week 7.1 the president

1. Article II: The Executive Branch

2. Art. II Sect. 1: Authority & Office of President

The executive power of the US govt is headed up by the President with the Vice President under him; He is Chief Executive of the USA

3. Term length = 4 years 4. How is the President elected? 5. Art. II Sect. 1: Authority & Office of President

6. Term length = 4 years 7. How is the President elected? 8. - each state appoints electors 9. How many electors per state? 10. Art. II Sect. 1: Authority & Office of President

11. Term length = 4 years 12. How is the President elected? 13. - each state appoints electors 14. How many electors per state? 15. - equal to number of senators & representatives in Congress 16. - no one who holds a US office can be an elector 17. Note: The rest of Article II Sect. 1.2 was replaced by Amendment XII. Why? 18. Electing the Prez & VP

Early on there were problems:

19. - in 1796 John Adams was elected President & Jefferson came in second, so he became VP, but they were in different parties and worked against each other while in office! 20. - a tie in 1800 for President between Thomas Jefferson & Aaron Burr, who was supposed to be his VP. It took 36 votes in the House to break the tie, with Jefferson finally winning. 21. More on Amendment XII

According to Amendment XII if there is a tie in the electoral college, the House breaks the tie for the president, and the Senate breaks the tie for VP

22. Amendment XII also clarified that VP must meet qualifications for President. 23. The House had to elect the President in 1800 and 1824 and the Senate elected the VP in 1836. 24. What is the Electoral College and how does it work?

Group of voters selected by each state that officially elect the President

25. The number of electors = # of senators + representatives 26. How many in Colorado? 27. What is the Electoral College and how does it work?

28. The number of electors = # of senators + representatives 29. How many in Colorado? 10 30. How many total? 31. What is the Electoral College and how does it work?

32. The number of electors = # of senators + representatives 33. How many in Colorado? 10 34. How many total? 538 (100 senators + 435 Reps + 3 from DC) 35. They almost always vote the way the people in their state voted. Usually winner take all, but a few states actually allocate their electors proportionately. 36. Is this a good idea? 37. What is the Electoral College and how does it work?

38. The number of electors = # of senators + representatives 39. How many in Colorado? 10 40. How many total? 538 (100 senators + 435 Reps + 3 from DC); a candidate must win 270+ votes to win the race 41. They meet shortly after the popular vote, but the result is usually already a forgone conclusion 42. They almost always vote the way the people in their state voted. Usually winner take all, but a few states (ME, NE) actually allocate their electors proportionately. 43. Is this a good idea? 44. Electoral College cont.

I prefer the winner-take-all approach. Otherwise, the state's vote is watered down in importance and the state is not considered important in the campaigning stage.

45. Why did the Founding Fathers set up the electoral college? 46. Electoral College cont.

I prefer the winner-take-all approach. Otherwise, the state's vote is watered down in importance and the state is not considered important in the campaigning stage.

47. Why did the Founding Fathers set up the electoral college? 48. - They intended that only the House of Representatives would be elected by the popular vote. The electoral college gives more power to the smaller states, especially the rural states. Large cities tend to vote more liberally than the more conservative suburbs and rural areas and would have too much influence on the election without the electoral college. California, Florida, and Texas would have way too much power. 49. What happened in the 2000 Presidential Election?

Who won the popular vote?

50. What happened in the 2000 Presidential Election?

Who won the popular vote? Al Gore

51. Who won the electoral college vote? 52. What happened in the 2000 Presidential Election?

Who won the popular vote? Al Gore

53. Who won the electoral college vote? George W. Bush 54. - It all came down to who would win Florida's electoral votes, but the race was too close to call for days. The election was hanging for weeks because of a controversy over hanging chads, the little bits of paper clinging to the ballots that had not been properly removed by some of the voters, so the Democrats claimed such ballots were too hard to count. 55. So, even though Gore got more votes overall, once it was established that Bush won Florida, he had more electoral votes and thus became President.What a nightmare! 56. How are electors chosen in Colorado?

They're chosen by the delegates to the parties' state conventions.

