civics: government and economics in action 1 chapter 9: the executive branch

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Chapter 9: The Executive Branch

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Chapter Links

Section 1“The Roles of the President”

Section 2“The Organization of the Executive Branch”

Section 3“Presidents and Power”

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Section Outline:I. Creating the Office of President

II. A Leader With Many Roles

III. Roles Created by Tradition

Main Idea:

The President of the United States is a very powerful person who plays many roles in the government. However, the President’s power is deliberately limited by the Constitution.

Key Terms:•Executive Branch•Foreign Policy•Ambassadors•Executive Agreements•Domestic Policy

Section 1“The Roles of the President”

Journal

• In 1 paragraph, explain whether you think the presidency is an easy or demanding position.

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Chief Executive

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Commander in Chief

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Chief Diplomat

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Legislative Leader

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Party Leader

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Chief of State

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Creating the Office of President

• Executive Branch– The branch of government responsible for

executing or carrying out, the law.

• Term of Office– Four years per term; two term maximum

• Limited Power– Checks and balances

• Qualifications (written)– 35 years of age; natural born citizen; 14 years of

residency

Qualifications (unwritten)

• Education– Many have been college

educated– All since Benjamin Harrison

(1889-1893)

• Men– Women have run for president,

but none successfully– None have received more than

200,000 votesCivics: Government and

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Presidents to NOT graduate college

President Years in office

Washington 1789-1797

Jackson 1829-1837

Van Buren 1837-1841

Harrison (W.H.) 1841

Taylor 1849-1850

Fillmore 1850-1853

Lincoln 1861-1865

Johnson 1865-1869

Cleveland 1885-1889

Truman 1945-1953

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Presidents with graduate degree or higher

President Degree type

Nixon Law

Hayes Law

Obama Law

Taft Law

Ford Law

Clinton Law

Wilson Ph.D.

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A Leader With Many Roles

• Chief Executive

• Commander in Chief of Armed Forces

• Chief Diplomat– Sets foreign policy and appoints ambassadors– Makes executive agreements with other countries

• Legislative Leader– Sets domestic policy; plans for dealing with

national problems.

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Roles Created by Tradition

• Party Leader– Typically the Democratic or Republican party

• Head of State– The President is expected to speak for the whole

nation on values and the goals of the American people.

Electoral College

• Each state has electors who vote on behalf of their state– Equal to number of members in Congress

• i.e. GA has 2 Senators and 14 Representatives, so how many electoral votes does GA get?

• 16

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Electoral votes per state

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Main Idea:

The executive branch of the government includes the President, the White House staff, the Vice President, the executive departments, and the independent agencies.

Key Terms:•Bureaucracy•Administration•Cabinet

Section 2“The Organization of the Executive Branch”

Section Outline:I. The Executive Office of

the President

II. The Executive Departments

• The Independent Agencies

• The Civil Service System

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The Executive Office of the President

• Bureaucracy– An organization of government departments,

agencies, and offices.

• Administration– A team of executive branch officials

• The White House Staff– Presidents most trusted advisers and assistants

• The Vice President– Presides over the Senate; becomes president if the

president dies or falls ill.

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The Executive DepartmentsDepartment of

StateDepartment of the

TreasuryDepartment of

Defense

Department of the Interior

Department of Agriculture

Department of Justice

Department of Commerce

Department of Labor

Department of Health

Department of Education

Department of Housing

Department of Transportation

Department of Energy

Department of Veteran’s Affairs

Department of Homeland Security

Assignment

• Create an advertisement illustration for one of the Executive Departments. You should have a picture and brief description of the advertisement.

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The Independent Agencies

• Executive Agencies– Under direct control of the President

• Examples: NASA, EPA.

• Regulatory Commissions– Formed by Congress, these twelve commissions

make and carry out rules for business and economic activity

• Example: FCC

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The Civil Service System

• In 1883, Congress set up a system by which most government employees (called “servants”) are hired on the basis of merit and not political connection– Civil Service Exams created– Persons with the highest scores on the exam were

hired

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Section Outline:I. Freedom to Take Action

II. Seeking a Balance

III. Presidential Power

Main Idea:

The power of the President has expanded since George Washington’s time. The President’s power is still balanced by the other two branches of the government.

Key Terms:•Treaties•Executive Privilege

Section 3“Presidents and Power”

Impeachment

• Article II, Section 4 of the constitution states that the president (or any official) can be impeached for,

“treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

• What does that mean??

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Impeachment Process

1. An impeachment begins in the House, where an investigation is conducted

2. The House Judiciary Committee begins the inquiry

3. The committee conducts hearings and draw up Articles of Impeachment

4. With a simple majority, the House can impeach (much like an indictment)

5. The Senate conducts a trial, and 2/3 vote can confirm removal

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Johnson Impeachment

Date Event

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March 2, 1867

May 26, 1868

May 16, 1868

March 30, 1868

March 5, 1868

March 4, 1868

February 24, 1868

February 21, 1868

After 2 more votes, trial officially ends

1st votes are tallied in Senate, 35-19 to confirm

Senate trial begins

C.J. Chase reports as presiding officer over Senate trial

House delivers articles of impeachment to Senate

House votes 128-47 in favor of impeachment

Johnson orders removal of Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War

Johnson vetoes Tenure of Office Act

Clinton Impeachment

• Background– Stemmed from investigation

into Clinton’s alleged abuses and conduct as president

– Clinton had a sexual harassment lawsuit served to him by Paula Jones from when he was governor of Arkansas

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Clinton Impeachment

• During investigation into his conduct of the Paula Jones case, Monica Lewinsky was taped saying she had relations with the president

• Clinton denied claims at first, but later admitted his wrongdoings

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Clinton Impeachment

• House of Representatives drafts Articles of Impeachment accusing president of perjury and obstruction of justice

• 12/19/1998 H.o.R. approved impeachment– 228-206 for perjury– 221-212 for obstruction

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Clinton Impeachment

• Senate acquitted Clinton

• Voted on 2/12/1998– 45-55 for perjury– 50-50 for obstruction

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Venn Diagram

• Create a venn diagram showing the differences and similarities between the 2 impeachments (at least 2 facts for each part)

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Johnson Clinton

Impeachment Analysis

• On a sheet of paper to be turned in with your impeachment packet, explain in AT LEAST 1 paragraph which of the 2 presidents’ impeachments was more deserving.– Use specific examples to support your

argument– Choose one or the other!!!!

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9.3 Reader• Read p.98-99

• Define treaties and executive privilege

• Create a chart showing the following

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President Question of Power End result

Thomas Jefferson

Harry Truman

Richard Nixon

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Freedom to Take Action

• Treaties– Formal agreements between nations

• Executive Privilege– The right to keep some information secret from the

Congress of the Courts.

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Presidential Power• The Louisiana Purchase 1803

– French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte offered President Thomas Jefferson of the United States the “Louisiana Territory” for the bargain price of $15 million.

• The Constitution did not say whether the President had the power to buy territory

• President Jefferson and his Secretary of State James Madison decided since the President had the power to make treaties, he could make a treaty purchasing the land.

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Presidential Power (cont.)

• Harry Truman and the Steel Mills– Truman unsuccessfully tried to seize control of

American steel mills to prevent a wartime strike.

• Nixon and Watergate– Nixon unsuccessfully applied executive privilege

to the a special Senate committee and House Judiciary committee investigating an illegal burglary of the Democratic party offices at the Watergate Hotel

– Nixon, severely implicated, resigned 8/9/1974