NJASK Question

Abraham Lincoln is one of the great symbols of American democracy. Lincoln did not have a formal education. But he taught himself at home. He became a lawyer and settled in Springfield, Illinois, where he began his political career. Lincoln was elected president in 1860. Lincoln once said , “A house divided against itself cannot stand”. Lincoln led the nation through the Civil War, and in 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in the rebelling states of the South. Following the war he supported the thirteenth Amendment. At age 56, Lincoln’s life was cut short by assassination.

How is Lincoln’s story connected to the idea of the American Dream?

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Chapter 6

NJASK QUESTION

In the United States, you do not have to be born into a wealthy, famous, or powerful family in order to become president. Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution lists only three requirements. The candidate must be at least 35 years old, must have been born in the United States, and must have lived in the country for at least fourteen years.

Past presidents have had varied backgrounds. Abraham Lincoln split fence posts and worked in a store before he became a lawyer and held elected office. Harry Truman was a farmer and a store owner. Woodrow Wilson was a college professor, and Ronald Reagan was an actor.

Is it still necessary for a president to be a natural born citizen?

Focus

Agenda

Qualifications and Terms of the Presidency

Powers and Roles of the President

Executive Departments and the Cabinet

I. The Presidency – Qualifications and Terms Qualifications to be President

At least 35 years old A native born citizen Have lived in the US for at least 14 years

Terms and Conditions of the Presidency The U.S. Constitution states that the President will serve a 4

year term. Originally, the Constitution did not limit the number of terms a President can serve. No President served more than two until Franklin D. Roosevelt and he was elected to 4 terms. Today, the 22 Amendment limits the number of terms to two.

The President is paid a salary of $450,000 a year plus a nontaxable allowance of $50,000.

Common Traits All have been male All but one have been white. Most have been wealthy Many have been lawyers before their presidency Most have had prior political experience at state or national level

The Vice President Qualifications to be Vice President

SEE THE PRESIDENT’S QUALIFICATIONS Terms and Conditions

The Vice President serves a four year term, just like the President.

The most important duty a Vice President is to serve as President in his absence. The Vice President also serves as the head of the SENATE. He can’t take part in debates and may only vote in the case of a tie.

In recent years the vice president has been given more responsibilities than listed in the Constitution.

The Vice President is paid $208,100, plus a $10,000 taxable expense allowance.

The President has died 8 times while in office and one resigned. The Vice President has been sworn in as President 9 times.

William Henry Harrison -The 9th President, who died in 1841 of pneumonia and pleurisy. Zachary Taylor --The 12th President, who died in 1850 of bilious fever, typhoid fever, and cholera morbus, following a heat stroke.Abraham Lincoln--The 16th President, was assassinated in1865. Lincoln was the first of four presidents to be assassinated.James Garfield--The 20th President, who was assassinated in1881.William McKinley--The 25th President, who was assassinated 1901.Warren G. Harding --The 29th President, who died in1923 of a suspected heart attackFranklin Delano Roosevelt --The 32nd President, who died in 1945, of a cerebral hemorrhageJohn F. Kennedy-The 35th President, who was assassinated in1963.

Who stepped down?

Presidential Succession The _25th_ Amendment says that if the

President dies or leaves office that the new President must nominate a new Vice President. That nomination must be approved with a majority in both houses.

The _20th_ Amendment gives Congress the power to set up _Presidential Line of Succession__. Succession is as follows:

__Vice President_________ __Speaker of the House___ __ President Pro Tempore __ Department heads per the creation of the Executive Department___

II. Powers and Roles of the President

The Five Main Roles of the President + 1• Chief Policy Maker/Legislator• Commander in Chief• Chief Diplomat• Chief Executive Officer• Chief of State• Other Powers

(a) Every year the President delivers ____A State of the Union Address___ in late January. In this speech the President suggests new laws he wants put into effect. This speech deals with the country’s most pressing concerns.

(b) The President also sends a budget to Congress suggesting how they should spend money on programs on the coming __Fiscal Year___.

The President also influences laws he wants by using the __VETO____ power. It then takes Congress a 2/3 vote to overturn this action. The president also influences what bills Congress introduces.

