Executive branch

Requirements to be the President

• 35 years old

• Natural born US citizen

• 14 year resident of the US

Federalist No. 70

• Alexander Hamilton

• One-single executive (one president is best)

  • Avoid conflicting ideas/divide country

  • Accountability 

  • Faster decisions 

Commander in Chief

head of military

Chief Executive

head of executive branch, carries out laws, pass executive orders, appoint officials

Head of State

symbol/ face of the nation; traditional/ entertaining roles

Economic Guardian

sets the budget every year with Congress

Chief Legislator

president plays a role in the lawmaking process (sign/veto bills)

Director of foreign policy

meet with world leaders, make treaties, appoint ambassadors

Head of Political Party

support/ endorse candidates from his party

Formal

make treaties

Formal

veto

Formal

appoint ambassadors, federal judges, cabinet members

Formal

commander in chief

Formal

grant pardon

Informal

executive agreements

Informal

executive orders

Informal

executive privilege

Informal

signing statements

Informal

war powers act

Informal

head of state

Informal

bully pulpit

legislative branch checks the executive branch by…

• override veto

• approve treaties

• impeachment charges/ conviction

• approve president appointments

judicial branch checks the executive branch by…

judicial review

Bully pulpit

• “large audience” to share out opinions/polices

  • Ex: Social Media (new version)

What can the president do with a bill?

Sign or veto

Approval Rating Advantages

• Good economy/ low unemployment

• Positive media coverage

• Honeymoon period (highest rating)

• Foreign policy successes

Approval Rating Disadvantages

• Poor economy/high unemployment

• Scandals or crises

• Exception gap: does not achieve anticipate success

• Declining media favorability

12th Amendment

The Electoral College chooses the president and the vice president differently 

20th Amendment

Moves up the inauguration date to January 20th (Avoid lame duck period/president)

22nd Amendment

Presidents can only serve 2 terms (4 year terms) (10 years max)

25th Amendment

 Outlines the presidential succession

President’s cabinet

• top advisors

  • The president picks and the senate confirms.

war powers act

president can send troops, if Congress does not authorize within 60 days, forces must withdraw

executive orders

directives issued by the president that have the force of law

executive agreement

an international agreement made by the president without Senate approval

executive privilege

the presidents right to keep certain communications confidential from Congress or courts

signing statements

written comments issued by the president when signing a bill into law

pardon

a presidential power to forgive an individual for a crime, erasing their legal consequences.

Formal meaning

In the constitution

Informal meaning

Not in the constitution