Unit 3

executive privilege

the right of the president and other high-ranking executive officers to refuse to testify before Congress or a court

Ideas for Reform

- One idea is to choose electors from congressional districts →This is already done in Maine and Nebraska The candidate with the most votes in a district would win its electoral vote - Another idea is to give electoral votes to the winner of the nationwide popular vote Supporters of this idea want to change the process by passing laws in each state A state's electoral votes would go to whoever wins the most popular votes in the whole country - A third idea is that candidates get the same share of a state's electoral vote as they got of the state's popular vote →For example: if a candidate won 60% of the popular vote, the candidate would get 60% of the state's electoral votes - Others argue for getting rid of the Electoral College Instead: the people would elect directly the president and vice president by popular vote - could raise the cost of elections Candidates would have to campaign everywhere in the country Candidates might also focus only on areas with large populations and ignore more rural areas Others say getting rid of the Electoral College would weaken federalism With no electors, many states would lose their role in the choice of a president

Executive Orders

- Presidents also give executive orders These are presidential orders that have the force of law without needing congressional approval The Constitution implies this power because Article II gives the president "executive power" It also says the president must make sure that the laws are "faithfully executed"

Influencing Legislation

- The Constitution gives Congress the power to make laws, not the president However: most bills become laws only when the president signs them - Most presidents have great influence on the types of laws that are proposed and the way the laws are written Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution says: → the president must report to Congress on the state of the nation and recommend laws that he or she thinks are needed The president usually describes the new laws he or she thinks should be passed in the annual State of the Union address to Congress → The address explains the president's ideas about solving key problems in the country - The president can propose laws→ and Congress may accept those ideas - Congress may also reject or change the president's proposals

Education, Veteran Affairs (VA), Homeland Security

- The Department of Education provides help to public and private schools It gathers information from schools Shares research Manages federal financial aid programs - The VA manages benefit programs for veterans and their families and survivors A veteran is a person who served in the armed forces of a country These benefits include: Pension Education Home loans - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) coordinates national efforts to protect: against acts of terrorism that would put in danger the American people key resources critical infrastructure (ICE, COAST GUARD, FEMA, TSA)

State, Treasury, Interior

- The Department of State is responsible for creating and implementing the foreign policy of the United States It represents the United States to the United Nations (UN) and to more than 180 other countries - The Department of Treasury manages the financial resources of the country It includes the U.S. Mint- makes coins - The Department of the Interior executes federal policy and programs to protect natural resources including public lands and minerals It supports research to protect fish, wildlife, and endangered species

Agriculture, Justice, Commerce

- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) develops and carries out policy on agriculture and food - The Department of Justice (DOJ) enforces federal laws related to crime, punishment, and safety (FBI , DEA) -The Department of Commerce supports the economy by creating and carrying out policies to promote American businesses and industries It tries to increase the amount of American products sold in foreign countries

Ability to Communicate

- power to persuade Successful presidents must be able to speak and write well to present their ideas so they can get public support - President Roosevelt became president after Hoover, and Roosevelt was a master at communicating with the public →He met weekly with the press and answered all of their questions He was famous for his "fireside chats," when he spoke to Americans on the radio → This made him very popular, and he received up to 50,000 letters of support from the public each week Modern presidents often use a strategy of "going public" to appeal directly to voters President Ronald Reagan became known as "the Great Communicator" because of his ability to present his ideas to the public

Independent Agencies

-The federal bureaucracy includes more than 100 independent organizations that are not part of the executive departments -The president appoints the heads of these agencies -Some of these agencies are almost as large and well known as cabinet departments - National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) directs space exploration and invents related technologies -The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for building and taking care of all government buildings -The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Its primary mission has been to gather and evaluate information about what is happening in other countries

Regulatory Commissions

-They are independent agencies that have the government's power to issue licenses -They can also punish people and groups that break the laws under the commission's authority -They make and enforce rules for large industries that affect many people -The commissions can also hold hearings and set penalties for businesses that may have broken the rules -They also regulate the actions of these businesses and industries -decide who will receive a government license to operate a radio station or to build a natural gas pipeline - Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates interstate and international communication by television, cable, radio, satellite and wire -Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) works to ensure the safe use and disposal of radioactive materials for nonmilitary purposes -Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works to protect human health and the environment -Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces anti-trust and consumer protection laws - Federal Election Commission (FEC) enforces campaign financing laws for all federal elections

