History of the Executive Branch

Did not exist under the Articles of Confederation

Americans wanted one elected person other countries could identify and respect

They didn’t want someone who would be more powerful than everyone else

Electing a PresidentAble to serve two successive four-year

terms (per the 22nd Amendment in 1951)The delegates of the Constitutional

Convention created the Electoral CollegeThey wanted only wise,

politically experienced citizens electing the president

Minimum Qualifications Be a natural-born citizen (or born to

American citizens in a foreign country)

Be at least 35 years oldHave lived in the US for at least 14

years (not necessarily right before the election)

Presidential PerksEarns $400,000 a yearLives in the White House—

rent freeTravels for free via Air Force

OneReceives $157,000 each year

after leaving office

Enumerated Presidential PowersRemember—enumerated powers refer to those specifically mentioned in the Constitution

Command the Armed ForcesCommission armed forces officersPardon those guilty of some federal

crimesMake treatiesAppoint ambassadorsReceive ambassadors and other public

ministers

More Enumerated PowersAppoint Supreme Court justicesAppoint people to jobs within the federal

governmentRecommend legislation to CongressConvene one or both houses of CongressEnforce the laws that Congress has

passed

Other Presidential PowersInherent: powers the president uses in

foreign affairs that aren’t in the Constitution but are necessary

The executive order: to help interpret or carry out a law

Personal Influence: encourages people to listen to “the office”

Limitations of Presidential Power

We have the checks and balances between branches

The media continuously reports on the president’s actions

Active citizen participation

Removing a PresidentThe Constitution establishes a process to impeach

(bring charges against) and remove the president for “treason, bribery, or other crimes and misdemeanors”

The process:1.A majority of the members of the House of

Representatives must vote to impeach2.The Senate conducts the trial of the president; the

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides3.All senators vote4.If 2/3 vote guilty, the vice president becomes

president

The 25th Amendment

Allows the Vice President to choose his own VP should he/she become president (due to death, assassination, impeachment, etc.)

Included provisions for determining disability of a president, when power shifts to the VP, and how the president may regain power

Line of SuccessionShould something happen to the President, there is a specific hierarchy according to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947

1. Vice President2. Speaker of the House3. Senate President Pro-

Tempore4. Secretary of State5. Secretary of the Treasury6. Secretary of Defense7. Attorney General8. Secretary of Interior9. Secretary of Agriculture10. Secretary of Commerce

11. Secretary of Labor12. Secretary of Health and

Human Resources13. Secretary of Housing and

Urban Development14. Secretary of Transportation15. Secretary of Energy16. Secretary of Education17. Secretary of Veterans

Affairs18. Secretary of Homeland

Security

The Vice President

Serves as president of the SenateSucceeds the president in the event of death,

resignation, or a disabilitySeven vice presidents have assumed the office

Excluding the last 20 years, the presidential candidates chose running mates for their vote-getting appeal more than their abilities

The Executive BureaucracyPresidents rely on aides, advisors, and entire

agencies for helpDivided into over 100 agencies, departments,

boards, and commissionsHas more than three million employeesDivided into three parts

1. White House Office Staff2. Executive Office of the President3. Cabinet

White House Office Staff

500 aides and advisorsHelp with daily affairs—scheduling,

appointments, and public relations

Executive Office of the PresidentEstablished in 1939, has 15 staff agencies to

help the PresidentOffice of Management and Budget (OMB)

Prepares and oversees the executive budgetCouncil of Economic Advisors

Created by the Employment Act of 1946 Prepares the annual economic report to Congress

National Security Council (NSC) Created in 1947 Develops policy for national security and foreign

affairs

The CabinetA multi-agency advisory council to the

PresidentHeads of the agencies are called secretaries

(except the head of the Department of Justice—that’s the Attorney General)

The Agencies:Justice State Treasury Interior Agriculture

Commerce Labor Defense Health and Human Services

Housing and Urban

Development

Transportation

Energy Education Veterans’ Affairs

Homeland Security