Chapter 9: The Executive Branch
Section 1 – The Roles of the President
President of the United States
President is the highest elected official › What does the President do?
Heads the executive branch –
Most important duty:
Creating the Office of President
Framers were scared› Terms of office
Limit on the President’s power
This came into effect on February 27, 1951:
Creating the Office of President
Limited Power› Separation of powers
› System of checks and balances Congress
Congress
Supreme Court
Creating the Office of President
Qualifications and Salary› President must be –
› Salary is set by Congress (it is about $400,00)
A Leader with Many Roles George Washington was the role model for this
office. Throughout the years the roles has been more clearly defined.
Chief Executive› Head of the executive branch
“take care that the laws be faithfully executed”
Gives executive orders –
Congress must confirm the top appointments
A Leader with Many Roles
Commander in Chief› “The President shall be commander in
chief of the army and the navy of the United States” Leader of armed forces
War Powers Resolution –
A Leader with Many Roles Chief Diplomat
› Representative of the United States when it comes to relations with foreign nations Leads foreign policy –
Make treaties and formal agreements
Appoint ambassadors –
Make executive agreements –
A Leader with Many Roles Legislative Leader
› President can influence laws
Give a speech to Congress State of the Union
By describing problems and solutions the President is setting domestic policy
A Leader with Many Roles
Legislative Leader› How can the President influence Congress?
Give speeches to special interest groups Give public speeches Take action by veto
A Leader with Many Roles
Legislative Leader› Makes a budget ( )
Puts the policy ideas into action by setting aside money for them
›
A Leader with Many Roles
Judicial Powers›
Senate must approve these appointments
›
A Leader with Many Roles
Roles created by tradition› Party Leader
› Chief of State Expresses the values and
goals of the American people
Ceremonial duties
Symbol of the US
Chapter 9: The Executive Branch
Section 2 – The Organization of the Executive Branch
Executive Branch As the nation grows the powers and duties of
the president do as well› Executive branch has become a large bureaucracy
–
Hired as permanent employees
President appoints people to his/her administration
Executive Office of the President The Executive Departments Independent Agencies
Executive Office of the President EOP is made up of people the President wants to
help make foreign and domestic policy Main job –
The White House Staff›
Appointed without approval from Senate Why?
› Includes most trusted advisors and assistants Gives advice on things like -
Executive Office of the President
The Vice President›
› President assigns duties Some play active roles
› Becomes President if the current one dies or becomes ill
Executive Office of the President
Special Advisory Groups› Help the President make decisions on
domestic and foreign policy Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
National Security Council (NSC)
The Executive Departments Each departments fulfills some of the President’s
duties› Department of State
›
› Department of Homeland Security
Coordinate antiterrorist activities of different federal agencies [Coast Guard/ INS]
The Executive Departments
The Cabinet› Heads of each department are part of the
President’s cabinet –
All heads are called
Exception:
Independent Agencies
Three types of independent agencies – executive , regulatory commissions, and government corporations
Executive Agencies › Under direct control of the President
Examples –
Independent Agencies Regulatory commissions
› Congress forms 12
Ex- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Settles disputes between businesses they regulate
President chooses member of the boards
Independent Agencies
Government Corporations›
The Civil Service System
President chooses
1883 Congress set up the Civil Service System›
Tests
Provides a group of trained workers who stay on the job from President to President
Chapter 9: The Executive Branch
Section 3 – Presidents and Power
Freedom to Take Action President’s freedom
›
Talks represent agreements with other countries Some lead to treaties
› Protection for Presidential independence is executive privilege
Sometimes the nation’s safety is wrapped up in a secret Not written in the Constitution Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t
Seeking a Balance
President is able to act without other branches of government›
Presidential Power
Louisiana Purchase
Presidential Power
Steel Mills
Presidential Power
Watergate