Constitutional Requirements

35 years old, natural born citizen, resident of US for 14 years - Constitution states the requirements to be president in Article II, Section 1

Reprieves, Pardons, and Amnesty

A president can also grant reprieves and pardons for federal crimes →a reprieve delays legal punishment Pardon- frees a person from legal punishment People who receive them have usually been convicted of a federal crime An exception happened in 1974 President Gerald Ford gave Richard Nixon a full pardon before Nixon could be charged for any crimes - Amnesty- a pardon for a group of people who have broken the law President Jimmy Carter granted amnesty to young men who left the country rather than be drafted during the Vietnam War

Understanding the Public

A president must know and understand the American people The most successful presidents understand the hopes, fears, and views of the nation - The Founders thought that Congress (not the president) would lead the nation They thought the president would be the nation's chief manager In time of war: its commander in chief

Sense of Timing, Ability to Compromise, Political Courage

A successful president must know when the time is right to introduce a new policy, make a key decision, or wait to act, George H.W. Bush believed that economic aid - president must be open to new ideas to be a good leader A successful president must also be able to compromise - Wilson had represented the United States at the Paris Peace Conference talks to end World War I → He persuaded the other nations to agree to a treaty that included a League of Nations →League of Nations- an international group whose purpose was to prevent war - President Wilson refused to change the treaty to deal with senators' concerns Faced a major problem - Successful presidents need political courage because sometimes they must go against what the public wants to do what they think is best → It takes courage to make decisions that will be unpopular President Abraham Lincoln made this kind of decision during the Civil War

Powers Defined in the Constitution

Article II of the Constitution says that the executive power is given to a president It also names several key presidential powers →These powers include: - the power to execute laws - veto legislation - command the military - deal with foreign leaders The president can, with Senate approval → make treaties with foreign nations and appoint, or choose, federal judges and ambassadors

Primaries, Caucuses, and National Party Conventions

At first: candidates must convince members of their own party to choose them instead of someone else from the same party Democrats run against Democrats and Republicans run against Republicans in a series of primaries or caucuses In a primary: members of the party vote for the candidate they want to run for their party in the general election - national nominating convention- a meeting where party members who have been chosen as delegates from each state vote for the candidate who won their state's primary

General Election

Candidates who win their party's nomination try to appeal to more voters →This includes people who are less loyal to a party or who are undecided Campaigns spend huge amounts of money on commercials Candidates travel often to the states they believe they need to win the national election Campaign advisers study electoral maps to decide in which states a candidate has a chance to win - Campaigning will often focus on "swing states" - The campaigns have been working to "get out the vote" for months so as many of their supporters as possible will vote - states like Florida, Nevada, and Ohio, voters might vote for either candidate = so candidates from either major party might win there

The Veto

Congress sends each bill it passes to the president to be signed The president has 10 days to sign or veto the bill If the president takes no action in 10 days, the bill becomes a law without being signed →However: if the president takes no action and the Congress adjourns or stops meeting, during the 10 days →the bill does not become a law known as a pocket veto - The president does not have the power to veto individual items in a bill → This type of veto is called a line-item veto Congress tried to give the president some power to veto individual items by passing the Line Item Veto Act in 1996 President Clinton began to use the new power right away →However: the law was challenged In Clinton v. City of New York (1998): the Supreme Court said the law was unconstitutional

Shadow War

Conventional wars- or wars fought in the usual way However: the United States has fought a new kind of war for the last 15 years It is called a "shadow war" because the fighting happens secretly This kind of war uses special operations troops, like the Navy SEALs, and private contractors It also uses armed drones—remote-controlled, pilotless aircraft that fire missiles

Chief Executive

Decides how the laws of the US are to be enforced and choosing officials and advisors to help run the Executive Branch - leads the executive branch of government which carries out the laws that Congress passes and runs the programs Congress creates - These laws and programs include: Social Security Taxes Housing Energy Civil rights Health care Education Environment

Commander in Chief

Duty is to defend the United States, its territories and possessions and its armed forces, from attack The president is Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy is the supreme military commander responsibility of protecting and defending the United States may also use the military, or armed forces, to deal with serious unrest in the nation may also send troops to help when a natural disaster, such as a flood, happens

