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Chapter Introduction

Section 1: The President and Vice President

Section 2: The President’s Job

Section 3: Making Foreign Policy

Section 4: Presidential Advisers and Executive Agencies

Visual Summary

Section 1-Main Idea

Guide to Reading

Big Idea

The Constitution gives the executive branch the power to execute, or implement, the law.

Section 1

The Office of the President

As the head of the executive branch of our federal government, the president holds one of the most powerful and important elective offices in the world.

Section 1

The Office of the President (cont.)

• The president of the United States leads the executive branch of the United States’ government.

Section 1

The Office of the President (cont.)

• Qualifications listed in the Constitution

– At least 35 years old

– Native-born American citizen

– Resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years

Section 1

The Office of the President (cont.)

• Electoral College

– Electors cast votes to select the president

– Number of votes based on number of Congressional seats

– Most states use a “winner-take-all” system for winner of popular vote

Presidential Succession

Section 1

The Office of the President (cont.)

• Four-year presidential term; limit of two terms

• Salary and benefits:

– Annual salary of $400,000

– White House and Camp David

– Air Force One for travel

Section 1

The Office of the President (cont.)

• Vice president:

– Elected with the president

– Becomes president if the president resigns or dies in office

Section 1

Presidential Succession

The office of the president has an established order of succession.

Section 1

Presidential Succession (cont.)

• The Constitution sets up a line of succession in case the president dies or is forced to leave office.

Section 1

Presidential Succession (cont.)

• Twenty-fifth Amendment:

– Vice president takes over as president

– Names all the positions in line for the presidency

Section 2-Main Idea

Guide to Reading

Big IdeaThe Constitution gives the executive branch the power to execute, or implement, the law.

Section 2

Constitutional Powers

The source for the president’s authority is Article II of the Constitution.

Section 2

Constitutional Powers (cont.)

• The powers of the president are outlined in Article II of the Constitution.

• Only federal office elected by entire nation

Section 2

Constitutional Powers (cont.)

• Presidential powers outlined in Constitution:

– Veto legislation

– Call Congress into special session

– Commander in chief of the armed forces

– Receive foreign leaders

– Make treaties

Section 2

Constitutional Powers (cont.)

– Appoint heads of agencies, judges, ambassadors, and other officials

– Pardon or reduce federal sentences

• Consults with and gives information to Congress

Section 2

Roles of the President

The president fills many roles that are important to the functioning of the United States government.

Section 2

Roles of the President (cont.)

• The president serves several major functions including the chief executive, the head of the armed forces, and legislative leader.

Section 2

Roles of the President (cont.)

• Chief executive:

– Carries out the nation’s laws using cabinet and millions of federal employees

– Executive order

– Appoints Supreme Court justices and other federal judges

Section 2

Roles of the President (cont.)

• Grants pardons, reprieves, and amnesty

• Directs foreign policy

Section 2

Roles of the President (cont.)

• Commander in chief:

– Official commander of all branches of the armed forces

– Shares power to declare war with Congress

Section 2

Roles of the President (cont.)

• Legislative leader:

– President pushes legislation that furthers the president’s goals

Section 2

Roles of the President (cont.)

• Other roles:

– Head of state

– Economic leader

– Party leader

Section 3-Main Idea

Guide to Reading

Big IdeaUnder our federal system, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches share the responsibility of governing the nation.

Section 3

The President and Foreign Policy

As commander in chief and chief diplomat, the president leads the nation’s armed forces and directs U.S. foreign policy.

Section 3

The President and Foreign Policy (cont.)

• The president’s job includes establishing foreign policy, which can involve the use of diplomacy, military power, or both.

• Often centered on national security

• Makes Treaties and executive agreements based on economics or mutual defense

Section 3

The President and Foreign Policy (cont.)

• Appointing ambassadors as representatives to other countries

• Facilitating or blocking international trade through trade sanctions or embargos

Section 4-Main Idea

Guide to Reading

Big IdeaThe Constitution gives the executive branch the power to execute, or implement, the law.

Section 4

Organization of the Federal Branch

The executive branch is made up of the top advisers and assistants who help the president carry out major duties.

Section 4

Organization of the Federal Branch (cont.)

• The president appoints many advisers and assistants to help carry out the duties of the executive branch.

Section 4

Organization of the Federal Branch (cont.)

• Executive office

– Headed by White House Chief of Staff

– Contains powerful advisers

Section 4

Organization of the Federal Branch (cont.)

