executive branch

Pardon

a decree that frees a person from punishment for a crime

Cabinet

the heads of the executive departments of the federal government

Executive Order

a rule or regulation issued by a president or governor that has the force of law

Pocket Veto

the automatic killing of a bill by refusing to either sign it or veto it; this can occur only in the final days of a congressional session

Amnesty

a general pardon usually granted to a group of people

Age of The President

35 years old

Citizenship Requirement For President

Must be a natural born citizen

Residency Within The United States For President

14 years within the United States

Typical Educational/Working Backgrounds Of The President

Most have earned at least college/bachelor's degrees

Makeup of Most Presidents

Most have been white males from the upper or middle class

Gaining the Office

Through popular vote

Electoral College

The system through which the President of the United States is elected

Line of Succession

If the president is unable to serve, the office goes to the next person in the order

Vice President

The first in the line of succession after the president

Speaker of the House

The second in the line of succession after the Vice President

Impeachment Process

To ensure that presidents were only removed from office for serious offenses and not for frivolous reasons

House of Representatives Role in Impeachment

The House of Representatives initiate the impeachment process

Senate Role in Impeachment

The Senate holds the impeachment trial after the House initiates the impeachment process

Majority Vote for Impeachment

A majority of the House must vote to impeach/formally accuse the President

Senate Vote to Find Guilty

2/3rds of the Senate must vote to find the official guilty

Maximum Terms for President

Two Four-Year Terms

22nd Amendment

Created the limit of two terms for the President, ratified in 1951

Franklin D. Roosevelt

He served for more than 12 years prior to the 22nd Amendment

Recall Elections

At the state level, voters can petition to hold an election to remove an elected official before their term ends; there is no such process at the federal level

Chief Policymaker

While Congress makes the laws, the president uses this role to have significant influence over the legislative process

Chief Manager of the Economy

While the president has NO FORMAL POWER over the economy, they do use this role to work with Congress to write a federal budget, set tax policy, and appoint members of the Federal Reserve Board

Chief of Party

In this role, the President works to exert great influence over party members in Congress

Chief Citizen

In this role, the president strives to embody American ideals and to serve the nation by acting in its best interests. The president works to inform, inspire, and comfort the American people.

Commander in Chief

Head of the armed forces, the President is responsible for the operations of the U.S. military and the overall security of the nation.

Chief Executive

In this role, the president acts much like the head of a large corporation. The president oversees the various agencies and organizations that carry out the daily business of government.

Chief of State

In this role, the president is the ceremonial leader of the government. In the United States, the president represents the United States at official functions both here in the U.S. and abroad.

Chief Diplomat

In this role, the president oversees U.S. foreign policy, holds talks with foreign leaders, and negotiates treaties.

Presidential Checks on Legislative Branch

The President can check the power of the Legislative Branch by vetoing bills passed by Congress.

Presidential Influence on Judicial Branch

The President nominates judges to the Supreme Court, essentially influencing the makeup and legal interpretation of the Supreme Court.

Actions on Receiving a Bill

The President can sign the bill when reviewing it or veto the bill and return it to Congress.

Overriding a Veto

The piece of legislation can still come into law if Congress overrides the veto - this requires a sufficient majority vote in Congress.

Executive Privilege

Executive Privilege can be granted to the President by the judicial branch and involves the power of keeping records confidential.

Nixon v. United States

The Court ruled on executive privilege and required President Nixon to back down, suggesting the court does not unconditionally grant executive privilege.

White House Staff

The White House Staff consists of about 400 people who work directly for the President, providing guidance and advice on a wide range of issues.

Chief of Staff

The most important member of the White House staff.

Executive Office of The President

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) consists of agencies created by Congress in 1939 to provide support staff to the President.

Creating New Agencies

Yes, Presidents can create new agencies to carry out specific goals.

Executive Departments

Executive Departments are a group of organizations within the executive branch that work in broad areas of public policy.

Number of Executive Departments

There are 15 executive agencies today.

Independent Agencies

Independent Agencies are part of the executive branch but generally do not fall within the executive departments; they implement federal policy.

Examples of Independent Agencies

Examples include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).