Need for a Strong Executive

First: the Founders had seen the problems caused by the Articles of Confederation = which had failed to create a separate executive With no executive: the national government had no one to carry out the acts of Congress The government also had trouble dealing quickly with problems and enforcing laws Second, many of the Founders did not trust the people to take a direct role in making decisions - The Founders wanted a strong executive branch that would protect liberty, private property, and businesses - A strong executive would keep the legislature under control - The Founders believed the legislative branch could be the most powerful of the three branches

Inherent Powers

Inherent powers- powers the president claims, or says he or she has, that are not clearly stated in the Constitution Presidents claim: these powers are implied, or understood without saying, by some of the general words in the Constitution They also claim that inherent powers come from the nature of the president's job

The Executive Office of the President

In addition to the cabinet, the president looks to the experts in his or her Executive Office of the President (EOP) The White House chief of staff supervises this group →has become the president's closest advisers Staff in the EOP: Gather information Develop policy Advise the president Many of the staff gain their positions due to their political support for the president's policies EOP agency staffs include: Attorneys Scientists Social scientists

Winner Takes All

In all but two states, if a candidate wins the largest number of popular votes, that person receives all the state's electoral votes Critics argue that this system is unfair to those who voted for a losing candidate →For example: in 2012 more than 3 million Texans voted for Barack Obama→ but he did not receive any of Texas's electoral votes - Four times in American history the candidate who lost the popular vote won the election This happened in the elections: John Quincy Adams in 1824 Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876 Benjamin Harrison in 1888 George W. Bush in 2000

Immediate Needs of the Nation

Jefferson, Lincoln, and FDR assumed powers not granted in the Constitution to meet crises and events that occurred throughout history Congress usually grants POTUS additional power when deemed necessary - Presidents have often used their inherent powers during a war or other crisis Abraham Lincoln did many things during the Civil War that people did not think were presidential powers - Convinced Congress to create a large number of programs known as the New Deal to help the economy - President George W. Bush declared a "war on terrorism" after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks

The Cabinet

One of the first responsibilities of a president is to choose his or her cabinet These people are some of the president's closest advisers The cabinet includes: The secretaries of each of the 15 executive departments The vice president Other key officials The cabinet secretaries advise the president and also run the executive departments for which they have responsibility

steps that a presidential candidate takes for an election

People who want to be candidates begin to plan their campaigns years before an election They start by forming a political action committee (PAC) and exploratory committees where they meet with supporters and find respected public figures to endorse them Candidates who decide to run then make their candidacy official by giving their names and information to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Next, candidates must convince members of their own party to choose them instead of someone else from the same party Here, they attend a series of primaries and caucuses Then the delegates to the national party convention vote for their state's primary winner and during a caucus, members choose delegates to send Next, the parties have a national nominating convention and candidates will travel to the states they need to win the election and take part in many campaigning efforts focusing heavily on "swing states" Presidential candidates will also attend debates before the national election On presidential election day, millions of Americans go to the polls and vote for the president and vice president. Later, the media will report the results of the election as soon as the polls close. The media will report the likely winner by midnight.

The Presidency in Times of War

Presidents often say they have a right to greater powers during a war to protect the nation - Congress passed the USA Patriot Act that gave the president and executive branch more power - Opposers believe that: the government has taken away basic constitutional rights when the country is not really at war the Patriot Act is also unconstitutional - Supporters say: there are times when greater national security, or protection of a nation, is needed They say the Patriot Act and other actions balance the need for freedom with the need for security

Executive Privilege

Presidents sometimes claim a right of executive privilege to keep this information secret Executive privilege means the President can refuse to provide documents or other records to the legislative and judicial branches Executive privilege is not mentioned in the Constitution →the idea comes from the separation of powers Courts have rules that presidents have some right to executive privilege →that it is limited In 2012 President Obama claimed executive privilege when his attorney general refused to give some documents to Congress

Head of State

Represents the nation and performs many ceremonial duties president shall "receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers" Means the president has a duty to meet with visiting officials and leaders of foreign governments visit and speak comforting words as a way of representing all citizens across the country throw the first pitch to begin baseball season meet public figures such as U.S. Olympic athletes or give awards to business leaders and artists

Financial Backing

Running for president costs large amounts of money Candidates pay for: Advertising staff salaries travel

