THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Of

The United States of America

Lesson 9

Responsibilities of the Executive Branch

• The primary role for the executive branch is to execute the laws of the U.S. government.

• The President is the head of the executive branch, but has many other people to help him execute the laws of the country.

• The foundation for the executive branch is found in Article II of the U.S. Constitution.

The Enumerated Powers of the Executive Branch

Found in Article II of the U.S. Constitution:

• Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces

• Delivers the annual state of the Union Address

• Appoints heads of executive departments, federal court judges and other top officials

• Meets with heads of state, makes treaties, hosts foreign officials, and appoints ambassadors

• Can pardon people accused of a federal crime

• Makes sure all laws are faithfully executed (most important duty)

Presidential Terms and Salary

• A presidential term is 4 years in length.

• The 22nd Amendment was passed in 1951 and limited presidents to two terms (or 8 years) after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to 4 terms!

• The President is paid a salary of $400,000 a year, this is known as his/her compensation, plus an additional $50k for expenses.

Elections

• A President is elected on the first Tuesday in November during an election year.

• 12th Amendment established separate ballots for President and Vice President.

• The President is voted on by the electoral college- who votes on a candidate based on the what the states votes per Article II, Section I of the Constitution.

• The electoral college used to be

the only one’s who voted for the presidency.

• Go to YouTube and watch a video to learn about the electoral college.

• You may want to watch more than one!

THE EOP• Executive Office of the Presidency (E.O.P.)

consists of individuals and agencies who directly assist the President.

• 1,500 full time employees.• Has grown rapidly for Three reasons:

• Every President has reorganized it.• Complex problems facing the nation have

increased.• Coordination of agencies so that different

agencies can work together.

The Vice President

• Is elected along with the President - "same ticket"

• Presidential Succession- The Vice President(VP) takes the place of the President should he/she die or become disabled while in office - under the 25th amendment.

• The VP presides over the Senate.

• The VP's work and power depend upon what responsibilities the President assigns him/her.

The President's Cabinet• Leads 14 major

departments.• President appoints the

leaders - known as secretaries - 14 secretaries and the Vice President(VP) makes up the Cabinet.

• Act as main advisors to the President.

• Inner Cabinet - Department of State, Department of War, Department of the Treasury, Attorney General's office.

• Each appointee must be approved by the Senate.

• First duty of the President is to organize and staff the Executive Branch.

• Role of the cabinet is determined by the President.

• Andrew Jackson did not use his cabinet- relied on the “kitchen cabinet”.

Mount Rushmore National MemorialThe Black Hills of South Dakota

United States Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt