Executive Branch Flashcards
What are the 8 job descriptions of the president?
Chief of State Chief Executive Chief Administrator Chief Diplomat Command in Chief Chief Legislator Chief of Party Chief Citizen
Chief of state
Ceremonial head of the government of the USA
Chief Executive
The President (carries out) laws from Congress and decisions of the Supreme Court
Chief Administrator
The President is the head of the Executive Branch and directs the 2.7 million federal civilian employees with a budget of about $3 trillion
The Chief Administrator has the Cabinet (15 Departments) and others to assist in the administration of duties
Chief Diplomat
The President is the architect of American foreign policy President as Chief Diplomat: Make Treaties Makes Executive Agreements Appoints Ambassadors Holds Summit Conferences
Commander in Chief
The President is the leader of the armed forces
Chief Legislator
The President is the architect of public policy
The President can veto a bill
The President can threaten to use a veto
Chief of Party
How do you measure the success of a President as Chief of Party?
The President is the acknowledged leader of his political party
The Coattail Effect - A good Chief of Party will help other members of his political party get elected as Senator, Congressman, Governor, State Legislator, Mayor, City Councilman, etc.
Chief Citizen
The President is the moral leader of the nation
What are the 3 qualifications for becoming president?
You must be 35 years of age
A natural born citizen
A resident in the USA for 14 years
Unwritten qualifications (5)
Race (Mostly White) Sex (Mostly Male) Religion (Mostly Protestant) Education Marital Status
Term of the presidents
Amendment 22
The Constitution set a a term at four years
There was no limit as to the number of terms
President Washington established the tradition of not seeking a third term
Amendment 22: Proposed in 1947 and ratified in 1951, this amendment limits a President to 2 four year terms with a maximum of ten years
Pay & benefits for the president (salary)
Congress sets the salary
Salary cannot be raised or lowered while in office
Salary: $400,000/year
Expenses: $50,000/year
Pay & benefits for the president (presidential benefits)
White House Oval Office Camp David Air Force One Marine One Limos Secret Service Protection Medical Treatment Pension
Pay & benefits for the president (pension)
The pension is not a fixed amount but rather it is the same as the salary of a member of the Cabinet ($191,300 year)
Secret Service
Office, staff, mail, travel