Succession

Section 1: says that if a president dies, is removed, or resigns while in office = the vice president becomes president Section 2: says that if the vice president leaves for any reason= the president will nominate a new vice president Both houses of Congress must approve the nominee by a majority vote - The Succession Act of 1947 established the order of presidential succession The next person in line for the presidency after the vice president is the Speaker of the House →the leader of the party with the most members in the House of Representatives After the Speaker →the next in line is the president pro tempore of the Senate →the leader of the party with the most members in the Senate Next in line are the heads of the president's cabinet starting with the Secretary of State → the head of the department that deals with foreign matters The other cabinet heads follow in the order in which Congress created the departments

Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy

The Department of Housing and Human Services (HUD) is responsible for national policies and programs related to housing and the needs of cities It works to fill America's housing needs, improve the nation's cities, and enforce fair housing laws - The Department of Transportation (DOT) develops policy and manges transportation programs - The Department of Energy (DOE) carries out laws and policies about the nation's energy

Labor, Defense, Health and Human Services

The Department of Labor is in charge is in charge of federal programs to protect and improve the productivity of workers It offers training to help people find jobs (OSHA) - The Department of Defense (DOD) protects the security of our country It consists of: The U.S. Army U.S. Navy U.S. Marines U.S. Air Force Joint Chiefs of Staff 17 defense agencies - The Department of Health and Human services (HHS) works to protect public health and provide social services for people in need It provides: Health insurance Manages programs such as Medicare and Medicaid (CDC, FDA)

Electoral College Issues

The Electoral College system works without any problems in most presidential elections It usually doesn't get much attention from the public The system is based on federalism and gives small states more weight since all states have two senators

Checks and Balances on Presidential Powers

The Founders put many safeguards in the Constitution to keep presidents from abusing or misusing their powers: The judicial and legislative branches limit the president's power The Supreme Court can rule that a president's actions are unconstitutional Congress can pass legislation even if a president vetoes it The Senate must approve all treaties and the people a president appoints Congress must also approve the budget The House and Senate can also impeach the president - Two presidents have been impeached in the nation's history

The National Security Council (NSC)

The National Security Council (NSC) is composed of the president's senior national security advisers and cabinet officials They advise the president and coordinate American military and foreign policy

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The OMB is the largest agency within the Executive Office of the President →It prepares the national budget for the president, who then presents it to Congress

chief economic planner

The President is responsible for planning the economic policies of the government, which includes submitting a federal budget - the president has the authority to appoint the seven members who direct the nation's central banking system and has to send an annual economic report to Congress

The Nomination and Confirmation of Cabinet Officials

The cabinet is very important The president cannot simply choose his or her cabinet The Senate must confirm each person the president nominates to be a cabinet secretary → is another example of checks and balances in the United States government - Before making final decisions, members of the president-elect's team may deliberately disclose (leak) some candidates' names to the news media →This is a way to learn how Congress, interest groups, and the public may react to their nominations

The Role of the Electoral College

The Twelfth Amendment (1804) made electors vote separately for president and vice president →This solved the problem Today: the Electoral College includes 538 electors Each state has as many electors as its members in both houses of Congress Wyoming has 3 electoral votes because it has 1 representative and 2 senators California has 55 electoral votes because it has 53 representatives and 2 senators Washington, D.C. has 3 electors, even though it has no voting representatives in Congress To be elected president or vice president, a candidate must win at least 270 of the 538 votes The Electoral College is a winner-take-all system in almost every state → That means the candidate who receives the most popular votes in a state wins all the electoral votes for that state This is what happens even if the margin of victory is only a single popular vote! Only Maine and Nebraska do not use the winner-take-all system

The Appointment Power

The authority vested in the president to fill a government office or position - the president appoints about 2,200 federal officials to run the agencies The 15 people who will lead the cabinet departments are the most important The cabinet departments are the main agencies of the executive branch - President's cabinet- group of advisers A president can use the power to appoint top officials as a way to influence how laws are put into effect - Presidents can have a strong influence on government and society by: → choosing justices who have certain views about the Constitution and other issues

The Functions and Changing Role of the Cabinet

The cabinet's purpose is to give advice to the president and to lead executive branch departments The cabinet meets when the president calls a meeting →the president decides how often meetings are held →Meetings can happen once a week, or daily, monthly, yearly Meetings take place in the cabinet room of the White House → they are usually closed to the public and the press. From the beginning: the cabinet's role in decision making depended on the president's wishes

