The Executive Branch

1. The Executive Branch

2. The Office of the President • Head of the executive branch –responsible for carrying out the law • Sets goals for the nation • Develops policies

3. Creating the office • Term • Elected to a 4-year term • May be reelected once • Limited power • Cannot make laws • Congress must approve many decisions • May be removed from office

4. 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

5. Roles of the President • Chief Executive • Ensure laws are carried out • Gives executive orders – rules and regulations government must follow • Appoints about 4,000 executive branch officials • Must be approved by Congress

6. Commander in Chief • Leader of the armed forces • Sets military goals + approves military tactics • 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

7. Chief Diplomat • Makes foreign policyplans for our relationships w/other countries • May make treaties w/other countries • Must be approved by Senate • Appoints ambassadors– representatives to foreign governments • Must be approved by Senate • Makes executive agreements – agreements w/other countries that don’t need Senate approval

8. Legislative Leader • Recommends policy in State of the Union Address • Helps set domestic policy–plans for dealing with national problems • Can veto Congressional legislation • Makes the budget • Can call a special session of Congress if Congress is not meeting

9. Roles created by tradition • Party Leader – supports party members running for office • Chief of State – performs ceremonial duties

10. Organization of the Executive Branch Is a bureaucracy – an organization of government departments, agencies and offices President appoints an administration to lead the 3 main parts of the executive branch

11. Executive Office of the President: Advises president on important matters • White House staff • Chief of staff, advisers, press secretaries, legal experts, speechwriters, etc • Hired by President w/out Senate approval

12. Vice President • Has no duties aside from presiding over Senate • President decides how active the VP’s role should be • 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)

13. The Executive Departments • Are currently 15 different departments • Do work connected w/carrying out nation’s laws and running government programs

14. President appoints head of each executive department • Must be approved by the Senate • Department secretaries (leaders) and Attorney General form the core Cabinet – important group of policy advisors to the president

15. Independent Agencies • Executive Agencies • Under direct control of the president – can choose or remove directors • Includes NASA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

16. 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

17. Government Corporations • Provide public services but try to make a profit • USPS, Amtrak • Civil Service System • Employees chosen on the basis of merit • Rocket engineers at NASA, mail carriers