57. Not a big deal for the Democrats this year because Obama is unopposed, but a huge deal for the Republicans. 58. Colorado's State Republican Party Convention is April 14. I am an alternate to that convention but hope to get to vote.We may already know who the Republican nominee will be at that point, but if not, our vote could be important. 59. We will also vote for delegates to the Republican National Convention, so this will be important, too, just in case the candidate is not yet selected, which is unlikely, but also to help set the party's national platform. 60. Art. II Sect. 1.3

Congress sets the time for the President's election.

61. When is that? 62. Art. II Sect. 1.3 1.4

63. When is that? 64. - 1 stTuesday after the 1 stMonday in November 65. What are the qualifications to be President? 66. Art. II Sect. 1.3 1.4

67. When is that? 68. - 1 stTuesday after the 1 stMonday in November 69. What are the qualifications to be President? 70. - natural-born citizen 71. - 35+ years old 72. - resident of the US for at least 14 years 73. Art II Sect. 1.5: What happens if a President is removed from office?

Whether by death, resignation, or inability to do his job, the VP takes over.

74. What if something happens to both of them? 75. Art II Sect. 1.5: What happens if a President is removed from office?

Whether by death, resignation, or inability to do his job, the VP takes over.

76. What if something happens to both of them? 77. The Presidential Succession is as follows: 78. - Speaker of the House 79. - President Pro Tempore of the Senate 80. - Members of the President's Cabinet in the order of the creation of their offices (Sec. Of State, then Sec. Of Treasury, Sect. Of Defense, Attorney General, etc.) 81. Amendment XXV allows appointment of a new VP when that office is empty, which happened under Nixon when Spiro Agnew resigned due to bribery charges in Maryland. 82. President's Salary

President Woodrow Wilson had a stroke while in office, and it's believed that his wife did most of his work during that time. The VP should have taken over if Wilson was too disabled to do his job.

83. How much is he paid? 84. President's Salary & Oath

President Woodrow Wilson had a stroke while in office, and it's believed that his wife did most of his work during that time. The VP should have taken over if Wilson was too disabled to do his job.

85. How much is he paid? $400,000 per year as well as extra money for expenses, entertainment, & travel. He also receives a lifetime pension, free medical & dental services, and an expense account for staff after he leaves office. 86. The oath of office is clearly presented in the Constitution. Note that Washington added So help me, God at the end of the oath, and this has been included ever since. 87. Art. II Sect. 2 Powers & Duties

Commander in Chief:

- Head of army, navy, state militias when called into federal service, air force

Note: A civilian controls military power in the US

88. In addition to a declaration of war by Congress, when else can the President call troops into action? 89. Art. II Sect. 2 Powers & Duties

Commander in Chief:

- army, navy, state militias when called into federal service, air force

90. In addition to a declaration of war by Congress, when else can the President call troops into action? 91. - if a law is passed authorizing him to do so 92. - there's an emergency due to an attack on the US or its possessions 93. What else is included under this power? 94. Art. II Sect. 2 Powers & Duties

Commander in Chief :

- army, navy, state militias when called into federal service, air force

95. In addition to a declaration of war by Congress, when else can the President call troops into action? 96. - if a law is passed authorizing him to do so 97. - there's an emergency due to an attack on the US or its possessions 98. What else is included under this power? 99. - covert organizations & actions (CIA, etc.) 100. Art. II Sect. 2: Cabinet

What is the Cabinet?

101. Art. II Sect. 2: Cabinet

What is the Cabinet?

102. - Heads of the 15 executive departments under the Prez 103. - The word cabinet comes from the French word for a closed or private room where a king meets w/ his advisers 104. These people are usually his closest councilors and advisers and include the Secretary Of State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Healthy & Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security. 105. Other members of the Cabinet include the VP, Prez's Chief of Staff, head of EPA, head of Office Management & Budget, head of National Drug Control Policy, US trade rep 106. Art. II Sect. 2: Pardons & Reprieves

Reprieve = temporary postponement of punishment

107. Pardon = complete forgiveness of a crime & it punishment 108. Amnesty = general pardon to a group 109. Recent pardons: 110. - Ford's pardon of Nixon 111. - Carter's pardon of draft dodgers during the Vietnam War 112. - Clinton's pardon of 130 criminals including some in prison for drug charges or tax evasion 113. Art. II Sect. 2: Head of State

What does Head of State mean?

