The Executive Branch
Content Standard 4: The student will examine the United States Constitution by comparing the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government as they form and transform American society. 1. Cite specific textual and visual evidence to explain the purposes expressed in the Preamble and how the United States Constitution preserves those core principles of American society. 2. Examine the makeup, organization, functions, and authority exercised by the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. A. Identify constitutional qualifications for holding public office, the terms of office, and the expressed powers delegated to each branch of the national government including the numbers of members comprising the United States Congress and United States Supreme Court. B. Evaluate the extent to which each branch of government reflects the people s sovereignty including current issues concerning representation such as term limitations and legislative redistricting. C. Describe the process in which public policy is formulated into law including both the constitutional and operational procedures utilized in the modern legislative process. D. Explain why certain provisions of the United States Constitutionresult in tensions among the three branches, and evaluate how the functions of the national government have changed over time through executive actions and judicial interpretation of the necessary and proper clause. E. Compare and contrast the structure of the national branches of government to Oklahoma s state government. F. Apply the principles of limited government, federalism, checks and balances, and separation of powers to the workings of the three branches of government in real world situations including current issues and events
EQ: How are the roles of the executive branch defined and practiced in the USA today
The Executive Branch: Qualifications
The Executive Branch: Formal Qualifications: 35 years old Natural Born Citizen U.S. resident for 14 years
The Executive Branch: What is a natural born citizen? Anyone born inside the United States Any one born outside the United States, both of whose parents are citizens of the U.S., as long as one parent has lived in the U.S. Any one born outside the United States, if one parent is a citizen and lived in the U.S. for at least one year Any one born in a U.S. possession, if one parent is a citizen and lived in the U.S. for at least one year Any one found in the U.S. under the age of five, whose parentage cannot be determined, as long as proof of non-citizenship is not provided by age 21 Any one born outside the United States, if one parent is an alien and as long as the other parent is a citizen of the U.S. who lived in the U.S. for at least five years (with military and diplomatic service included in this time)
The Executive Branch: Informal Qualifications: Most have shared similar characteristics White males Protestant British ancestry most attended college (only 9 did not) had careers as lawyers (24 of 44) President John Adams
Informal Qualifications: The Executive Branch: Evidence of change 1.) 1960: JFK became 1 st Catholic President 2.) 1984: Dem. party nominated Geraldine Ferraro as the first female Vice- Presidential candidate
Informal Qualifications: The Executive Branch: 3.) 1988: Jesse Jackson became the first African American to come in a close second in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination 4) Barack Obama becomes 1 st African American President
The Executive Branch: Salary and Benefits
The Executive Branch: History of Salary: Position Salary President 1789 $25,000 1873 50,000 1909 75,000 1949 100,000 1969 200,000 2001 400,000
Benefits: The Executive Branch: Receives $50,000/year for expenses and up to $100,000/year for travel Salary cannot be changed during term Free lodging at the White House and Camp David
Benefits: The Executive Branch: President and family receives finest medical care possible and personal protection (secret service)
Benefits: The Executive Branch: President has plane (Air Force One) and a personal helicopter (Marine One) at his disposal
The Executive Branch: Elections and Terms of Office
Elections: The Executive Branch: Elections held every 4 years President elected by an electoral college Candidate with most electoral votes wins the election
Term of Office: The Executive Branch: 4 years = 1 presidential term Constitution originally placed no limit on number of Presidential terms George Washington established a tradition when he stepped down after 2 terms
Term of Office: The Executive Branch: 1940: FDR became the 1 st (and only) President to not step down after 2 nd term was elected 4 times 1951: 22 nd Amendment added to Constitution Limits President to 2 terms
The Executive Branch: Presidential Succession
The Executive Branch: Presidential Succession: 1841: William Henry Harrison became 1 st President to die while in office Vice President John Tyler set a tradition by declaring himself President 1967: 25th Amendment turned tradition into law; says if Presidency is vacant, the VP becomes President and then appoints a new VP
The Executive Branch: Since ratified, 25 th Amendment has been used 3 times: 1.) 1973: VP Spiro Agnew resigned; Pres. Nixon replaced him with Gerald Ford 2.) 1974: Pres. Nixon resigned and Gerald Ford became President 3.) 1985: Pres. Reagan was shot and during surgery VP George Bush became president for 8 hours
The Executive Branch: 8 U.S. Presidents have died while in office:
