EXECUTIVE BRANCH UNIT 3

What can the POTUS do with a bill?

1. Sign the bill
2. veto the bill (overridden by ⅔ vote)
3. Allow the bill to become law without signing (wait 10 days and congress is in session),
4. Pocket veto the bill (wait 10 days and congress isn't in session - "let it die")

incumbent

current office-holder

Role of Federal Executive Branch

Enforce/Carry out laws

Chief Executive of the Executive Branch

President

The US Bureaucracy

Executive Office of the President, U.S. Departments, Agencies, etc.

22nd Amendment

President is limited to a two-term limit

Informal qualifications for POTUS

• Political Experience (former governors, senators, etc.)
  Speaking Ability
• Pleasant and Healthy Appearance (happily married, attractive)

Constitutional requirements for POTUS

Natural Born Citizen

• 35+ years old
• Resident of U.S. for 14+ years

Vice President

• Chosen by the presidential candidate during the election process.
  "Balancing the ticket"- choosing VP candidates that represent different qualities: ideology, age, region, experience, etc.

Constitutional Requirements of the Vice President

• Serve as President of the Senate (break ties).
• Serve as President should the current one die, resign, get removed from office.

25th amendment

• outlines succession/ disability procedures for President and VP.
• Presidential Disability: Congress must be informed in writing by President OR VP + Majority of Cabinet.
  Example: President has major surgery or is shot.

Presidential Roles

Chief of State, Chief Executive, Chief Diplomat, Chief of Party, Commander in Chief, Chief Legislator

Chief of State

POTUS is ceremonial head of the U.S. government.
Gives Speeches, Awards Honors, Hosts Dinners

Chief Executive

POTUS decides how the laws of the U.S. are to be enforced.
Appoints officials (Agency/dept. heads, Supreme Court Justices, etc.), issues executive orders, serves as leader of
the bureaucracy.

Chief Diplomat

POTUS is nation's chief spokesperson to the world and designer of foreign policy.
Meets with foreign leaders, constructs treaties/executive agreements.

Chief of Party

POTUS is the acknowledged leader of their political party.
Appoints party leadership to influential positions, supports party candidates in other offices.

Commander in Chief

POTUS is in control of the nation's armed forces
Gives military orders- sends troops overseas
Requests declaration of war

Chief Legislator

POTUS is designer of public policy.
Helps shape congressional agenda and priorities.
Holds the veto power.

Bipartisan

cooperation between two political parties

Partisan

strong loyalty to one party

Executive Privilege

While the president has the right to keep sensitive communication private, this right is not absolute (US v Nixon)

Impoundment of Funds

Presidents must spend money appropriated to them by Congress. They cannot refuse this.

Presidential Popularity

• Increases If:
  Good economy, effective handling of foreign conflict/policy, effective use of the media, re-election
• Declines If:
  Poor economy, poor handling of conflict, prolonged/unpopular war, scandal
  Popularity highest after election,
  tends to decline from there.
  Lame Duck Period limits influence

Formal Powers of the POTUS

Presidential powers outlined in the U.S Constitution.

Informal Powers of the POTUS

Powers of the president that have been expanded over time, but are not mentioned in the Constitution.

Examples of Formal Powers of the POTUS

Veto laws, sign treaties, appoint officials, serve as commander in chief, deliver the state of the union address, grant pardons

Examples of Informal Powers of the POTUS

Executive Orders, Executive Agreements, Bully Pulpit, Signing Statements

Executive Orders

carries the force of law, but only during that president's term- no congressional approval needed.

Executive Agreements

informal agreements between heads of state- only valid for the president's term and not passed by the Senate.

Bully Pulpit

use of influence and position to push agenda forward.

Signing Statements

Influences how legislation is enforced. POTUS does this when they sign a bill into a law.

Presidential Succession

If the president dies, resigns, or is removed, the VP will take the position. Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore are next in line after VP for suceession.