Government Corporations

The federal government runs approximately 60 government corporations -They are organized somewhat like private businesses - Government corporations are supposed to be more flexible than regular government agencies -They are more likely to take risks and to find innovative, or characterized by a new idea, solutions to the challenges they have - Congress provides the money for government corporations - The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)builds and maintains dams and supplies electric power for eight states -The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), insures bank accounts up to a certain amount - AMTRAK, a government corporation that runs passenger rail service - The United States Postal Service (USPS), accepts, sorts, and delivers mail

Cabinet Departments

The fifteen largest and most influential agencies of the federal bureaucracy (e.g., Department of State, Treasury, Justice...) Headed by Secretary or Attorney General (Department of Justice) The president's cabinet includes each of the heads of the 15 executive branch departments - They advise the president in matters related to their specific departments -They run their departments - They manage all the programs, services, and people that carry out their mission - The 15 executive departments do much of the federal government's work - These units have various names including: Bureau, Agency, Office, Administration, Division - U.S. Department of Agriculture -U.S. Department of Commerce -U.S. Department of Defense -U.S. Department of Education -U.S. Department of Energy -U.S. Department of Health and Human Services -U.S. Department of Homeland Security -U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -U.S. Department of Justice -U.S. Department of Labor -U.S. Department of State -U.S. Department of Interior -U.S. Department of Treasury -U.S. Department of Transportation -U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Executive Agreements

The president also has the power to make executive agreements with other countries Executive agreements- agreements between the president and the head of a foreign government They are as legal as treaties →but they do not need Senate approval - Franklin Roosevelt loaned American ships to the British during World War II in exchange for leases on British military bases - Law said the president must tell about all executive agreements signed each year

Chief Diplomat

The president directs the foreign policy of the United States →meaning he or she makes key decisions about U.S. relations with other countries This is part of the president's role as chief diplomat →but: two-thirds of the Senate must ratify all treaties

The Council of Economic Advisers

The president has been the nation's chief economic planner since the Great Depression He or she decides on the nation's economic policy The president depends on the Council of Economic Advisers to carry out this role By law: the Council is composed of three members who must be confirmed by the Senate - suggests solutions to specific problems →such as unemployment

Treaties and Diplomatic Resolutions

The president is the only one who has the power to make and sign treaties Treaties- the formal agreements between the governments of two or more countries →This is part of the president's role as chief diplomat But: two-thirds of the Senate must ratify all treaties →This is part of the constitutional system of checks and balances - After World War I: President Wilson was one of the three world leaders who created the Treaty of Versailles - Congress can also pass foreign policy laws → It can limit or deny money for foreign policy plans by its power of appropriations Congress can also pass diplomatic resolutions →These resolutions do not have the force of law, but they can influence the president and U.S. relations

Military Operations and Strategy

The president makes key decisions about the way the military will be used The president is a civilian → not an active member of the military → but many presidents have served in the military

Impoundment of Funds

The president may impound funds Congress has approved to carry out programs Impound- refuse to spend - Supporters of impoundment argue: it is a normal power of the executive branch - Opponents argue: impoundments go against the will of the people who have elected the legislators who created and funded the programs

Tools to Influence Congress

The president works to influence Congress in several ways These include: drafting bills sending a suggested annual budget and economic reports to Congress The president has a large staff to help with these activities - Presidents may give political favors to get support from Congress →They may visit the home state of a member of Congress to support his or her reelection A president may start a new federal project that will bring money and jobs to a member's home state or district Public support can help a president influence lawmakers

Election by the House

When neither presidential candidate wins 270 electoral votes, the House of Representatives must decide the winner Each state casts one vote The candidate who receives 26 or more votes is elected Election by the House raises three issues: First: states with small population such as Alaska and Wyoming have as much weight as states with large populations: New York or California Second: if a majority of a state's representatives cannot agree on a candidate, the state loses its vote Third: if some House members favor a third-party candidate, it could be hard for any candidate to get the 26 votes needed to win

The Spoils System

The spoils system became the phrase used to describe Jackson's method of appointing federal workers Today: the term spoils system refers to winning politicians rewarding their supporters with government jobs

