The document discusses the structure and powers of the executive branch as outlined in Article II of the US Constitution. It covers topics like the election and qualifications of the President, the line of succession, powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief and Chief Executive, and the roles and responsibilities of the Cabinet departments.

1. Article II: The Executive Branch

3. Term length = 4 years

4. How is the President elected?

6. Term length = 4 years

7. How is the President elected?

8. - each state appoints electors

9. How many electors per state?

11. Term length = 4 years

12. How is the President elected?

13. - each state appoints electors

14. How many electors per state?

15. - equal to number of senators & representatives in Congress

16. - no one who holds a US office can be an elector

17. Note: The rest of Article II Sect. 1.2 was replaced by Amendment XII. Why?

19. - in 1796 John Adams was elected President & Jefferson came in second, so he became VP, but they were in different parties and worked against each other while in office!

20. - a tie in 1800 for President between Thomas Jefferson & Aaron Burr, who was supposed to be his VP. It took 36 votes in the House to break the tie, with Jefferson finally winning.

22. Amendment XII also clarified that VP must meet qualifications for President.

23. The House had to elect the President in 1800 and 1824 and the Senate elected the VP in 1836.

25. The number of electors = # of senators + representatives

26. How many in Colorado?

28. The number of electors = # of senators + representatives

29. How many in Colorado? 10

30. How many total?

32. The number of electors = # of senators + representatives

33. How many in Colorado? 10

34. How many total? 538 (100 senators + 435 Reps + 3 from DC)

35. They almost always vote the way the people in their state voted. Usually winner take all, but a few states actually allocate their electors proportionately.

36. Is this a good idea?

38. The number of electors = # of senators + representatives

39. How many in Colorado? 10

40. How many total? 538 (100 senators + 435 Reps + 3 from DC); a candidate must win 270+ votes to win the race

41. They meet shortly after the popular vote, but the result is usually already a forgone conclusion

42. They almost always vote the way the people in their state voted. Usually winner take all, but a few states (ME, NE) actually allocate their electors proportionately.

43. Is this a good idea?

45. Why did the Founding Fathers set up the electoral college?

47. Why did the Founding Fathers set up the electoral college?

48. - They intended that only the House of Representatives would be elected by the popular vote. The electoral college gives more power to the smaller states, especially the rural states. Large cities tend to vote more liberally than the more conservative suburbs and rural areas and would have too much influence on the election without the electoral college. California, Florida, and Texas would have way too much power.

51. Who won the electoral college vote?

53. Who won the electoral college vote? George W. Bush

54. - It all came down to who would win Florida's electoral votes, but the race was too close to call for days. The election was hanging for weeks because of a controversy over “hanging chads,” the little bits of paper clinging to the ballots that had not been properly removed by some of the voters, so the Democrats claimed such ballots were too hard to count.

55. So, even though Gore got more votes overall, once it was established that Bush won Florida, he had more electoral votes and thus became President. What a nightmare!

57. Not a big deal for the Democrats this year because Obama is unopposed, but a huge deal for the Republicans.

58. Colorado's State Republican Party Convention is April 14. I am an alternate to that convention but hope to get to vote. We may already know who the Republican nominee will be at that point, but if not, our vote could be important.

59. We will also vote for delegates to the Republican National Convention, so this will be important, too, just in case the candidate is not yet selected, which is unlikely, but also to help set the party's national platform.

61. When is that?

63. When is that?

64. - 1 st Tuesday after the 1 st Monday in November

65. What are the qualifications to be President?

67. When is that?

68. - 1 st Tuesday after the 1 st Monday in November

69. What are the qualifications to be President?

70. - natural-born citizen

71. - 35+ years old

72. - resident of the US for at least 14 years

74. What if something happens to both of them?

76. What if something happens to both of them?

77. The Presidential Succession is as follows:

78. - Speaker of the House

79. - President Pro Tempore of the Senate

80. - Members of the President's Cabinet in the order of the creation of their offices (Sec. Of State, then Sec. Of Treasury, Sect. Of Defense, Attorney General, etc.)

81. Amendment XXV allows appointment of a new VP when that office is empty, which happened under Nixon when Spiro Agnew resigned due to bribery charges in Maryland.

83. How much is he paid?

85. How much is he paid? $400,000 per year as well as extra money for expenses, entertainment, & travel. He also receives a lifetime pension, free medical & dental services, and an expense account for staff after he leaves office.

86. The oath of office is clearly presented in the Constitution. Note that Washington added “So help me, God” at the end of the oath, and this has been included ever since.

