Intro to Law and Justice: The Executive Branch
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
| Requirements to become president | -Must be a natural-born citizen-Must be at least 35 years old-Must be 14 years a resident of the United States |
|---|---|
| Presidential Powers | -Commander and Chief of the Army and Navy-Can grant pardons \n -Can veto lawsCan call Congress into session-Makes treaties-Appoint Supreme Court Justices and Ambassadors (w/ Senate Approval) |
| Presidential election | -Elected by electoral vote-1 term = 4 years |
| Presidential Succession Act of 1947 | -Provides details on the cabinet duties in the case of the president or vice presidentâs removal, resignation, death or inability. (25th amendment) |
| Electoral College Votes | -538 votes total-270 electoral votes are needed for a candidate to win an election. -Electoral College Votes are voted by electors, which decides who the winner of the presidential election is. |
| Disadvantages of the Electoral College | -Citizens who live in a state where the major party is their opposing one, donât accurately have votes represented in elections. (Candidates appeal most to swing states)-Popular votes are not guaranteed |
| Presidentâs power to execute the law covers | All federal laws whether or not the president agrees with them |
| The President exercises legislative power over Congress by | -Recommending legislation-Vetoing bills |
| 22nd Amendment | Limits the president to 2 terms |
| What does the first day in office look like for the President | -The President participates in the oath (states he will uphold the powers of the Constitution)-Is inaugurated. |
| Expressed Powers of the President that have the longest impact | The appointing of Supreme Court justices |
| Executive Agreements | President can make any executive decisions without congressional approval or support |
| Growth of executive powers, why does it happen? | Presidentsâ powers typically expand during national crises, because it is necessary in order to keep the country stable and at peace. |
| How are cabinet members appointed? | -By the President-Requires Senate approval |
| Bureaucracy | -Any agency, people or procedures through which the federal government operates. -Hierarchical authority, job specialization, and formalized rules |
| President pardons | -Pardon: A release from legal punishment-President has power to grant laws, except in the cases of impeachment |
| Impeachment | -A charge of misconduct or misdemeanor made against the holder of a public office (not the same as firing)-Trial is carried out by Congress |
| Chief Diplomat | Gets to meet with foreign leaders and make treaties |
| Chief Citizen | -The president represents all of the people of the United States. -President works for the peopleâs interest and leads them. |
| Chief Executive | -Leads the executive branch; gets appoint judges (Senate must approve)-Gets to choose cabinet leaders (Senate must approve)-Most powerful position in the U.S.A. |
| Chief Administrator | -President is the director of the executive branch of the federal government |
| Commander-in-Chief | -In charge of national security-Head of the military-Can send troops around the world |
| Executive Departments (examples) | -Departments within the Executive Branch -Treasury, Labor, Agriculture |
| The Civil Service | -Group of public employees who perform the administrative work of the government-Excludes the armed forces (military) |