The Executive Branch
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Transcript of The Executive Branch
The Executive Branch
Executive Branch
-One of the three branches of government
-Duty is to carry out the laws of the Nation
-Executive Branch is the largest of the branches with millions of employees
President
-Considered the leader of the United States
-Often considered the most powerful person in the world
-Can not run the nation alone
Qualifications
-3 Requirements---
-Other Characteristics----
Presidential Terms
-elected through the electoral college system
-serve 4 year terms
-limited to serving two 4 year terms
-22 Amendment
Vice- President
-Main responsibility is to be ready to replace the President
-Official head of the Senate
-Is usually heavily involved in the policies pursued by the President
-Must meet same qualifications
Presidential Succession
-What happen if a President dies or is unable to do his job???
-25th Amendment
PresidentVice-PresidentSpeaker of the HousePresident Pro-TemporeSecretary of State
President’s Job
-As the nation has grown so has the job of being President
-Examples:
Chief Executive
-Head of the Executive Branch
-Bureaucracy (all the people who work for the government)
-Duties-Carry Our the Laws
-Issue Executive Orders
-Appoint Government Officials
Chief Diplomat
-Deals with Foreign Governments
-Duties-Appoints Ambassadors w/ Senate Approval
-Make Treaties w/ Senate Approval
-Act as Mediator between Nations
Commander in Chief
-Leader of the Armed Forces
-Duties-Command Our Troops
-Picks Military Leaders
Legislative Leader-Tries to get laws passed that
benefit the nation as well as his Party
-Economic leader in legislative role
-Uses Presidential Influence
-State of the Union Speech
-Uses the media
Party Leader
-Is the Visible leader of his political party and Pursues policies favorable to his party goals
-uses patronage systemthe patronage system gives out gov’t positions to those people who gave support to the candidate and share their ideas
-gives endorsements in campaigns
Judicial Leader-Head of the Law Enforcement
System
-Power to appoint Federal and Supreme Court Judges with approval of the Senate
-Has certain Judicial powers:
immunity
pardons
reprieves
commutations
amnesty
Chief of State
-Is the symbolic leader of the nation
-Meets foreign leaders
-Make patriotic speeches and visits
-mostly symbolic gestures
Administration-Administration
-General term applied to those people who work the closest to the President
-The Administration is in charge of the very large Federal Bureaucracy that works for the Office of the President
White House Staff-White House Staff
Those people who work directly with the President in the White House Complex
-Chief of Staff
-Press Secretary
OMB-Separate Office whose job
is to prepare the Federal Budget
-Budget prepared according to the goals set forth by the President
-Budget must then be approved and/or changed by Congress
National Security Council-Small Group whose job is
to discuss and advise the President on issues of National Security
-Members usually includePresidentVice-PresidentSecretary of StateSecretary of DefenseChief of Staff
Other Offices
-Economic Advisors
-Science and Technology
-Administration
-U.S. Trade Representatives
-Policy Development
Executive Departments-These offices still
complete only a small part of the executive branches work
-As of 2002 there are 15 separate departments and many independent agencies to complete the executive branches work
-All of these are also under the control of the President
Departments
-Part of the Executive Branch
-15 Different Departments who are responsible for different areas of government
-each department is led by a Secretary
-All Secretaries make up an advisory group known as the Cabinet
State Department
-(1789) Plans the nation’s foreign policy-goals of the U.S. towards foreign nations
-Sets up Embassies in foreign nations-embassies are our government’s representatives in foreign nations
-Sets up Consulates-gov’t offices that are set up to help Americans in foreign nations
-Issues Visas to foreigners-foreigner’s permission to visit the U.S.
-Issues Passports to citizens-identification for U.S. citizens in foreign nations
Treasury Department
-(1789) Collects and Spends all the nations tax money
-IRS-collects U.S. taxes
-Bureau of Mint, Printing and Engraving
-Bureau of Public Debtborrows the money used by the government to operate deficits
-Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Agency
Defense Department
- (1947---formerly the Dept of War) Protects the Nation
-Three BranchesArmy
Navy / Marines
Air Force
-Each branch is led by a civilian
-Joint Chiefs of Staff
Justice Department
-(1870) Represents the US in the Legal System
-Led by the Attorney General
-FBI-investigated violations of Federal laws
-Bureau of Prisons
-ATF
-DEA
Interior Department
-(1849) Manages our nation’s lands and resources
-National Park Service-manages millions of acres of national parks
-Fish and Wildlife Services
-Bureau of Indian Affairs
Department of Agriculture-(1862) Helps farmers and consumers of agricultural products
-Food Safety and Inspection Service
-Food and Nutrition Service
-Agricultural Research
-Farmer’s Home Administration
-Soil Conservation
-Forest Service
Department of Commerce
-(1903) Promotes the economy and business interests of the nation
-Census Bureau
-Patent and Trademark Office
-Bureau of Standards
-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
Department of Labor
-(1913) protects the interests of laborers and employers in the nation
-Occupational Health and Safety Administration
-Unemployment Insurance
-Bureau of Labor Statistics
Department of Health and Human Services
-(1953) works for the well being of the public
-Medicare and Medicaidmedical care for the elderly and the poor
-Public Health ServiceCenter for Disease Control
-Food and Drug Administration
Department of Housing and Urban Development
-(1965) Deals with the special problems faced in urban areas
-Mostly distributes federal funds to urban areas in order to:
-Rebuilding slums
-improve neighborhoods
-build low income housing
Department of Transportation
-(1966) Manages and oversees the nations transportation
-National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
-Federal Aviation Administration
-U.S. Coast Guard (moved to Homeland Security)
Department of Energy
-(1977) manages the nation’s energy resources and tries to promote wise usage of energy
-regulate energy related industries
-oversees nuclear power industry
Department of Education
-(1979) offers advise and assistance to states
-gives grants and funds projects designed to improve education
-No Child Left Behind Act-federal regulations concerning the measurement of school performance
Department of Veteran’s Affairs
-(1988) manages the system of benefits for the veterans of our armed forces
-Veteran’s Hospitals
Department of Homeland Security
-(2003) purpose is to protect the security of America from threats
-Secret Service
-Coast Guard
-Immigration
-Customs
-Transportation Security Administration
-FEMA