Executive Branch
Who is in it?
- The President- Barack Obama
- The Vice President- Joe Biden
- The Cabinets
The Cabinets are:
- Secretaries of Agriculture
- Commerce
- Defense
- Education
- Energy
- Health and Human Services
- Homeland Security
- Housing and Urban Development
- Interior
- Labor
- State
- Transportation
- Treasury
- Veterans Affairs
- Attorney General
"The Executive Branch." The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
Barack Obama
Requirements:
- Must be at least 35 years old
- Must be a natural-born U.S. citizen
- Must have at least 14 years of residence in the United States
"Congress for Kids: [Executive Branch]: The President." Congress for Kids: [Executive Branch]: The President. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
president's Term:
- 4-year term
- Can be elected to serve for only two terms
How is a president elected?
- The presidential candidates announce candidacy at least a year before the presidential election¹
- The candidates begin to make speeches¹
- Each state begins to have primary elections¹
- The states have a national gathering called a convention in the summer¹
- The presidential election takes place every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November¹
- People across the country vote for whichever candidate they think will do the best job¹
- Votes are counted (This is called the popular vote)¹
- The Electoral College is a group of people who gather to make their votes for the presidential candidates¹
- There are 538 electoral votes. (435 from the House of Representatives, 100 from the Senate, and 3 from Washington D.C.)
- The candidate who receives the majority of the votes in each state gets all of the electoral votes for that state¹ (Massachusetts has 11 electoral votes. If one candidate got more votes than the other, the candidate that got more would take all 11)
- When all the electoral votes are counted, the candidate with the most votes wins (The candidate needs at least 270 of the 538 votes to win)¹
- In a tie in the Electoral College (269 to 269), the election for President goes to the House of Representatives and the election of the Vice President goes to the Senate²
- The new president doesn't go into office until January 20 of the next year¹
- The process starts all over again every 4 years¹
1. "NSCC - How Does a President Get Elected?" NSCC - How Does a President Get Elected? N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
2. "National Popular Vote -- Electoral College Reform by Direct Election of the President." National Popular Vote -- Electoral College Reform by Direct Election of the President. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
What does the president do?
1. Chief of State
- Requires the president to be an inspiring example for the people
- The president is a living symbol of the nation
- It is considered a great honor to shake the president's hand
2. Chief Executive
- The president is the boss for government workers in the Executive Branch
- Decides how the laws of the U.S. are to be enforced
- Chooses officials and advisers to help run the Executive Branch
3. Chief Diplomat
- President decides what diplomats and ambassadors shall say to foreign governments
- Makes the foreign policy of the U.S.
4. Commander-In-Chief
- President is in charge of the U.S. armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines)
- Decides where troops shall be stationed, where ships shall be sent, and how weapons shall be used
- Military generals and admirals take orders from the President
5. Chief Legislator
- President has the power to influence Congress in its lawmaking
- Presidents urge Congress to pass new laws or veto bills that they do not like.
6. Chief of Party
- President helps members of his political party get elected to office
- President campaigns for members who support his policies
- President may campaign for reelection at the end of his term.
7. Chief Guardian of the Economy
- President is expected to help the economy run smoothly.
"Seven Roles for One President | Scholastic.com." Scholastic Teachers. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
What Does the Vice president do?
- He acts as leader of meetings of the Senate
- He serves as the ceremonial assistant to the President
- He must become the president if anything happens to the President
"The President's and Vice President's Jobs | Scholastic.com." Scholastic Teachers. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
What do the cabinets do?
"The Cabinet." The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
What is the president's role in the lawmaking process?
- Once Congress has approved the bill, it is sent to the president
- The president may sign the bill into a law, send it back to Congress to be changed, or veto it
"Congress for Kids: [Executive Branch]: The President and Congress."Congress for Kids: [Executive Branch]: The President and Congress. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
what is the vice president's role in the lawmaking process?
- The Vice President votes on a bill only if there is a tie