Standards:

Strand: Civics and Government

Content Standard III: Students understand the ideals, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship and understand the content and history of the founding documents of the United States with particular emphasis on the United States and New Mexico constitutions and how governments function at local, state, tribal, and national levels. Students will:

9-12 Benchmark 3-A: compare and analyze the structure, power and purpose of government at the local, state, tribal and national levels as set forth in their respective constitutions or governance documents:

2. Analyze the structure, powers and role of the executive branch of the United States government, to include:

specific powers delegated in Article II of the constitution;

checks and balances;

development of the cabinet and federal bureaucracy;

roles and duties of the presidency, including those acquired over time such as “head of state” and “head of a political party;”

3. Examine the election of the president through the nomination process, national conventions and electoral college;

Objective:

To learn more about the formal and informal powers of the presidency.

To learn more about how the president makes important decisions and leads our nation.

WICOR: Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization and Reading

Presidential elections and the Presidency.

The road to the presidency.

The presidential primaries.

The party conventions.

Campaign spending and reforms.

The Electoral College.

The President as Chief Executive.

Executive power.

Appointment power.

Removal power.

The cabinet.

The Executive

Office of the President.

White House staff.

The President as Chief Legislator.

Legislative powers.

The veto power.

Working with Congress.

Divided government.

President and National Security.

Formal Constitutional Powers.

Informal Powers.

The president as a Chief Diplomat.

The president as commander-in-chief.

President's judicial powers.

Granting reprieves and pardons.

Appointing Supreme Court Justices.

The presidents in the media.

The importance of public support.

Presidential approval levels.

The president and the media.

Essential question:

What are the prime duties of the presidency, the single most powerful office in the nation, and how is the president selected?

What basic powers of the presidency directly affect the other two branches of government—the legislature and the judiciary?

What role does the President of the United States play in the American system of government?

How does the President fulfill his or her constitutional duties to the United States?

How is the President elected?

What are the President’s powers?

How have the President’s powers expanded throughout American history?

http://www.ushistory.org/gov/7a.asp

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/power-and-the-presidency-from-kennedy-to-obama-75335897/

Vocabulary - PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, THE PRESIDENCY, AND THE BUREAUCRACY

CLOSED PRIMARY

A primary in which voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket.

FRONTLOADING

The recent pattern of states holding primaries early in order to maximize their media attention and political influence. Three-fourths of the presidential primaries are now held between February and mid-March.

SOFT MONEY

Contributions to political parties for party-building activities. Soft money contributions are used to circumvent limits on hard money.

527 GROUP

A tax-exempt organization created to influence the political process; 527 groups are not regulated by the Federal Election Commission because they do not coordinate their activities with a candidate or party.

VETO

The president's constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress. Congress may override the veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber.

LINE-ITEM VETO

The power to veto specific dollar amounts or line items from major congressional spending bills. The Supreme Court struck down the line-item veto as an unconstitutional expansion of the president's veto power.

EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT

A pact between the president and a head of a foreign state. Executive agreements do not have to be approved by the Senate. However, unlike treaties, executive agreements are not part of U.S. law and are not binding on future presidents.

EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE

The president's power to refuse to disclose confidential information. In United States v. Nixon (1974), the Supreme Court ruled that there is no constitutional guarantee of unqualified executive privilege.

LAME-DUCK PERIOD

The period of time in which the president's term is about to come to an end. Presidents typically have less influence during a lame-duck period.

BUREAUCRACY

A large, complex organization of appointed officials.

EXECUTIVE ORDER

A directive, order, or regulation issued by the president. Executive orders are based on constitutional or statutory authority and have the force of law.

IRON TRIANGLE

An alliance among an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee. Each member of the iron triangle provides key services, information, or policy for the others.

ISSUE NETWORK

A network that includes policy experts, media pundits, congressional staff members, and interest groups who regularly debate an issue.

POLICY AGENDA

A set of issues and problems that policy makers consider important. The mass media play an important role in influencing the issues which receive public attention.

