The Executive Branch

I. The Office of the President

A.Head of the executive branch –responsible for carrying out the law

1. Sets goals for the nation2. Develops policies

B. Creating the office1. Term

Elected to a 4-year term May be reelected once

2. Limited power Cannot make laws Congress must approve many decisions May be removed from office

C.Qualifications and salary At least 35 years old Natural born citizen of the US Must have lived in the US for at least

14 years Salary is set by Congress

II. Roles of the President

A.Chief Executive1. Ensure laws are carried out2. Gives executive orders – rules and

regulations government must follow3. Appoints about 4,000 executive branch

officials Must be approved by Congress

B.Commander in Chief1. Leader of the armed forces2. Sets military goals + approves military

tactics3. May deploy troops even if Congress hasn’t

declared war War Powers Resolution – troops may not

remain for more than 60 days w/out Congress approval

C. Chief Diplomat1. Makes foreign policy plans for our relationships

w/other countries2. May make treaties w/other countries

Must be approved by Senate3. Appoints ambassadors – representatives to foreign

governments Must be approved by Senate

4. Makes executive agreements – agreements w/other countries that don’t need Senate approval

D. Legislative Leader1. Recommends policy in State of the Union

Address2. Helps set domestic policy –plans for dealing with

national problems3. Can veto Congressional legislation4. Makes the budget5. Can call a special session of Congress if Congress

is not meeting

E. Roles created by tradition1. Party Leader – supports party

members running for office2. Chief of State – performs ceremonial

duties

II. Organization of the Executive Branch

A. Is a bureaucracy – an organization of government departments, agencies and offices

B.President appoints an administration to lead the 3 main parts of the executive branch

C.Executive Office of the President: Advises president on important matters1. White House staff

Chief of staff, advisers, press secretaries, legal experts, speechwriters, etc

Hired by President w/out Senate approval

2. Vice President Has no duties aside from presiding over Senate President decides how active the VP’s role

should be3. Special Advisory Groups

Groups that help the president make domestic and foreign policy decisions

Include Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and National Security Council (NSC)

D.The Executive Departments1. Are currently 15 different departments2. Do work connected w/carrying out

nation’s laws and running government programs

3. President appoints head of each executive departmenta. Must be approved by the Senateb. Department secretaries (leaders) and

Attorney General form the core Cabinet – important group of policy advisors to the president

E. Independent Agencies1. Executive Agencies

Under direct control of the president – can choose or remove directors

Includes NASA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

2. Regulatory Commissions Each makes and carries out rules

for certain business/economic activity

FCC, Consumer Public Safety Commission (CPSC)

Have long terms to be free from political bias

3. Government Corporations Provide public services but try to make

a profit USPS, Amtrak

F. Civil Service System1. Employees chosen on the basis of merit2. Rocket engineers at NASA, mail carriers