114. Art. II Sect. 2: Head of State

115. - In charge of diplomatic relations with foreign nations 116. What does this entail? 117. Art. II Sect. 2: Head of State

118. - In charge of diplomatic relations with foreign nations 119. What does this entail? 120. - receiving ambassadors 121. - sending ambassadors to other nations 122. - meeting with heads of other nations 123. - negotiating treaties, including trade agreements 124. Who has to approve all treaties? 125. Art. II Sect. 2: Head of State

126. - In charge of diplomatic relations with foreign nations 127. What does this entail? 128. - receiving ambassadors 129. - sending ambassadors to other nations 130. - meeting with heads of other nations 131. - negotiating treaties, including trade agreements 132. Who has to approve all treaties? Senate, by 2/3 vote 133. Who is the current Secretary of State? 134. Art. II Sect. 2: Head of State

135. - In charge of diplomatic relations with foreign nations 136. What does this entail? 137. - receiving ambassadors 138. - sending ambassadors to other nations 139. - meeting with heads of other nations 140. - negotiating treaties, including trade agreements 141. Who has to approve all treaties? Senate, by 2/3 vote 142. Who is Secretary of State?Hillary Clinton 143. Executive agreement a written agreement w/ another head of state; does not need Senate approval 144. Art. II Section 2: Chief Executive

What does it mean to be Chief Executive?

145. Art. II Section 2: Chief Executive

146. - President is responsible to carry out (execute) the laws passed by Congress 147. What is meant by bureaucracy? 148. Art. II Section 2: Chief Executive

149. - President is responsible to carry out (execute) the laws passed by Congress 150. What is meant by bureaucracy? 151. - government by desks or clerks 152. Why do people often hate bureaucracy? 153. Art. II Section 2: Chief Executive

154. - President is responsible to carry out (execute) the laws passed by Congress 155. What is meant by bureaucracy? 156. - government by desks or clerks 157. Why do people often hate bureaucracy? 158. - known for inefficiency, lack of responsiveness, and too many rules & regulations, red tape, waste, bureaucrats not answerable to the people (unelected), doublespeak(p.353) All of this found in any organization but worst in govt. 159. - DMV anyone? Try Mexico! 160. How did the federal bureaucracy come about? 161. Art. II Sect. 2: Appointments

Prez appoints Cabinet heads, agency head, and other key positions in his administration, including federal judges and diplomats (1000's of people)

162. Who has to approve these appointments? 163. Art. II Sect. 2: Appointments

Prez appoints Cabinet heads, agency heads, and other key positions in his administration, including federal judges and diplomats (1000's of people)

164. Who has to approve these appointments? 165. - Senate, by 2/3 vote (Advise & Consent role) 166. The Prez is also able to hire a number of positions without Senate oversight 167. Civil service employees = ? 168. Art. II Sect. 2: Appointments

Prez appoints Cabinet heads, agency heads, and other key positions in his administration, including federal judges and diplomats (1000's of people)

169. Who has to approve these appointments? 170. - Senate, by 2/3 vote (Advise & Consent role) 171. The Prez is also able to hire a number of positions without Senate oversight 172. Civil service employees = most of the people who work for the federal government (Post Offices, Social Security, Medicare, federal departments like the Dept. of Agriculture, national parks, etc, etc.) 173. - These people continue in their jobs regardless of who becomes Prez 174. Federal Bureaucracy

What's the problem with all these federal agencies and employees?