Essential Question

What are the prime duties of the presidency, the single most powerful office in the nation, and how is the president selected?

Summary:

Section 1 President and Vice President

The president of the United States is one of the most powerful individuals in the world. The Constitution makes the president the commander in chief of the armed forces and gives the president the authority to appoint heads of executive departments, federal court judges, and other top officials, as well as make treaties with other nations—with the Senate's consent. The president ensures that all the laws of the United States are faithfully executed. A president can serve up to two four-year terms in office.

The president and vice president must be natural-born citizens, at least 35 years old, and residents of the United States for at least 14 years before taking office. Personal wealth is a great asset for any candidate running for president because campaigning costs tens of millions of dollars.

The Twenty-fifth Amendment clarifies the succession to the presidency and vice presidency, and also describes what should be done when a president is disabled. The Succession Act of 1947 established the order of presidential succession. A vice president's power depends on the duties the president assigns.

Section 2 Electing the President

The Founders set up the Electoral College, which elected the president indirectly. The Twelfth Amendment requires that electors cast separate ballots for president and vice president. In the Electoral College system, parties choose their nominees for president in conventions held in late summer. Voters cast their ballots every four years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Voters are actually voting for all of their party's electors in their state. The Electoral College includes 538 electors—with each state having as many electors as it has senators and representatives in Congress. A candidate must win at least 270 of the 538 votes.

In most states, the party whose candidate receives the largest popular vote wins all its electoral votes. Critics argue that this system is unfair. The winner-take-all system makes it possible for a candidate who loses the popular vote to win the electoral vote. If no candidate receives 270 electoral votes, the House of Representatives must decide the election, with each state casting one vote. The candidate who receives 26 or more votes is elected.

The new president takes office at noon on January 20 in the year following the presidential election. The chief justice of the United States administers the oath of office, and the new president then gives an Inaugural Address.

Section 3 The Cabinet

One of the first responsibilities of the president is to organize and staff the executive branch. The president appoints the secretaries that head the 15 major executive departments. These secretaries, the vice president, and several other top officials make up the cabinet. Cabinet members are selected to provide geographic and political balance as well as racial and gender representation. The Senate holds confirmation hearings on the president's nominees for cabinet posts.

The cabinet meets when the president calls it together. Most presidents have used their cabinets as sounding boards for ideas, not as the advisory board that President George Washington envisioned. Some cabinet members, however, have greater influence because their departments are concerned with the most sensitive national issues—the secretaries of state, defense, the treasury, and the attorney general, for example.

Section 4 The Executive Office

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) is made up of people and agencies that directly assist the president with advice and information. Modern presidents use the EOP to help implement decisions and to maintain control over the entire executive branch. The size of the EOP has grown rapidly and consists of the White House Office, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the National Security Council (NSC), the Council of Economic Advisers, and several other specialized agencies that report directly to the president.

The OMB helps prepare the national budget for the president, who then presents it to Congress. The NSC advises the president and coordinates American military and foreign policy. The Council of Economic Advisers formulates the nation's economic policy by assessing its economic health, predicting future conditions, and proposing solutions to specific problems such as inflation or unemployment.

The White House Office has become the most important part of the EOP. These top assistants to the president include the chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, White House counsel, and press secretary. Some aides can become very influential. The White House staff gathers information, provides advice about key issues, makes sure the executive agencies and departments carry out the president's directives, handles relations with the press corps, and works with members of Congress. Which people and which issues get through to the president is decided largely by White House aides.

Essential Question

What basic powers of the presidency directly affect the other two branches of government—the legislature and the judiciary?

Summary

Section 1 Presidential Powers

Presidential powers have evolved over time. The office was defined narrowly by the Constitution, but many factors have shaped it into its modern form—the immediate needs of the nation, the personal energy and influence of each president, and popular support for a president's programs. Constitutional powers of the president include commander in chief, head of the executive branch, making treaties and appointing ambassadors, appointing federal court judges, pardoning people convicted of federal crimes, and executing the laws that Congress passes.

