The Executive Branch

President

Head of the Executive Branch

Chief of State

The president as ceremonial head of the United States

Chief Executive

Term for the President as vested with the executive power of the United States

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Chief Administrator

Term for the President as head of the administration of the Federal Government

Civilian

a person who is not in the military

Chief Diplomat

The role of the president in recognizing foreign governments, making treaties, and effecting executive agreements.

Chief Legislator

term for the president as architect of public policy and the one who sets the agenda for congress

Commander in Chief

The role of the president as supreme commander of the military forces of the United States and of the state National Guard units when they are called into federal service

Chief of Party

term for the president as the leader of his or her political party

Political Parties and the Constitution

Political parties are not mentioned in the constitution, but most of the founding fathers didn't want political parties to form and George Washington warned of the dangers of party affiliation.

Qualifications of the President

35 years old, natural born citizen, resided in the U.S. for 14 years

14th Amendment

Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws

Natural Born Citizen

someone who was born in the U.S. or born to U.S. citizens

Alexander Hamilton

wrote the federalist papers

The Federalist No. 71

Discusses the terms of the President

FDR

32nd President of the U.S., served 4 terms as President

Presidential Succession

scheme by which a presidential vacancy is filled it goes VP, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate

25th Amendment

Presidential succession

Order of Succession

Vice president, Speaker of the House, President pro tempore, and Secretary of State

Formal Duties of the Vice President

to preside over the senate and help decide if the president is disabled

First Lady

the wife of the President of the United States

Betty Ford

Supported Women's Rights

Barbara Bush

First Lady who promoted literacy

Hilary Clinton

First Lady who advocated for Health Care

Michelle Obama

First Lady who promoted healthy eating

Article II

Executive Branch

Congressional Oversight

Power used by Congress to gather information useful for the formation of legislation, review the operations and budgets of executive departments and independent regulatory agencies, conduct investigations through committee hearings, and bring to the public's attention the need for public policy

Executive Order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

Executive Privilege

The power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.

Presidential Appointees

employees that a president nominates, must be confirmed by the Senate

Reprieve

a temporary relief or delay of a sentence

Pardon

A declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment

Powers of Clemency

Pardon, amnesty, commutation, reprieve

Veto

to reject

Override Veto

An override is when it goes back to congress and receives at least a 2/3 majority in both houses and therefore become s a law without the approval of the president.

Pocket Veto

president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days

Treaty

A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states

Executive Agreement

an agreement between the president and the leader of another country