EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES

Part 1 – Legislative Branch BasicsPart 2 – PresidentPart 3 – Electoral CollegePart 4 – Presidents PowersPart 5 – Presidential Cabinet

Part 1 – Legislative Branch BasicsPart 2 – PresidentPart 3 – Electoral CollegePart 4 – Presidents PowersPart 5 – Presidential Cabinet

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES

The Executive Branch was created at the Constitutional Convention held in 1787.The Founding Fathers wanted the job of the President to be strong but have many limits (checks and balances) placed on the power of the Presidency.

The Executive Branch was created at the Constitutional Convention held in 1787.The Founding Fathers wanted the job of the President to be strong but have many limits (checks and balances) placed on the power of the Presidency.

1. EXECUTIVE BRANCH BASICS1. EXECUTIVE BRANCH BASICS

George Washington, the first elected President was inaugurated (sworn in) in New York City on April 30, 1789.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES1. EXECUTIVE BRANCH BASICS1. EXECUTIVE BRANCH BASICS

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES1. EXECUTIVE BRANCH BASICS1. EXECUTIVE BRANCH BASICS

Article II of the Constitution describes the Executive Branch.Article II consists of 4 sections.The Executive Branch is headed by the President.The main job of the Executive Branch is to make sure federal laws are carried out and enforced.

Article II of the Constitution describes the Executive Branch.Article II consists of 4 sections.The Executive Branch is headed by the President.The main job of the Executive Branch is to make sure federal laws are carried out and enforced.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES2. PRESIDENT2. PRESIDENT

Qualifications for being President1) Natural born Citizen 2) 35 years old 3) Must live in U.S. 14 years prior to the election. Qualifications for the Vice-President and President are the same.

Qualifications for being President1) Natural born Citizen 2) 35 years old 3) Must live in U.S. 14 years prior to the election. Qualifications for the Vice-President and President are the same.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES

Term of OfficePresidents serve a 4 year term in office. Originally, Presidents could serve as many terms as they wanted. 22nd Amendment (1951) limits the President to a maximum of 2 elected terms.

Term of OfficePresidents serve a 4 year term in office. Originally, Presidents could serve as many terms as they wanted. 22nd Amendment (1951) limits the President to a maximum of 2 elected terms.

2. PRESIDENT2. PRESIDENT

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES

Term of Office - con'tGeorge Washington set a tradition that Presidents should only serve 2 terms.

Franklin D. Roosevelt broke that tradition and was elected 4 times.

Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States.

Joseph Biden is the Vice-President.

Term of Office - con'tGeorge Washington set a tradition that Presidents should only serve 2 terms.

Franklin D. Roosevelt broke that tradition and was elected 4 times.

Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States.

Joseph Biden is the Vice-President.

2. PRESIDENT2. PRESIDENT

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES

Benefits and PrivilegesPresident is paid $400,000 a year.The President receives an allowance for clothes, traveling, and miscellaneous things. President lives in the White House, uses Air Force One, and Camp David.

Benefits and PrivilegesPresident is paid $400,000 a year.The President receives an allowance for clothes, traveling, and miscellaneous things. President lives in the White House, uses Air Force One, and Camp David.

2. PRESIDENT2. PRESIDENT

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES

Presidential Order of SuccessionIf the President dies/resigns/disabled then Vice-President takes over.8 times Presidents have died in office.1 President has resigned.The first time the order of succession was used in 1841 when William H. Harrison died in office.

Presidential Order of SuccessionIf the President dies/resigns/disabled then Vice-President takes over.8 times Presidents have died in office.1 President has resigned.The first time the order of succession was used in 1841 when William H. Harrison died in office.

2. PRESIDENT2. PRESIDENT

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES

Presidential Order of Succession - con't

The 25th Amendment (1967) clarifies the Presidential order of succession.If there is no Vice - President the President must pick someone and Congress must approve.The 25th Amendment also discusses when the Vice – President can become Acting President.

