The President and the Executive Branch

Learning Objectives Identify the six major ways the President leads

the country Explain the roles and duties of the Vice President Explain the roles and duties of the special

councils Explain the role and duties of the Cabinet

Words to Know

1. term – the length of time a person holds a government office

2. Budget – a plan for spending money

3. Ceremonial – done in a formal way for a special or important occasion

4. Diplomat – a government official who works with governments of other countries

5. Foreign policy – the course of action a country takes in relation to another country

Words to Know (cont.)

6. Treaty – an agreement between nations

7. Ambassador – a representative of a government sent to a foreign country

8. Cabinet – the heads of the executive departments of the federal government

9. Resign – to give up a position

10. Council – a group of people who meet regularly to advise the President

11. Environment – the air, water, and land that surround us

The President of the United States

The President is heard on radio and TV almost every day

President may be the most powerful person in the world

He has the hardest job there is

Laws and Facts About the Presidency

President must be born in the United States

Be over the age of 35 Have lived in the United States for

at least 14 years The Presidents term of office is for 4

years He can only serve for 2 terms

He gets $200,000 salary and $119,000 for expenses

President lives and works at the White House in Washington DC

He has access to cars, planes, boats, and helicopters.

President can also use Camp David for vacation retreat and meetings

The Jobs of the President

President is the head of the executive branch of the federal government

The President leads the country in at least six important ways

Chief Executive

Constitution gives the President power to carry out the laws.

He sends ideas for law to Congress He must decide how to spend government

money. Makes the budget The boss of more than 3 million government

workers

Chief of State Meets with visitors from other countries Gives speeches on important holidays Represents the United States to the other

countries of the world

Chief Diplomat

Responsible for setting the foreign policy Decides what treaties to make with other nations President appoints ambassadors to represent the

United States in other countries He tries to keep peace with other countries

around the world

Commander in Chief

The President is the leader of the 2 million members of the armed forces

He is not a member of the armed forces The leaders of the army, navy, air force, and

marines answer to him. He can send the armed forces anywhere in the

world he wants.

Chief Law Maker

President has veto power He often proposes laws to Congress President has to give a speech to Congress each

year. It is called the State of the Union Address

Party Chief

The leader of his political party Usually has held lower political office He helps other people in his party get elected He must put best interest of the country first.

The Presidents Team

The President has many people who help get facts and gives him advice

The President’s team includes

a. Vice President

b. White House Office

c. the special councils

d. The Cabinet (heads of 14 executive departments).

The Vice President

The Vice President is chosen by the President to run for office with him

Has far less power than President The Constitution gives him the job of running the

Senate He will become President if the President dies,

seriously ill, or leaves office. President decides how much the

Vice President will do.

Executive Office of the President

The Presidents top assistants work in the Executive Office of the President

It is made up of several offices and councils staffed by some of the President’s closest advisors

The White House Office

This is the nerve center of the Executive Office President’s Chief-of-staff directs the operations of

this office The White House office advises the President

daily about foreign policy, money matters, defense, and relations with Congress.

Some people write the President’s speeches Plan trips for President The Press Secretary is also part of the White

House staff. They give all the White House news to the

newspapers, TV, and radio reporters.

Special Councils

President gets help from a number of special councils within the Executive Office

One of the most important ones is the NSC (National Security Council)

Special Councils (cont.)

Makes plans for the safety and security of the country

Advises President about foreign policies Other special councils

a. OMB (office of Management and Business)

b. Council of Economic Advisors

c. Council on Environmental Quaility

The Cabinet

They are responsible for all that goes on in their special departments

Cabinet members are called secretaries except the Attorney General

President picks each member but has to be approved by the Senate

Cabinet meetings are held once or twice a week

The President and the People

The President must know what the people want from their government.

He listens to the white house staff. He hears what his Cabinet members have to say. He reads what newspapers say about him.

The President and the People (cont.)

He listens to what television news reports say about him.

Reads letters sent to White House. Studies reports on what people are for or against. Travels all over country talking to voters.