The Executive Branch: Presidential Succession: 1947: Congress passed the Presidential Succession Act which indicates the order of succession to the Presidency
The Executive Branch: Line of Succession: The Vice President Speaker of the House President pro tempore of the Senate Secretary of State Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General Secretary of the Interior Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Labor Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Energy Secretary of Education Secretary of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Homeland Security
The Executive Branch: Presidential Roles
The Executive Branch: 7 Major Roles of the President 1.) Chief Executive Carries out the nation s laws Issues Executive Orders (rule or command the President issues that has the force of law; usually during time of crisis) Appoints cabinet members, ambassadors, judges, heads of govt. agencies
The Executive Branch: 2.) Chief Diplomat Responsible for making treaties with other countries with Senate approval Meets with foreign leaders Can make Executive Agreements with leaders of other countries Has the force of law but does not require Senate approval Responsible for appointing ambassadors with Senate approval An official representative of a country s government
The Executive Branch: 3.) Commander in Chief President is final authority over all military matters o Founding Fathers believed in civilian control over the military; person elected by the people has final say over all military matters President can use military in times of war or peace 1957: President Eisenhower sent Federal Troops into Little Rock, Arkansas when attempts to integrate public schools led to violence between locals and police
Commander in Chief, cont.. The Executive Branch President Barrack Obama with his Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Executive Branch 3.) Commander in Chief, cont.. Stretching of this power by former Presidents has led to legislation limiting the President s power over the military President Truman sent troops to fight in Korean War, but we never declared War (1950-53) Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon sent troops to Vietnam, but we never declared war (1954-75)
The Executive Branch 3.) Commander in Chief, cont. 1973: War Powers Act passed by Congress President must notify Congress when troops sent anywhere Troops must be brought home after 60 days unless Congress declares war, or gives approval for troops to stay
The Executive Branch 4.) Political Party Leader Supports party members in election campaigns and helps unify the party Appoints members of party to key govt. jobs President Bush confers w/ Republican members of Congress
The Executive Branch 5.) Legislative Leader Proposes legislation and uses many tactics to get the bill passed Prepares the federal budget Approves or vetoes legislation
6.) Judicial Leader The Executive Branch Appoints judges to Federal Courts and the U.S. Supreme Court Appoints Justices whose point of view is similar to their own President Obama announces Mrs. Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee to the Supreme Court
udicial Leader, cont The Executive Branch Can issue pardons, reprieves and amnesty to those convicted of federal crimes: Pardon declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment Reprieve an order to delay a person s punishment until a higher court can rule on the case (usually death sentence Commutation substitutes a less severe punishment for the one originally imposed by the court Amnesty same as a pardon; applies to a group of people rather than an individual
The Executive Branch 456 total pardons. Over 100 on the day before he left office President Carter gave amnesty to all Vietnam draft dodgers who fled to Canada
The Executive Branch 7.) Chief of State Role is symbolic President is representing people from all 50 states Gives a human face to American govt. Can be demonstrated in many ways Greeting heroes Throwing first pitches at baseball games Inviting musicians to perform at White House Attending funeral of another country s leader, or past Presidents of U.S. Speeches and ceremonies
The Executive Branch - Chief of State President and First Lady at Pope s funeral and at former President Reagan s funeral
The Executive Branch The Vice President
The Executive Branch Vice President Qualifications Same as the President Duties and Responsibilities Serves as President of the Senate (only Constitutional duty) President delegates out many responsibilities to VP: Taking part in Presidential Cabinet meeting Helping with Diplomatic relations with other countries Advising and helping President make important decisions
The Executive Branch Vice President Vice President s Duties and Responsibilities
The Executive Branch Vice President Salary and Benefits $198,000/year Receives $10,000/year for expenses Benefits similar to President s Free Residence Large Staff Variety of personal services Secret Service protection
The Executive Branch Vice President Elections and Terms of Office Original procedure for electing a VP was: - Electoral college members in each state voted for 2 candidates for President candidate with most votes became President and runner up became the VP After tie of 1800, procedure changed 12 th Amendment: electoral college votes for president and VP on separate ballots VP term of office is not limited (although no VP has ever served more than two terms)