Presidential Order of Succession - con't

The 25th Amendment (1967) clarifies the Presidential order of succession.If there is no Vice - President the President must pick someone and Congress must approve.The 25th Amendment also discusses when the Vice – President can become Acting President.

2. PRESIDENT2. PRESIDENT

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES

Presidential Order of Succession - con't

Presidential Succession Act of 1947, discusses the Line of Succession which is only used when something happens to both the President and Vice - President at the same time.Line of Succession has never been used.

Presidential Order of Succession - con't

Presidential Succession Act of 1947, discusses the Line of Succession which is only used when something happens to both the President and Vice - President at the same time.Line of Succession has never been used.

2. PRESIDENT2. PRESIDENT1. Speaker of the House2. President Pro Tempore3. Secretary of State4. Secretary of the Treasury 5. Secretary of Defense6. Attorney General7. Secretary of the Interior8. Secretary of Agriculture9. Secretary of Commerce10. Secretary of Labor11. Secretary of Health and Human Services12. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development13. Secretary of Transportation14. Secretary of Energy15. Secretary of Education16. Secretary of Veterans Affairs17. Secretary of Homeland Security

# Office Current officer

1 Vice President of the United States

Joe Biden (D)

2 Speaker of the House John Boehner (R)

3 President pro tempore of the Senate

Patrick Leahy (D)

4 Secretary of State John Kerry (D)

5 Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew (D)

6 Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (R)

7 Attorney General Eric Holder (D)

— Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell (D)[a]

8 Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (D)

9 Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker (D)

10 Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez (D)

11 Secretary of Health and Human Services

Kathleen Sebelius (D)

12 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Shaun Donovan (D)

13 Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx (D)

14 Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz (D)

15 Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (D)

16 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki (I)

17 Secretary of Homeland Security

Jeh Johnson (D)

1.  Naturalized U.S. citizen born in the United Kingdom.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

Election Day is the 1st Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Inauguration Day is the day the President is sworn into office it is January 20th.20th Amendment (1933) moved date of inauguration to January 20th, the original inauguration day was March 4th.

Election Day is the 1st Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Inauguration Day is the day the President is sworn into office it is January 20th.20th Amendment (1933) moved date of inauguration to January 20th, the original inauguration day was March 4th.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

The method for electing the President is called the Electoral College System. It was improved by the 12th Amendment (1804).

Electoral College SystemEach state has a number of Electoral Votes equal to the number of Senators and Representatives added together.EXAMPLE: Arizona 2 Senators

9 Representatives 11 Electoral Votes / Electors

The method for electing the President is called the Electoral College System. It was improved by the 12th Amendment (1804).

Electoral College SystemEach state has a number of Electoral Votes equal to the number of Senators and Representatives added together.EXAMPLE: Arizona 2 Senators

9 Representatives 11 Electoral Votes / Electors

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

Electors are chosen by each state and actually cast the official votes. If a Presidential candidate wins that states popular votes it gets ALL of that states Electoral Votes its called a Winner Take All System.Except in Nebraska (5 votes) and Maine (4 votes), which distributes their electoral votes by population.

Electors are chosen by each state and actually cast the official votes. If a Presidential candidate wins that states popular votes it gets ALL of that states Electoral Votes its called a Winner Take All System.Except in Nebraska (5 votes) and Maine (4 votes), which distributes their electoral votes by population.

The winner of the election is the candidate that receives a majority of all the Electoral Votes.

Total Number of Electoral Votes100 Senators435 Representatives 3 Washington D.C. (23rd Amendment) (1961) 538 Total Electoral Votes*270* votes is a majority and is the minimum necessary to become President.

The winner of the election is the candidate that receives a majority of all the Electoral Votes.

Total Number of Electoral Votes100 Senators435 Representatives 3 Washington D.C. (23rd Amendment) (1961) 538 Total Electoral Votes*270* votes is a majority and is the minimum necessary to become President.

