Unit Three - The Executive Branch and the Presidency
We will learn about the executive branch, including the unique role and powers of the president and the function of executive departments and agencies. We will explore key facets of foreign policy and the president’s role in it.
Article II, Presidential powers and limits, qualifications, legacies of various Presidents, the growth of Presidential power, executive orders, the Federal Bureaucracy, veto and line item veto power, judicial powers, duties of the Vice Presidency, the Executive Departments, cabinet, roles of Secretaries, Attorney General.
Essential Questions
· Is the President relatively powerful or powerless?
· To what extent can the President shape the policy agenda?
· How might a President take advantage of Constitutional powers and executive tools to influence the policy agenda?
· How should we judge a President? What criterion is fair and best?
READING #1
Read Chapter 13, Section 1: The President’s Job Description
Key concepts: Presidential roles, 3 formal qualifications, term limits
Read Chapter 14, Section 1: The Growth of Presidential Power
Key concepts: Executive article, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer (1952), “stewardship” theory and imperial presidency
Read Chapter 14, Section 2: The President’s Executive Powers
Key concepts: oath of office, ordinance power and executive orders, appointment power/advice and consent, controversies over removal power
READING #2
Read Chapter 14.3: Diplomatic and Military Powers
Key concepts: treaty power, executive agreement, recognition, undeclared war and commander-in-chief role, War Powers Resolution
Read Chapter 15.1: The Federal Bureaucracy
Key concepts: 3 broad groups of the executive branch, “name game”, administration, staff vs. line agencies
Read Chapter 14.4: Legislative and Judicial Powers
Key concepts: “message power”, veto and line item veto power, judicial powers
READING #3
Read Chapter 13.2: Presidential Succession and the Vice Presidency
Key concepts: Presidential Succession Act of 1947; formal duties of the Vice Presidency, “balance the ticket” , removal power and the Vice Presidency
Read Chapter 15.2: The Executive Office of the President
Key concepts: EOP, NSC, OMB-federal budget
Read Chapter 15.3: The Executive Departments
Key concepts: cabinet, roles of Secretaries, attorney general
Roles of the President
Chief Executive: President is the director of huge executive branch of gov’t. He is the manager, director, and head of an enormous governmental machine.
Chief of State: President is the ceremonial head of gov’t. He is the symbol of the nation.
Commander in Chief: President is the leader of the armed forces. All people and arms of the military are under his/her control.
Chief Diplomat: President is head of American Foreign Policy (relationship with rest of world). His actions have significant consequences at home and abroad.
Chief Legislator: President is main architect of public policy. He shapes congressional agenda, initiates and suggests legislation.
Party Chief: President is head off his political party. President’s relationship to his party thus plays a critical role.
Terms
Lame Duck
Electoral College
War Powers Act
Presidential power
“Hats”
Presidential succession
Convention
Platform
Caucus
Open primary
Closed primary
Winner takes all
Pocket veto
Pardon
Informal qualification of President
Presidential benefits
Informal powers
Choosing a vice president
Popular vote
Political spin
We will learn about the executive branch, including the unique role and powers of the president and the function of executive departments and agencies. We will explore key facets of foreign policy and the president’s role in it.
Article II, Presidential powers and limits, qualifications, legacies of various Presidents, the growth of Presidential power, executive orders, the Federal Bureaucracy, veto and line item veto power, judicial powers, duties of the Vice Presidency, the Executive Departments, cabinet, roles of Secretaries, Attorney General.
Essential Questions
· Is the President relatively powerful or powerless?
· To what extent can the President shape the policy agenda?
· How might a President take advantage of Constitutional powers and executive tools to influence the policy agenda?
· How should we judge a President? What criterion is fair and best?
READING #1
Read Chapter 13, Section 1: The President’s Job Description
Key concepts: Presidential roles, 3 formal qualifications, term limits
Read Chapter 14, Section 1: The Growth of Presidential Power
Key concepts: Executive article, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer (1952), “stewardship” theory and imperial presidency
Read Chapter 14, Section 2: The President’s Executive Powers
Key concepts: oath of office, ordinance power and executive orders, appointment power/advice and consent, controversies over removal power
READING #2
Read Chapter 14.3: Diplomatic and Military Powers
Key concepts: treaty power, executive agreement, recognition, undeclared war and commander-in-chief role, War Powers Resolution
Read Chapter 15.1: The Federal Bureaucracy
Key concepts: 3 broad groups of the executive branch, “name game”, administration, staff vs. line agencies
Read Chapter 14.4: Legislative and Judicial Powers
Key concepts: “message power”, veto and line item veto power, judicial powers
READING #3
Read Chapter 13.2: Presidential Succession and the Vice Presidency
Key concepts: Presidential Succession Act of 1947; formal duties of the Vice Presidency, “balance the ticket” , removal power and the Vice Presidency
Read Chapter 15.2: The Executive Office of the President
Key concepts: EOP, NSC, OMB-federal budget
Read Chapter 15.3: The Executive Departments
Key concepts: cabinet, roles of Secretaries, attorney general
Roles of the President
Chief Executive: President is the director of huge executive branch of gov’t. He is the manager, director, and head of an enormous governmental machine.
Chief of State: President is the ceremonial head of gov’t. He is the symbol of the nation.
Commander in Chief: President is the leader of the armed forces. All people and arms of the military are under his/her control.
Chief Diplomat: President is head of American Foreign Policy (relationship with rest of world). His actions have significant consequences at home and abroad.
Chief Legislator: President is main architect of public policy. He shapes congressional agenda, initiates and suggests legislation.
Party Chief: President is head off his political party. President’s relationship to his party thus plays a critical role.
Terms
Lame Duck
Electoral College
War Powers Act
Presidential power
“Hats”
Presidential succession
Convention
Platform
Caucus
Open primary
Closed primary
Winner takes all
Pocket veto
Pardon
Informal qualification of President
Presidential benefits
Informal powers
Choosing a vice president
Popular vote
Political spin