does the President do?
• The President is the
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Commander-In-Chief of
the U.S. Military, even
though he is a civilian.
Even though the
President makes most of
the military decisions,
Congress controls the
military budget.
What else can he/she do besides
blow things up?
• The President serves as a
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negotiator for the United
States using his diplomatic
powers.
He/She can negotiate with
foreign nations to create
treaties, which are the
same as a law.
The Senate must approve
all executive treaties.
Can the President do anything else
besides blow things up or put
things together?
• The President has
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Executive powers.
These powers allow him
to appoint cabinet
secretaries, foreign
ambassadors, and
Supreme Court Justices.
It also allows him/her to
pardon criminals.
Is that all?
• The President has power
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over Congress as well. It is
called the Legislative
Powers.
The President has the ability
to call Congress into a
special session. This is
done every year at the
State of the Union address.
The President may also veto
a bill from Congress if
he/she does not agree with
it.
Odds and Ends – The Evolutionary
Powers
• The President creates the
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“budget” and gives the U.S.
a direction each year in the
State of the Union address.
The President claims
“executive privilege” which
means that he does not
have to disclose his
personal business to
anyone.
The President can
persuade people at any
time through the media.