3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEMEXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES

2008 Presidential Election Results

Before the 12th Amendment (1804) whichever candidate had the most became President, whoever came in second became Vice-President. 12th Amendment put the President and Vice-President on the same ticket on ballot. Why was this Amendment passed?

Before the 12th Amendment (1804) whichever candidate had the most became President, whoever came in second became Vice-President. 12th Amendment put the President and Vice-President on the same ticket on ballot. Why was this Amendment passed?

3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEMEXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES

If no candidate receives a majority of the Electoral votes this is called a deadlock.The House of Representatives picks President from 3 highest vote candidates, each state gets 1 vote in the House.1800 Thomas Jefferson over Aaron Burr1824 John Q. Adams over Andrew Jackson

If no candidate receives a majority of the Electoral votes this is called a deadlock.The House of Representatives picks President from 3 highest vote candidates, each state gets 1 vote in the House.1800 Thomas Jefferson over Aaron Burr1824 John Q. Adams over Andrew Jackson

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEMELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

1876 Rutherford B Hayes won the Electoral vote by 1 Electoral vote. (185 – 184)Becoming the closest election in history.1888 Benjamin Harrison won the Electoral vote but Grover Cleveland had more popular votes. 2000 George W. Bush won the Electoral vote (271 – 267) but Al Gore had more popular votes.

1876 Rutherford B Hayes won the Electoral vote by 1 Electoral vote. (185 – 184)Becoming the closest election in history.1888 Benjamin Harrison won the Electoral vote but Grover Cleveland had more popular votes. 2000 George W. Bush won the Electoral vote (271 – 267) but Al Gore had more popular votes.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM3. ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

The President:* Oversees approximately 4 million people who work in government jobs with over 1 million in the military. * Must give a yearly State of the Union Address.The State of the Union Address is a speech explaining their plan for the next year.* Directs foreign policy. This is how the U.S. relates to other countries.* Appoints Ambassadors, Judges, and Cabinet members who must be approved by the Senate.

The President:* Oversees approximately 4 million people who work in government jobs with over 1 million in the military. * Must give a yearly State of the Union Address.The State of the Union Address is a speech explaining their plan for the next year.* Directs foreign policy. This is how the U.S. relates to other countries.* Appoints Ambassadors, Judges, and Cabinet members who must be approved by the Senate.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES4. PRESIDENTS POWERS4. PRESIDENTS POWERS

The President:* Commander in Chief overseeing the use of the military.*Can make a Treaty with a foreign country with the approval of the Senate.

The President:* Commander in Chief overseeing the use of the military.*Can make a Treaty with a foreign country with the approval of the Senate.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES4. PRESIDENTS POWERS4. PRESIDENTS POWERS

The President:* Can grant a pardon, excused of a crime.* Can grant a reprieve, delay or reduce a sentence.* Can grant amnesty, by pardoning a group of people. * Can sign a bill creating a law or veto a bill.

The President:* Can grant a pardon, excused of a crime.* Can grant a reprieve, delay or reduce a sentence.* Can grant amnesty, by pardoning a group of people. * Can sign a bill creating a law or veto a bill.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES4. PRESIDENTS POWERS4. PRESIDENTS POWERS

Cabinet members advise the President. They are selected by the President and approved by the Senate. Originally there were 4 Cabinet offices, today there are 15.

Cabinet members advise the President. They are selected by the President and approved by the Senate. Originally there were 4 Cabinet offices, today there are 15.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES5. PRESIDENTIAL CABINET5. PRESIDENTIAL CABINET

EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOTES5. PRESIDENTIAL CABINET5. PRESIDENTIAL CABINET

Top Cabinet Positions Secretary Secretary Secretary of Defense of State of Homeland Security Robert Hillary Janet Gates Clinton Napolitano

Top Cabinet Positions Secretary Secretary Secretary of Defense of State of Homeland Security Robert Hillary Janet Gates Clinton Napolitano

Presidential Cabinet

How many people have been President of the United States?

A) 27 B) 44C) 50 D) none of these

Class

D) None of these