88. In addition to a declaration of war by Congress, when else can the President call troops into action?

90. In addition to a declaration of war by Congress, when else can the President call troops into action?

91. - if a law is passed authorizing him to do so

92. - there's an emergency due to an attack on the US or its possessions

93. What else is included under this power?

95. In addition to a declaration of war by Congress, when else can the President call troops into action?

96. - if a law is passed authorizing him to do so

97. - there's an emergency due to an attack on the US or its possessions

98. What else is included under this power?

99. - covert organizations & actions (CIA, etc.)

102. - Heads of the 15 executive departments under the Prez

103. - The word cabinet comes from the French word for a closed or private room where a king meets w/ his advisers

104. These people are usually his closest councilors and advisers and include the Secretary Of State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Healthy & Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security.

105. Other members of the Cabinet include the VP, Prez's Chief of Staff, head of EPA, head of Office Management & Budget, head of National Drug Control Policy, US trade rep

107. Pardon = complete forgiveness of a crime & it punishment

108. Amnesty = general pardon to a group

109. Recent pardons:

110. - Ford's pardon of Nixon

111. - Carter's pardon of draft dodgers during the Vietnam War

112. - Clinton's pardon of 130 criminals including some in prison for drug charges or tax evasion

115. - In charge of diplomatic relations with foreign nations

116. What does this entail?

118. - In charge of diplomatic relations with foreign nations

119. What does this entail?

120. - receiving ambassadors

121. - sending ambassadors to other nations

122. - meeting with heads of other nations

123. - negotiating treaties, including trade agreements

124. Who has to approve all treaties?

126. - In charge of diplomatic relations with foreign nations

127. What does this entail?

128. - receiving ambassadors

129. - sending ambassadors to other nations

130. - meeting with heads of other nations

131. - negotiating treaties, including trade agreements

132. Who has to approve all treaties? Senate, by 2/3 vote

133. Who is the current Secretary of State?

135. - In charge of diplomatic relations with foreign nations

136. What does this entail?

137. - receiving ambassadors

138. - sending ambassadors to other nations

139. - meeting with heads of other nations

140. - negotiating treaties, including trade agreements

141. Who has to approve all treaties? Senate, by 2/3 vote

142. Who is Secretary of State? Hillary Clinton

143. Executive agreement – a written agreement w/ another head of state; does not need Senate approval

146. - President is responsible to carry out (execute) the laws passed by Congress

147. What is meant by bureaucracy?

149. - President is responsible to carry out (execute) the laws passed by Congress

150. What is meant by bureaucracy?

151. - government by desks or clerks

152. Why do people often hate bureaucracy?

154. - President is responsible to carry out (execute) the laws passed by Congress

155. What is meant by bureaucracy?

156. - government by desks or clerks

157. Why do people often hate bureaucracy?

158. - known for inefficiency, lack of responsiveness, and too many rules & regulations, red tape, waste, bureaucrats not answerable to the people (unelected), doublespeak(p.353) – All of this found in any organization but worst in govt.

159. - DMV anyone? Try Mexico!

160. How did the federal bureaucracy come about?

162. Who has to approve these appointments?

164. Who has to approve these appointments?

165. - Senate, by 2/3 vote (Advise & Consent role)

166. The Prez is also able to hire a number of positions without Senate oversight

167. Civil service employees = ?

169. Who has to approve these appointments?

170. - Senate, by 2/3 vote (Advise & Consent role)

171. The Prez is also able to hire a number of positions without Senate oversight

172. Civil service employees = most of the people who work for the federal government (Post Offices, Social Security, Medicare, federal departments like the Dept. of Agriculture, national parks, etc, etc.)

173. - These people continue in their jobs regardless of who becomes Prez

176. - They cost a lot of money which means taxes!

177. - Once established, their jobs rarely go away because Americans have come to depend on these programs

178. - It's their job to establish & enforce regulations, the number of which grow astronomically every year

179. How will the new national healthcare legislation affect the bureaucracy?

181. - They cost a lot of money which means taxes!

182. - Once established, their jobs rarely go away because Americans have come to depend on these programs

183. - It's their job to establish & enforce regulations, the number of which grow astronomically every year

184. How will the new national healthcare legislation affect the bureaucracy?

185. - That's right, it will have a huge surge in growth

188. Pendleton Civil Service Act: protected most federal employees from the spoils system

189. - Note, however, that there are restrictions on their political activities (see p. 337)

190. How many Cabinet departments are there?

192. Pendleton Civil Service Act: protected most federal employees from the spoils system

193. - Note, however, that there are restrictions on their political activities (see p. 337)

194. How many Cabinet departments are there?

195. - 15, but the directors of the EPA, Office of Management & Budget, National Drug Control Policy, U.S Trade Representative as well as the VP are often included in Cabinet meetings

199. Dept. of Labor, 1913: minimum wage, safety laws, job training, childcare issues, OSHA, labor stats

200. Dept of Health & Human Services, 1953/1980: health care, disease prevention & control, Medicare & Medicaid, welfare, FDA – largest budget (25%)of all the depts!

201. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development, 1937/65: public housing, home financing, homelessness aid, FHA, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, urban renewal

202. Dept. of Transportation, 1966: oversees US highways,FAA mass transit, air travel, railroads, pipelines, maritime laws,

204. Dept. of Education, 1953/1979: federal aid to public schools, educational research

205. Dept. of Veteran Affairs, 1989: oversees benefits, pensions, and medical programs for veterans, maintains military cemeteries, GI Bill

206. Dept. of Homeland Security, 2002: prevents terrorist attacks in U.S., reduce vulnerability to such attacks; U.S. Customs, Immigration & Naturalization, Secret Service, Coast Guard, FEMA

208. Includes NASA, USPS, Tennessee Valley Authority, FCC, SEC (Securities & Exchange Commission), FDA, EPA, OSHA, FDIC, SBA,the Fed, EEOC, NLRB, NIH, NEA, Social Security, etc.

210. Look at chart on p. 334 to illustrate growth of # of federal employees

211. What caused the explosion in govt growth in the 1800's and 1930's & 40's?

213. Look at chart on p. 334 to illustrate growth of # of federal employees

214. What caused the explosion in govt growth in the 1800's and 1930's & 40's?

215. - aftermath of Civil War

216. - New Deal response to the Great Depression

217. - World War II

218. Has the # of employees ever dropped?

220. Look at chart on p. 334 to illustrate growth of # of federal employees

221. What caused the explosion in govt growth in the 1800's and 1930's & 40's?

222. - aftermath of Civil War

223. - New Deal response to the Great Depression

224. - World War II

225. Has the # of employees ever dropped?

226. - Yes! Under Clinton; why?

228. Look at chart on p. 334 to illustrate growth of # of federal employees

229. What caused the explosion in govt growth in the 1800's and 1930's & 40's?

230. - aftermath of Civil War

231. - New Deal response to the Great Depression

232. - World War II

233. Has the # of employees ever dropped?

234. - Yes! Under Clinton; why – jobs cut in Dept of Defense

237. - seems to have as much power as the three official branches: legislative, executive & judicial; it has a life of its own

238. - largest branch by far with all its employees

239. - can play the other branches against each other

240. - made up of specialists who control their fates by controlling information, esp. to legislators

241. Who oversees the bureaucracy?

243. - seems to have as much power as the three official branches: legislative, executive & judicial; it has a life of its own

244. - largest branch by far with all its employees

245. - can play the other branches against each other

246. - made up of specialists who control their fates by controlling information, esp. to legislators

247. Who oversees the bureaucracy? Congress & the Prez

248. - Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

249. - Sunshine Act requires public hearings

250. - General Accounting Office can audit finances of a dept.

253. - appointment made by President to fill a vacancy while Senate is in recess, thus sidestepping a confirmation hearing. The appointment is good until the next Congress convenes.

255. He can call Congress into session during a time of emergency

256. If the House & Senate cannot agree on a time to adjourn, the President can decide for them

257. He receives ambassadors & public ministers (Head of State)

258. He commissions all the officers of the US military (Commander-in Chief)

259. He makes sure all laws are executed (Chief Executive)

261. We have covered this earlier; the House makes the charge (impeaches) and the Senate holds a trial and convicts (or not.)

263. Are you concerned about wiretapping and other invasions into personal privacy that are now practiced by the govt?

264. What do you think should be done to get the federal budget under control? What would you cut? Would you raise taxes? Bring the troops home? Or?

265. How should we respond to terrorist attacks? Does the military need to change? How?

266. Are you worried about China's growing power?

267. What do you think is/are the most pressing issue(s) facing our next president and Congress?

268. What are weapons of mass destruction (WMD)?

270. What can be done about the Muslim threat? Why do they hate us so much?

271. How about illegal immigration?

272. Is there a workable alternative to a national health care system? Anyone have any idea how much health insurance costs? What can be done about this? Why is it so expensive?

273. What do you think about cultural relativism? (p. 378) How should we address this?

274. Do you have hope for the future? Or are you facing a lot of fears?