Executive power is limited by Congress, which can override a president's veto. In addition, the Senate must confirm a president's appointees, and the House must approve the budget. The House and Senate can use the impeachment process to remove the president from office. The Supreme Court can interpret a president's actions as unconstitutional. Public opinion may also limit presidential policy making.

Section 2 Roles of the President

The President has seven key duties, and five are specified in the Constitution: serving as head of state, chief executive, chief legislator, chief diplomat, and commander in chief. Two other duties—economic planner and political party leader—are not implied in the Constitution but have developed over time. As head of state, the president represents the nation and performs many ceremonial roles. As the nation's chief executive, the president uses several tools to see that the laws of Congress are carried out. One tool is the ability to issue executive orders. Other tools are the power to appoint people to important offices in the executive branch, to fire appointed officials, and to appoint officials to the judiciary. Using another tool, the impoundment of funds, a president can refuse to allow a federal department or agency to spend money Congress has appropriated.

As chief legislator, the executive branch is expected to propose legislation to Congress that it wishes to see enacted. The president has a large staff to help write legislation, and the staff also presents to Congress a suggested budget and an annual economic report. As party leader, presidents are expected to appoint members of their party to government jobs. Political patronage rewards the people who have helped get a president elected. As chief diplomat, the president directs the foreign policy of the United States—negotiating treaties, making executive agreements, and recognizing foreign governments.

As commander in chief, the president shares with Congress the power to make war. The president may also use the military to control serious turmoil in the nation caused by riots or natural disasters.

Section 3 Styles of Leadership

Every president has a unique style of leadership. The most successful presidents have a genuine feel for the hopes, fears, and moods of the nation. Failure to understand the public can prove disastrous for an administration. Successful presidents must be able to communicate effectively and to present their ideas in a way that inspires public support. Sometimes presidents demonstrate leadership by introducing bold new policies—at the right time. Good leadership also requires the capacity to be flexible, open to new ideas, and able to compromise. Successful presidents need political courage to go against public opinion to do what they think is best.

As presidents have become more dependent on the White House staff, the danger is that they will become isolated from solid information and sound advice. To keep their White House discussions confidential, modern presidents have sometimes used executive privilege.

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

1. A person must at least be this old to be President of the United States.

2. A person must be resident of the United States for this many years to be President.

3. For a person to become President, they must be this kind of citizen.

4. A term of office for a President of the United States is this many years.

5. A President of the United States cannot be elected to more than this many terms.

6. This 1951 amendment to the Constitution limited Presidential terms to two.

7. The President is elected by a majority of this body which has electors from each state.

8. A President of the United States can be impeached for “high crimes and” these.

9. This means to bring a President to trial in the Senate after the House of Representatives accuses them of wrongdoing.

10. The Vice President serves as the President of this legislative body.

11. If the President dies or is disabled, this person is first in line of succession.

12. The President is responsible for carrying out these laws.

13. The President serves as the nation’s chief diplomat through such things as appointing ambassadors and negotiating these.

14. The President has the power to appoint the Justices to this court.

15. With the title of Commander In Chief, the President assures this kind of control over the military.

16. For a Congressional Bill to become a law, it must have the President’s what?

17. Term for a President’s refusal to sign a bill passed by Congress.

18. The President has the authority to issue these to people convicted of federal crimes.

19. In this role, the President acts as the symbol of the United States at home and abroad.

20. These are the heads of the executive departments of the national government who advise the President.

21. The Senate must do this before Presidential nominations to the Supreme Court, the Cabinet, and other important federal posts can take office.

22. The President may issue these orders to the Executive Branch that have the force of law.

23. This is the President’s top assistant who is in charge of overseeing the Executive Office.

24. This executive department is responsible for international relations of the United States.

25. This executive department is responsible for enforcing the laws of the United States.

26. This is the title of the head of the Justice Department.

27. This executive department is responsible for protecting the United States and directing the military.

28. This executive department collects the government’s taxes and pays its bills.

29. The system that manages executive departments and ensures the enforcement of legislation is known as the “Federal” what?

30. This is the term for a person employed by an executive department or agency.