Executive Branch Study Guide

Be able to define the following:

Chief Diplomat: makes foreign policy and signs treaties
Chief of State: The ceremonial head of the government; represents all the people
Chief Executive: Most powerful office in the world
Chief Administrator: Director of the Federal Government, Directs the administration and the executive branch
Commander in Chief: The entire military is subject to the President’s direct and immediate control
Chief Legislator: The main architect of public policy, Urges Congress to enact major legislation
Chief of Party: Leader of their political party
Chief Citizen: Work for and represent the public interest against the many different and competing private interests
25th Amendment: The Vice president becomes acting president if
Presidential Succession: Vice president - speaker of the house - President Pro tempore of the Senate - secretary of state - secretary of the treasury
Balancing the Ticket: Usually chosen to strengthen the chance of victory- vice president

Be able to put the Electoral College in order

step 1: state gets their number of electors

step 2: parties select electors

step 3: nominate candidates

step 4: people vote

step 5: winning parties electors are chosen

Step 6: electors vote

Step 7: majority wins

Step 8: tiebreaker

Step 9: elected

Know the following information about the Electoral College

How many total electors in the Nation: 538
How many electors Nebraska gets: 5
How many electoral votes do you need to become President: 270
How ties are broken in the Electoral College: House of Reps votes
Be able to explain how you think the Electoral College should work, should it stay the same (be able to explain how that works), should it all be the popular vote, should it all be like Nebraska? Make sure you explain how it works.

Be able to name 5 cabinet departments and who their secretary is.

Secretary of state - Anthony Bliken

Secretary of the treasury - Dr. Janet Yellen

Secretary of Defense - Lloyd Austin

Attorney general - Merrick Garland

Secretary of Agriculture - Tom Vilsack