The Executive The Executive BranchBranch

From Washington to Obama From Washington to Obama and beyond….and beyond….

Some presidential Some presidential trivia…trivia…

Youngest assume office- Theodore Roosevelt Youngest assume office- Theodore Roosevelt (42)(42)

elected- John F. Kennedy (43)elected- John F. Kennedy (43) Oldest: Ronald Reagan (69)Oldest: Ronald Reagan (69) Longest Inaugural Address: William Henry Longest Inaugural Address: William Henry

Harrison (105 minutes)Harrison (105 minutes) Shortest Term: William Henry Harrison (32 Shortest Term: William Henry Harrison (32

days)days) Longest Term: Franklin Roosevelt (12 years)Longest Term: Franklin Roosevelt (12 years) Tallest: Abraham Lincoln (6 feet, 4 inches)Tallest: Abraham Lincoln (6 feet, 4 inches)

Trivia, continued….Trivia, continued….

The The ‘‘Teddy BearTeddy Bear’’ was named for was named for Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt

Largest feet: Warren Harding (Size Largest feet: Warren Harding (Size 14)14)

John F. Kennedy was the first Roman John F. Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic PresidentCatholic President

Father-Son combos: John Adams and Father-Son combos: John Adams and John Quincy Adams and George H.W. John Quincy Adams and George H.W. Bush and George W. BushBush and George W. Bush

…….and more trivia…..and more trivia….

Shortest and lightest President: James Shortest and lightest President: James Madison (5 feet, 4 inches and +/- 100 Madison (5 feet, 4 inches and +/- 100 poundspounds

Only President to not belong to a Only President to not belong to a political party: George Washingtonpolitical party: George Washington

President who regularly went skinny President who regularly went skinny dipping in the Potomac River: John dipping in the Potomac River: John Quincy AdamsQuincy Adams

George W. Bush was the school's head George W. Bush was the school's head cheerleader.cheerleader.

Contrary to popular belief, the country's Contrary to popular belief, the country's

first president had dentures made of gold, first president had dentures made of gold, ivory, lead, and animal teeth NOT wood.ivory, lead, and animal teeth NOT wood.

Andrew Jackson taught his parrot to curse Andrew Jackson taught his parrot to curse and it had to be removed from President and it had to be removed from President Jackson's funeral because it wouldn't stop Jackson's funeral because it wouldn't stop swearing.swearing.

Millard Fillmore’s wife was his teacher. Millard Fillmore’s wife was his teacher. She was only about 2 years older than him She was only about 2 years older than him but still…but still…

Calvin Coolidge had a morning ritual in Calvin Coolidge had a morning ritual in which someone rubbed Vaseline on his which someone rubbed Vaseline on his head while he ate breakfast in bed.head while he ate breakfast in bed.

James Buchanan was the only president James Buchanan was the only president to never marry, instead remaining a to never marry, instead remaining a bachelor his entire life.bachelor his entire life.

Ulysses S. Grant was given a $20 Ulysses S. Grant was given a $20 speeding ticket for riding his horse too speeding ticket for riding his horse too fast down a Washington street.fast down a Washington street.

Benjamin Harrison was the sitting Benjamin Harrison was the sitting president when electricity was first president when electricity was first installed in the White House. However, installed in the White House. However, he was scared of being electrocuted and he was scared of being electrocuted and refused to touch the light switches.refused to touch the light switches.