• Office of Management and Budget prepares the federal budget

• National Security Council helps with military and foreign policy

• Office of Administration performs administrative tasks

• Council of Economic Advisers addresses employment, tax policy, inflation, and foreign trade

Section 4

The Cabinet

The cabinet is an advisory group chosen by the president to help accomplish the work of the executive branch.

Section 4

The Cabinet (cont.)

• The president’s main advisers belong to the cabinet, which is made up of the people who head the major areas of the executive branch.

The Executive Office of the President

Section 4

The Cabinet (cont.)

• Cabinet comprises of the heads of 14 departments:

– Meets as president needs

– Some presidents rely heavily on Cabinet, others less so

The President’s Cabinet

Section 4

The Cabinet (cont.)

• Increased roles of vice presidents and First Ladies

– Recent presidents have given more responsibility to vice presidents

– First Ladies often promote specific social issues

Section 4

The Federal Bureaucracy

The federal bureaucracy has grown over the years and assumes an important role in making public policy.

Section 4

The Federal Bureaucracy (cont.)

• The agencies that make up the federal bureaucracy are responsible for the operation of the federal government.

• Implements new laws and decide how they apply to daily life

• Administers the day-to-day operations of the federal government

Section 4

The Federal Bureaucracy (cont.)

• Regulates the activities of businesses and individuals

• Includes hundreds of independent agencies

– Executive agencies work with specialized areas

– Government corporations

– Regulatory boards and commissions

Section 4

The Federal Bureaucracy (cont.)

• Political appointees

• Civil service system based on merit system

VS 1

The Presidency

• The president is head of the executive branch of the federal government and is our nation’s top political leader.

• The source for the president’s authority is Article II of the Constitution, which says that “the executive power shall be vested in the president of the United States of America.”

VS 2

Electing the President

• Presidents are elected through an indirect method called the Electoral College.

VS 3

Responsibilities

• According to the Constitution, the president’s main job is to carry out the laws passed by Congress.

• As head of the executive branch of government, the president must make decisions that affect the lives of all Americans.

VS 4

Roles of the President

In carrying out the responsibilities of the office, the president must play a number of different roles. These roles are:

• Chief executive

• Chief diplomat

• Commander in chief

• Legislative leader

• Head of state

• Economic leader

• Party leader

VS 5

Tools of Foreign Policy

The president and Congress use many tools to carry out American foreign policy. These tools include:

• Treaties and executive agreements

• Appointing ambassadors

• Foreign aid

• International trade

• Military force

VS 6

Organization of the Federal Government

• President

• Vice President

• Executive Office of the President

• Executive departments

• Federal bureaucracy

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

TIME Trans

DFS Trans 1

DFS Trans 2

DFS Trans 3

DFS Trans 4

Vocab1

Electoral College

a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

Vocab2

elector

person appointed to vote in presidential elections for the major candidates

Vocab3

display

to put in plain view

Vocab4

outcome

the result of an action or event

Vocab5

executive order

a rule or command that has the force of law

Vocab6

pardon

a declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment

Vocab7

reprieve

an order to delay a person’s punishment until a higher court can hear the case

Vocab8

amnesty

a pardon to a group of people

Vocab9

require

to have a need for or to order

Vocab10

impact

to influence or effect

Vocab11

policy

a guiding course of action

Vocab12

foreign policy

a nation’s overall plan for dealing with other nations

Vocab13

national security

the ability to keep the country safe from attack or harm

Vocab14

treaty

a formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries

Vocab15

executive agreement

an agreement between the president and the leader of another country

Vocab16

ambassador

an official representative of a country’s government

Vocab17

trade sanction

an effort to punish another nation by imposing trade barriers

Vocab18

embargo

an agreement among a group of nations that prohibits them all from trading with a target nation

Vocab19

method

a procedure or process of doing something

Vocab20

target

a goal or aim

Vocab21

cabinet

a group of advisers to the president that includes the heads of 14 top-level executive departments

Vocab22

federal bureaucracy

the collective agencies and employees of the executive branch

Vocab23

independent agency

federal board or commission that is not part of any cabinet department

Vocab24

government corporation

a business owned and operated by the federal government

Vocab25

political appointee

a person appointed to a federal position by the president

Vocab26

civil service worker

person hired into a federal position

Vocab27

civil service system

the practice of hiring government workers on the basis of open, competitive examinations and merit

Vocab28

spoils system

rewarding people with government jobs on the basis of their political support

Vocab29

merit system

hiring people into government jobs on the basis of their qualifications

Vocab30

monitor

to watch or observe

Vocab31

role

the function of a person or thing

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