175. Federal Bureaucracy

176. - They cost a lot of money which means taxes! 177. - Once established, their jobs rarely go away because Americans have come to depend on these programs 178. - It's their job to establish & enforce regulations, the number of which grow astronomically every year 179. How will the new national healthcare legislation affect the bureaucracy? 180. Federal Bureaucracy

181. - They cost a lot of money which means taxes! 182. - Once established, their jobs rarely go away because Americans have come to depend on these programs 183. - It's their job to establish & enforce regulations, the number of which grow astronomically every year 184. How will the new national healthcare legislation affect the bureaucracy? 185. - That's right, it will have a huge surge in growth 186. Federal Bureaucracy

What is the spoils system?

187. Federal Bureaucracy

What is the spoils system = what happens when a new Prez takes over and cleans house by replacing govt jobholders with new people who supported him in the election campaign

188. Pendleton Civil Service Act: protected most federal employees from the spoils system 189. - Note, however, that there are restrictions on their political activities (see p. 337) 190. How many Cabinet departments are there? 191. Federal Bureaucracy

What is the spoils system = what happens when a new Prez takes over and cleans house by replacing govt jobholders with new people who supported him in the election campaign

192. Pendleton Civil Service Act: protected most federal employees from the spoils system 193. - Note, however, that there are restrictions on their political activities (see p. 337) 194. How many Cabinet departments are there? 195. - 15, but the directors of the EPA, Office of Management & Budget, National Drug Control Policy, U.S Trade Representative as well as the VP are often included in Cabinet meetings 196. Cabinet Departments

What are the 15 Cabinet Departments & what do they do?

197. Cabinet Departments What do they do?

Dept. of State, 1789: foreign relations, diplomatic corps, passports & visas Dept. of the Treasury, 1789: taxes, spending, borrowing money, printing money, Customs, IRS Department of Defense, 1789: military forces, national security; Pentagon Department of Justice, 1789: attorney general, enforces federal law, U.S. Attorneys prosecute cases in federal courts, oversee federal prisons, US marshals, ATFE, FBI Department of the Interior, 1849: manages public lands & territories, Native Americans, mining, national parks, etc. Department of Agriculture, 1889: food inspection, school lunches, food stamps, farmers & ranchers, national forests

198. Cabinet Departments cont

Dept. of Commerce, 1903: international trade, economic growth, the census, patents & trademarks, ocean & coastal resources, economic statistics & research

199. Dept. of Labor, 1913: minimum wage, safety laws, job training, childcare issues, OSHA, labor stats 200. Dept of Health & Human Services, 1953/1980: health care, disease prevention & control, Medicare & Medicaid, welfare, FDA largest budget (25%)of all the depts! 201. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development, 1937/65: public housing, home financing, homelessness aid, FHA, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, urban renewal 202. Dept. of Transportation, 1966: oversees US highways,FAA mass transit, air travel, railroads, pipelines, maritime laws, 203. Cabinet Departments finished

Dept. of Energy, 1977: energy technology, nuclear weapons research, hydroelectric power, alternative energy

204. Dept. of Education, 1953/1979: federal aid to public schools, educational research 205. Dept. of Veteran Affairs, 1989: oversees benefits, pensions, and medical programs for veterans, maintains military cemeteries, GI Bill 206. Dept. of Homeland Security, 2002: prevents terrorist attacks in U.S., reduce vulnerability to such attacks; U.S. Customs, Immigration & Naturalization, Secret Service, Coast Guard, FEMA 207. Independent Agencies

Independent means they are not located in any of the previous 15 Cabinet departments

208. Includes NASA, USPS, Tennessee Valley Authority, FCC, SEC (Securities & Exchange Commission), FDA, EPA, OSHA, FDIC, SBA,the Fed, EEOC, NLRB,NIH, NEA, Social Security, etc. 209. Federal Bureacracy

Organized like a pyramid with the Prez & Cabinet at the top followed by various agency heads and then a myriad of levels under them (See p. 338)

210. Look at chart on p. 334 to illustrate growth of # of federal employees 211. What caused the explosion in govt growth in the 1800's and 1930's & 40's? 212. Federal Bureacracy

Organized like a pyramid with the Prez & Cabinet at the top followed by various agency heads and then a myriad of levels under them (See p. 338)

