Chief Executive: What is the objective of this role?

Run the government and enforce laws.

Who does the President appoint in this role?  Who has to confirm those appointments?

The president appoints Cabinet members, judges, and agency leaders, but the Senate has to confirm them.

What is a pardon?

A pardon forgives someone for a federal crime.

President’s role in dealing with national emergencies

During national emergencies, the president can act quickly using emergency powers.

1. Commander in Chief:  What is the objective of this role?

Lead the military.

What can the president do in this role by himself?  When does he need to involve Congress?

 The president can move troops and respond to attacks on their own, but Congress must declare war.

Understand the War Powers Act, why it was passed, and if it ACTUALLY checks the president’s power or not.

 The War Powers Act was passed to limit presidential power by requiring Congress to be informed, but presidents often still act first.

1. Head of State:  What is the objective of this role?

Represent the U.S. as a symbol.

What type of activities fall under this role?

 This includes giving speeches, attending ceremonies, and hosting foreign leaders.

1. Chief Diplomat: What is the objective of this role?

Manage foreign relations.

Understand what the president can do in this role.

The president negotiates with other countries.

Be able to explain the differences between treaties and executive agreements.

Treaties need Senate approval, but executive agreements do not.

Be familiar with the Paris Climate Accord example

 The Paris Climate Accord is an example of an executive agreement.

Understand the Foreign Policy reading/assignment (electronically linked on Canvas)

Foreign policy power has grown because the president can act faster than Congress.

1. Chief Legislator

Objective: Influence lawmaking.
 The president suggests laws and works with Congress.

What is the State of the Union? 

 The State of the Union is a speech used to push the president’s goals.

How does the president use it to further their role of Chief Legislator?  

The president uses their role as Chief Political Party Leader to further their role as Chief Legislator by convincing members of their party in Congress to support and vote for laws they want passed.

 How is the president considered the chief legislator when they are the head of the executive branch?

The president is considered the chief legislator because even though they’re in the executive branch, they suggest laws, work with Congress to get them passed, and can sign or veto bills, which gives them a big influence over lawmaking.

What is Agenda-setting?

Agenda-setting is when the president decides what issues to focus on.

Executive Orders (what are they?  How and why the president uses them?  Disadvantages of executive orders?  Advantages?  Understand historical trends of executive orders.  What are the checks on executive orders?)

 Executive orders are rules the president makes to manage the government.

• Pros: Fast and efficient
  
  

• Cons: Can be overturned
  Checks include Congress, courts, and future presidents.
  
  

Chief Political Party Leader:  objective

Objective: Lead their political party.
The president helps campaign, raise money, and support party members because they are the party’s most powerful leader.

Chief Political Party Leader:  What is the function of this role?  How and why does the president have this power?  What things fall under this role?

The president’s role as Chief Political Party Leader is to lead their political party by supporting party members, campaigning, raising money, and pushing the party’s ideas, and they have this power because they’re the most visible leader of the party even though it’s not written in the Constitution.

Understand how and why the president’s role in setting foreign policy has grown dramatically.

Identify the ways Congress and the Supreme Court can check the president’s power.

Checks on the President Congress can pass laws, control funding, override vetoes, and impeach.
The Supreme Court can declare presidential actions unconstitutional.