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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

Chapter Intro 2

Section 1: The President and Vice President

The Constitution gives the executive branch the power to execute, or implement, the law. The president holds one of the most powerful and important elective offices in the world.

Section 1-Key Terms

Guide to Reading

Content Vocabulary

• Electoral College

• elector

Academic Vocabulary

• display

• outcome

TRQ’s1.What are the Constitutional qualifications for

becoming President of the United States?

2.What is the line of succession after the President and Vice President?

3.How many electors does each state have?

4.How may times can a person be elected president?

5.How many years can a person serve as president?

6.What Act or Amendment indicates the line of succession after the Vice President?

7.Who has the power to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate?

8.What does Incumbent mean?

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.”

Big Idea

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

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.

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.

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

Section 1

Qualifications listed in the Constitution

1. At least 35 years old

2. Native-born American citizen

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

Big Idea

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

Section 1

• 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

Big Idea

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

Section 1

• 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

Big Idea

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

Section 1

Presidential Succession

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

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

• Twenty-fifth Amendment:

– Vice president takes over as president

– President can be removed for medical reasons on vote of cabinet, House of Representatives

• Presidential Succession Act of 19471-Vice President2-Speaker of the House3-President Pro Tempore of the Senate4-Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, 5-Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, 6-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.

Presidential Succession

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxSvi6JCCfk

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Chapter Intro 2

Section 2: The President’s Job

The Constitution gives the executive branch the power to execute, or implement, the law. The president fills many different roles.

Section 2-Key Terms

Guide to Reading

Content Vocabulary

• executive order

• pardon

• reprieve

• amnesty

Academic Vocabulary

• require

• impact

• policy

TRQ’S

9.The Constitution gave the power to declare war to:

10.Presidential appointees to head cabinet departments and other top government offices must be approved by:

11.Who has the sole power of introducing bills to Congress?

12.The final authority to determine whether a law is acceptable under the Constitution rests with:

13.The statement in the Constitution that “executive power shall be invested in a president” means that the president is responsible for:

TRQ’S14.When the president plans the budget of the

federal government, he is fulfilling the role of:

15.Lighting the national Christmas Tree is an example of the president’s role as:

16.Sending troops overseas is an example of the President’s role as:

Section 2-Main Idea

Guide to Reading

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

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

Constitution.

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

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

Presidential powers outlined in Constitution:

1. Veto legislation

2. Call Congress into special session

3. Commander in chief of the armed forces

4. Receive foreign leaders

5. Make treaties

6. Appoint heads of agencies, judges, ambassadors, and other officials

7. Pardon or reduce federal sentences

Section 2

Constitutional Powers (cont.)

Don’t Forget…

Consults with and gives information to Congress

A. A

B. B

C. C

D. D

Section 2

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Which of the following is the most important presidential power?

A. Commanding the armed forces

B. Rejecting bills passed by Congress

C. Making treaties

D. Appointing members of the president’s cabinet

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:

1. Official commander of all branches of the armed forces

2. 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

A. A

B. B

Section 2

Do you agree that issuing an executive order conflicts with the legislative powers of Congress?

A. Agree

B. Disagree

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Chapter Intro 2

Section 3: Making Foreign Policy

Under our federal system, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches share the responsibility of governing the nation. The president and Congress have important roles in making foreign policy.

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-Key Terms

Guide to Reading

Content Vocabulary

• foreign policy

• national security

• treaty

• executive agreement

• ambassador

• trade sanction

• embargo

Academic Vocabulary

• method • target

TRQ’S17.The most direct benefit of having a US foreign

policy that promotes democracy around the world is that it helps:

18.By what margin must the Senate approve a treaty with another nation?

19.The United States will send an ambassador to another country only if the government of that country holds:

A. A

B. B

Section 3-Polling Question

Do you think that the United States should have the same policy towards all foreign countries?

A. Yes

B. No

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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.

VS 5

Tools of Foreign PolicyThe 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

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

A. A

B. B

C. C

D. D

Section 3

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What is the most effective foreign policy tool the president can use?

A. Signing a mutual defense treaty with a country

B. Appointing an ambassador to a country

C. Establishing trade sanctions against a country

D. Encouraging democracy in a country

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Chapter Intro 2

Section 4: Presidential Advisers and Executive Agencies

The Constitution gives the executive branch the power to execute, or implement, the law. Thousands of employees and advisers help the president.

Section 4-Main Idea

Guide to Reading

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

Section 4-Key Terms

Guide to Reading

Content Vocabulary

• cabinet

• federal bureaucracy

• independent agency

• government corporation

• political appointee

• civil service worker

• civil service system

• spoils system

• merit system

Section 4-Key Terms

Guide to Reading

• monitor • role

Academic Vocabulary

TRQ’S20.Which of the president’s closest political advisors

is the most powerful?

21.The core of the Executive Office of the President is the:

22.The assassination of President James Garfield led to the passage of:

23.The White House Office is the most important part of the:

24.What does the Office of Administration do?

25.How often does the Cabinet meet with the President?

VS 6

Organization of the Federal Government

• President

• Vice President

• Executive Office of the President

• Executive departments

• Federal bureaucracy

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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.

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

• 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.

• 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.

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

http://www.glencoe.com/

Section 4

The Federal Bureaucracy

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

• 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

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