The Executive Branch

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The Executive Branch
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Formal Qualifications

• Natural Born Citizen
• 35 yrs. Old
• JFK (34 yrs.) was youngest
• Reagan (69 yrs.) was oldest elected.
• Have lived in USA for 14 years

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Informal Qualifications

• Past political experience
• Historically governorships of larger states have
  produced the largest number of candidates
• Religious background
• Most have been Protestants only major exceptions
  have been Catholics (JFK)

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Informal Qualifications

• 3. Home State
• Larger states have helped candidates win votes
  (NY TX CA, etc)
• 4. Looks/Appearance
• Television has elevated this importance (JFK vs.
  Nixon 1960)

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Informal Qualifications
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Informal Qualifications

• 5. Public Speaking Ability
• 6. Male
• No party has seriously considered a female
  candidate.

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Term Salary

• Four Year Term
• 10 Year Maximum
• FDR elected to 4 terms limits were set by the
  22nd Amendment (1951)
• Salary
• 1789 25,000/year
• 2005 400, 000

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Job Description

• 8 Duties
• Chief of State
• Chief Executive
• Chief Administrator
• Chief Diplomat
• Commander in Chief
• Chief Legislator
• Chief of Party
• Chief Citizen

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Chief of State
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Chief Executive
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Chief Administrator
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Chief Diplomat
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Commander in Chief
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Chief of Party
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Chief Citizen
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The Presidents Executive Powers

• Ordinance Power
• Appointment Power
• Removal Power

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The Ordinance Power

• President has the power to issue executive
  orders, which are rules, directives or
  regulations that have the effect of law.
• The President can issue these orders to any
  office of the Executive Branch
• The President does this to enforce acts or
  regulations of Congress.

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The Appointment Power

• With consent of the Senate, the President names
  most of the top-ranking officers of the Federal
  Govt.
• Ambassadors and diplomats
• Cabinet members and top aides
• Heads of ind. agencies (EPA, NASA)
• Federal judges, U.S. marshals
• Officers in armed forces

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Who has Bush appointed?
The power to appoint is an Executive Power
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The Removal Power

• Pres. doesnt need reason to remove an official
• Senate consent needed for appointmentis it
  needed for removal???
• Answer NO!!! (Ruled in 1789 Congress debate)
• Solution to removal issues resignation

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Diplomatic/Military Powers

• Make treaties
• Executive Agreements
• Recognition Power
• Make Undeclared War (War Powers Resolution)

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Legislative Powers of President

• Recommend Legislation
• Veto Power (4 options)
• Line-item Veto (definition)
• Call special sessions of Congress
• Prorogue Power

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Judicial Powers of President

• Grant reprieves
• Grant pardons
• Grant clemency
• Commute sentences
• Grant amnesty

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The Presidents Cabinet

• Purpose to advise the President on any subject
  he may require relating to the duties of their
  respective offices.
• Creation Pres. George Washington

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The Presidents Cabinet

• The Constitution does not directly mention a
  "Cabinet," but the Constitutional authority for a
  Cabinet is found in Article II, Section 2.
• The Constitution states that the President "may
  require the opinion, in writing of the principle
  officer in each of the executive departments,
  upon any subject relating to the duties of their
  respective offices."

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Order of Succession

• Vice President
• Speaker of the House
• President Pro Tempore of the Senate
• Secretary of State
• And so on.

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The Vice President