1. Chief Policy Maker/Legislator

a. The President is in charge of U.S. troops during war or peacetime. The President is in constant contact with U.S. military leaders and has the final say in planning how a war is to be fought.

b. Only Congress can declare war, but the President can send troops abroad if U.S. interests are threatened. In 1973, Congress passed the _WAR POWERS ACT_, which only allowed the President to do this for 60-90 days.

2. Commander in Chief

a.) __Foreign Policy_____ is the government’s plan for interacting with other countries. The President tries to secure friendly relations with foreign countries while preserving national security.

b.) The President appoints __DIPLOMATS__ to represent the U.S. in other countries.

c.) The President also meets with other foreign leaders. The interaction with other countries is known as _DIPLOMACY_____________.

d.) The U.S. also makes written agreements with other countries called __TREATIES_____. Many officials work on these agreements but the President has the final responsibility. The Senate must approve the treaty with a __2/3__ vote, but the President makes sure it is carried out.

3. Chief Diplomat

4) Chief Executive Officer – Running the 15 Executive Departments – See Below

5) Chief of State – Social type issues dealing with events inside the US – Ex. Meets the Super Bowl Champs(Baltimore Ravens) or give Congressional Medal of Honor for those who demonstrate “exemplary values of courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism.”

6. Other Powers a.) Appoints Supreme Court Justices, and other federal judgesb.) ___REPRIEVE_____- postpones the carrying out of a person’s sentence.c.)____PARDON____- forgives a person of his or her crime and eliminates the punishment.d.) ___COMMUTATION- the power to reduce a person’s sentence.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-carter-pardons-draft-dodgers

Jimmy Carter Pardons Draft Dodgers

NJASK QUESTION

Look at the political cartoon on page 172 in your text book.

At first glance what do you see in the picture?

Look closer, what details do you see?

What is the cartoonist saying about the government’s response to a natural disaster?

III.) Executive Departments and the Cabinet

The president’s right hand man is the _Chief of Staff__ - He/She is at the president’s side more than any person. Job includes arranging meetings, press conferences, etc.

CHIEF OF STAFFDENIS MCDONOUGH

Executive Departments and Cabinets Cont’d

The President has a group of close advisers and aides known as the _Cabinet__. The President needs many advisers and specialists to help formulate decisions.

The Executive Depts. makes up this group.• Under George Washington there were __5__

departments in the cabinet, today there are _15__. The President appoints cabinet heads, but Senate must approve.

• Usually the title given to a head of a department is __SECRETARY__, but the Department of Justice is headed by the _ATTORNEY GENERAL__.

Department of State Foreign policy is the special responsibility of the

Department of State. Today the Secretary of State is ___John Kerry_______________.

Ambassadors_also serve in this department. They are highest-ranking U.S. officials in foreign countries. They work in an __EMBASSY_____ in a foreign land.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGUI7kDLsQo CONSULS_ represents U.S. commercial interests in

other countries. A consulate is their office, and they can be found in most large foreign cities.

The Dept. of State also must keep track of people traveling to and from the United States. It does this by issuing __VISAS______ and ____PASSPORTS____. Visas allow foreigners to come to the U.S. Passports allow Americans to travel to other countries.

Department of Defense The Department of Defense is in charge

of the nation’s armies. Aside from war, it’s also responsible for organizing relief efforts.

The Secretary of Defense is always a __CIVILIAN__. This ensures nonmilitary control of the armed forces. The Secretary has high-ranking military officials to help and these assistants are known as the ___JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF___. This group advises the President on military affairs.

Other Departments Department of Homeland Security _

was established after the terrorist attacks in 2001. Its primary job is to prevent further terrorist attacks.

Department of the Treasury__ promotes economic stability in the U.S. and the rest of the world. PRINT MONEY AND COLLECT TAXES

Department of Justice__ enforces laws in the United States. TOP COP AND LAWYER FOR THE U.S.

e.) Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions – There are certain jobs that the 15 Departments do not do or that need to be outside of these departments’ power so we have these There are independent agencies

that specialize in certain aspects of the government. Ex.__NASA –space exploration, CIA – Central Intelligence Agency.

_REGULATORY COMMISSIONS____ are types of agencies that have the power to bring violators to court. These are special in that they can bring violators to court and/or pay fines.

All the employees of these agencies compose the federal __BUREAUCRACY__. Almost 3 million people work in the bureaucracy.

The road to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)