The Roles of the The Roles of the PresidentPresident

Chief of StateChief of State Chief ExecutiveChief Executive Chief AdministratorChief Administrator Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief Chief LegislatorChief Legislator Chief of PartyChief of Party Chief CitizenChief Citizen

Chief of StateChief of State

The ceremonial head of the The ceremonial head of the government and the symbol of all government and the symbol of all AmericansAmericans ““……the personal embodiment and the personal embodiment and

representative of their dignity and representative of their dignity and majestymajesty””

Chief of StateChief of State

An example of this is: An example of this is: When the president throws the first pitch at When the president throws the first pitch at

the beginning of the baseball seasonthe beginning of the baseball season

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBpdu5X_0xcv=xBpdu5X_0xc

Chief ExecutiveChief Executive

The President has broad powers to The President has broad powers to carry out and enforce the laws of the carry out and enforce the laws of the United StatesUnited States

Chief ExecutiveChief Executive An example is:An example is:

In 1957, when Dwight D Eisenhower In 1957, when Dwight D Eisenhower sent federal troops to protect African sent federal troops to protect African Americans students attend high school Americans students attend high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. This was the in Little Rock, Arkansas. This was the first time this high school accepted first time this high school accepted African American studentsAfrican American students

Economic GuardianEconomic Guardian

Looks after the country’s Looks after the country’s producing, consuming, and producing, consuming, and distributing of wealth. distributing of wealth.

Make sure there are jobsMake sure there are jobs Can raise or lower taxesCan raise or lower taxes

Economic GuardianEconomic Guardian

An example of this is:An example of this is: Obama’s idea to remove “trust-fund Obama’s idea to remove “trust-fund

loophole” so the really wealthy who get loophole” so the really wealthy who get trust-funds must pay taxestrust-funds must pay taxes

Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat

The President conducts foreign The President conducts foreign policy and is the nation’s policy and is the nation’s spokesperson to the rest of the spokesperson to the rest of the worldworld

Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat

An example is:An example is: President Jimmy Carter helped President Jimmy Carter helped

Menachem Begin of Israel and Anwar Menachem Begin of Israel and Anwar Sadat of Egypt reach an agreement in Sadat of Egypt reach an agreement in 19781978

Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief

The President is the head of the The President is the head of the armed forcesarmed forces The Constitution says this person must The Constitution says this person must

be a civilian and not an active military be a civilian and not an active military membermember Washington, Grant, EisenhowerWashington, Grant, Eisenhower

Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief

An example is:An example is: When Harry When Harry

Truman ordered Truman ordered the drop of the the drop of the atomic bombs atomic bombs on two Japanese on two Japanese cities.cities.

Chief LegislatorChief Legislator

The President is the main source of The President is the main source of public policies and for the most part public policies and for the most part sets the agenda for what Congress sets the agenda for what Congress works onworks on

Chief LegislatorChief Legislator

An example of this is:An example of this is: When the President gives their When the President gives their ““State of State of

the Unionthe Union”” address every year to address every year to CongressCongress

Chief of PartyChief of Party

The President is the leader of his or The President is the leader of his or her political party.her political party. Parties are not mentioned in the Parties are not mentioned in the

ConstitutionConstitution

Chief of Party (Party Chief of Party (Party Leader)Leader)

An example is:An example is: When Presidents run for the Republican When Presidents run for the Republican

or Democratic campaignor Democratic campaign

Executive OrdersExecutive Orders

An Executive Order is when the President An Executive Order is when the President can use his power to direct how the can use his power to direct how the Federal government operates (without Federal government operates (without needing Congress approval)needing Congress approval)

It has the same power as Federal law!It has the same power as Federal law! Examples: Examples:

Roosevelt created internment camps during Roosevelt created internment camps during WWIIWWII

Truman mandated equal treatment of all Truman mandated equal treatment of all members of armed forcesmembers of armed forces

Can Congress stop an Can Congress stop an Executive Order?Executive Order?

They can pass a Bill to stop the They can pass a Bill to stop the executive orderexecutive order

But….. The President can VETO that But….. The President can VETO that bill.bill.

Then Congress will need to override Then Congress will need to override the veto with 2/3 majority votethe veto with 2/3 majority vote

Supreme Court can also declare that Supreme Court can also declare that bill unconstitutionalbill unconstitutional

Does it give the Does it give the President too much President too much

power?power?