213. Look at chart on p. 334 to illustrate growth of # of federal employees 214. What caused the explosion in govt growth in the 1800's and 1930's & 40's? 215. - aftermath of Civil War 216. - New Deal response to the Great Depression 217. - World War II 218. Has the # of employees ever dropped? 219. Federal Bureacracy

Organized like a pyramid with the Cabinet at the top followed by various agency heads and then a myriad of levels under them (See p. 338)

220. Look at chart on p. 334 to illustrate growth of # of federal employees 221. What caused the explosion in govt growth in the 1800's and 1930's & 40's? 222. - aftermath of Civil War 223. - New Deal response to the Great Depression 224. - World War II 225. Has the # of employees ever dropped? 226. - Yes!Under Clinton; why? 227. Federal Bureacracy

Organized like a pyramid with the Cabinet at the top followed by various agency heads and then a myriad of levels under them (See p. 338)

228. Look at chart on p. 334 to illustrate growth of # of federal employees 229. What caused the explosion in govt growth in the 1800's and 1930's & 40's? 230. - aftermath of Civil War 231. - New Deal response to the Great Depression 232. - World War II 233. Has the # of employees ever dropped? 234. - Yes!Under Clinton; why jobs cut in Dept of Defense 235. More on the Federal Bureaucracy

Why is it sometimes called the fourth branch of the govt?

236. More on the Federal Bureaucracy

237. - seems to have as much power as the three official branches: legislative, executive & judicial; it has a life of its own 238. - largest branch by far with all its employees 239. - can play the other branches against each other 240. - made up of specialists who control their fates by controlling information, esp. to legislators 241. Who oversees the bureaucracy? 242. More on the Federal Bureaucracy

243. - seems to have as much power as the three official branches: legislative, executive & judicial; it has a life of its own 244. - largest branch by far with all its employees 245. - can play the other branches against each other 246. - made up of specialists who control their fates by controlling information, esp. to legislators 247. Who oversees the bureaucracy? Congress & the Prez 248. - Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 249. - Sunshine Act requires public hearings 250. - General Accounting Office can audit finances of a dept. 251. Art. II Sect. 2.3: Recess Appointments

What is a recess appointment?

252. Art. II Sect. 2.3: Recess Appointments

What is a recess appointment?

253. - appointment made by President to fill a vacancy while Senate is in recess, thus sidestepping a confirmation hearing. The appointment is good until the next Congress convenes. 254. Art. II Sect. 3: Other Duties & Powers

State of the Union Address: addressed to Congress at the end of January every year outlining the issues he would like to see Congress address

255. He can call Congress into session during a time of emergency 256. If the House & Senate cannot agree on a time to adjourn, the President can decide for them 257. He receives ambassadors & public ministers (Head of State) 258. He commissions all the officers of the US military (Commander-in Chief) 259. He makes sure all laws are executed (Chief Executive) 260. Art. II Sect. 4: Impeachment

Impeachment = removal of President, VP, and all civil officers of the US upon conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

261. We have covered this earlier; the House makes the charge (impeaches) and the Senate holds a trial and convicts (or not.) 262. Miscellaneous Issues

When, if ever, is war appropriate?

263. Are you concerned about wiretapping and other invasions into personal privacy that are now practiced by the govt? 264. What do you think should be done to get the federal budget under control?What would you cut?Would you raise taxes?Bring the troops home?Or? 265. How should we respond to terrorist attacks? Does the military need to change? How? 266. Are you worried about China's growing power? 267. What do you think is/are the most pressing issue(s) facing our next president and Congress? 268. What are weapons of mass destruction (WMD)? 269. More Issues

Does the ever increasing globalization concern you? Or do you welcome it?

270. What can be done about the Muslim threat? Why do they hate us so much? 271. How about illegal immigration? 272. Is there a workable alternative to a national health care system? Anyone have any idea how much health insurance costs?What can be done about this? Why is it so expensive? 273. What do you think about cultural relativism? (p. 378) How should we address this? 274. Do you have hope for the future? Or are you facing a lot of fears?