President Barack ObamaPresident Barack Obama Born August 4Born August 4thth, 1961., 1961. Columbia University Graduate.Columbia University Graduate. Law Degree from Harvard Law Degree from Harvard

University.University. Civil Rights attorney in Civil Rights attorney in

Chicago.Chicago. Served 3 terms in the Illinois Served 3 terms in the Illinois

Senate from 1997 – 2004.Senate from 1997 – 2004. Married with 2 children.Married with 2 children. Elected as the United StatesElected as the United States’’

first African American first African American President. President.

4444thth President President

Term and CompensationTerm and Compensation

The President serves a FOUR year The President serves a FOUR year term. According to the 22term. According to the 22ndnd Amendment, he or she may only Amendment, he or she may only serve two full terms (or ten years in serve two full terms (or ten years in case he or she took over during case he or she took over during another personanother person’’s term)s term) Some Presidents have called for a Some Presidents have called for a

repeal of the 22repeal of the 22ndnd Amendment. What do Amendment. What do you think?you think?

So you want to be So you want to be President, eh…President, eh…

What are the What are the formal formal qualifications?qualifications? A A ““natural born natural born

citizencitizen”” of the of the United StatesUnited States

Be at least 35 Be at least 35 years of ageyears of age

14 years a 14 years a resident within the resident within the United StatesUnited States

At least 100 million At least 100 million Americans meet Americans meet these these requirements! requirements!

$$$$$$

1789: $25,0001789: $25,000 2011: $400,000 + $50,000/yr 2011: $400,000 + $50,000/yr

expensesexpenses A nice house, big staff, protection, A nice house, big staff, protection,

cars, Air Force One, Camp David, cars, Air Force One, Camp David, travel and entertainment funds and travel and entertainment funds and great health care! great health care!

Are you sure you want to be Are you sure you want to be President?President?

The Vice PresidentThe Vice President

““I am Vice President. I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, In this I am nothing, but I may become but I may become everything.everything.””--- John Adams--- John Adams

““ The Vice Presidency The Vice Presidency isn’t worth a pitcher isn’t worth a pitcher of warm spit.of warm spit.””

--- John Nance --- John Nance GarnerGarner

The Vice PresidencyThe Vice Presidency

Vice President must meet all the same Vice President must meet all the same qualifications as the Presidentqualifications as the President

VPs take over if President dies, VPs take over if President dies, resigns, or is incapacitated (25resigns, or is incapacitated (25thth Amendment)Amendment)

Duties: Presides over Senate (breaks Duties: Presides over Senate (breaks ties)ties)

and helps to decide if the President is and helps to decide if the President is incapacitatedincapacitated

Vice President Joe BidenVice President Joe Biden Born November 20Born November 20thth, 1942 in , 1942 in

Scranton, PA.Scranton, PA. US Senator from Delaware US Senator from Delaware

from 1973 – 2008.from 1973 – 2008. Attended the University of Attended the University of

Delaware.Delaware. Doctorate from Syracuse Doctorate from Syracuse

University.University. Became the 47Became the 47thth Vice Vice

President of the United President of the United States on January 20States on January 20thth, 2008., 2008.

Order of Succession to the Order of Succession to the PresidencyPresidency

Vice President Speaker of the House

President pro tempore of the Senate Secretary of State

Secretary of 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 Powers of the The Powers of the PresidentPresident

1.1. VetoVeto Bills from Congress Bills from Congress2.2. Call Congress into Call Congress into special sessionspecial session3.3. Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief of the Armed of the Armed

ForcesForces4.4. PardonPardon federal criminals federal criminals5.5. Make Make treatiestreaties with other countries (with with other countries (with

Senate approval)Senate approval)6.6. AppointAppoint ambassadors, federal court ambassadors, federal court

judges, Supreme Court justices, top judges, Supreme Court justices, top government officials (all with Senate government officials (all with Senate approval)approval)

The State of the UnionThe State of the Union The Constitution The Constitution requiresrequires that the that the

President report annually to Congress President report annually to Congress about the state of the country; this has about the state of the country; this has become known as the become known as the ““State of the State of the Union AddressUnion Address””