Factors Limiting the Influence of the Cabinet

There are several factors that limit the president's use of the cabinet and the cabinet's influence No president has the complete loyalty of cabinet members Even though the president appoints, or chooses, them, cabinet officials have loyalties to three other constituencies These three groups are: long-term officials in their own department members of Congress special interest groups - For example: during George W. Bush's first term → there were disagreements between Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld

Government corporation

a business that the federal government runs

Treaty

a formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries

Landslide

a great majority of votes for one side

Convention

a meeting where political party members who have been chosen as delegates from each state vote for the candidate supported by their state's voters

Elector

a member of a political party chosen in each state to formally elect the president and vice president

Military tribunal

a military court designed to try members of enemy forces during wartime, operating outside the scope of conventional criminal and civil proceedings

Amnesty

a presidential order that pardons a group of people who have committed an offense against the government

Reprieve

a presidential order that postpones legal punishment

Pardon

a presidential order that releases a person from legal punishment

Executive order

a rule issued by the president that has the force of law

Political Party Leader

acts as the official representative of their political party typically responsible for managing the party's relationship with the general public They are also typically the public face of the respective party

mandate

an authorization to act given to a presentative

Caucus

an event held before an election where members of a political party select delegates to send to the national party convention, where they will also vote to nominate a candidate

Primary

an event held before an election where members of the party go to the polls and vote on which candidate they want to see earn their party's nomination

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

an independent regulatory agency created by Congress to enforce federal election laws

Ambassador

an official of the government who represents the nation in diplomatic matters

Political action committee (PAC)

an organization formed to collect money and provide financial support for political candidates

political patronage

appointment to political office, usually as a reward for helping get a president elected - Political patronage rewards the people who have helped get a president elected It can be hard for a president to be a political party leader People expect a president to represent all Americans However: political parties expect a president to be the leader of their own political party - The media and the public can be critical when a president seems to act in a partisan way, which is a way that favors his or her party - 1996 President Bill Clinton compromised with the Republican Congress

Preparing to Run for President

ften start by forming a political action committee (PAC) PAC- an organization of supporters PACs can test whether there are enough voters who support a candidate and want him or her to win PACs also begin raising the large amounts of money needed for a campaign Candidates also form exploratory committees

Executive agreement

legally-binding pact between the president and the head of a foreign government that does not require Senate approval

Civilian

one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force

Press secretary

one of the president's top assistants who is in charge of media relations

inherent powers

powers not described in the Constitution, but that have been claimed by presidents

Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)

presidential advisers who study the economy and advise the president on domestic and international economic policies

Power to Make War

presidents have sent American troops into action many times without a formal declaration of war - Congress passed the War Powers Act in 1973 to limit the president's power to make war without a declaration by Congress - The War Powers Act said presidents could not send troops into combat for more than 60 days without the approval of Congress -

National security

protection of a nation— its lands and people— from foreign threats, whether from governments, organized groups, or individual terrorists

Executive privilege

the right to keep from Congress or the courts information about what happens between the president and his advisers - with certain limits, executive privilege is a part of the separation of powers

Winner-take-all system

the system used by the Electoral College in almost every state in which the candidate who receives the most popular votes in a given state wins all the electoral votes for that state

Presidential Roles

seven main roles. They are: Head of State- the president represents the United States at formal events Chief Executive- the president leads the executive branch of government, which carries out the laws that Congress passes The president also appoints federal judges and the heads of executive departments and agencies But, the Senate must approve the people who are appointed Commander in Chief - the president is responsible for the nation's security and is in charge of the military Chief Diplomat- the president meets with foreign leaders, appoints ambassadors, and makes treaties The Senate must approve treaties Legislative Leader- the president delivers a State of the Union message to Congress every year The president also proposes legislation signs or vetoes laws passed by Congress can call Congress into a special session when needed Economic Planner- the president appoints economic advisors meets with business leaders prepares an annual budget request sends economic reports to Congress Party Leader- the president leads his or her own political party He or she rewards party supporters by giving them government jobs and helps to elect other party members by raising money and campaigning for them

Third-party candidate

someone who represents a political party that is neither Democrat nor Republican

Compensation

something given or received as an equivalent for services

Civil service

system government employment based on competitive examinations and merit whistleblower a federal employee who reports corruption or wrongdoing by the government recuse to remove oneself from participation to avoid a conflict of interest

Reauthorize

the act of passing legislation into law again

Federal Reserve System

the central banking system of the United States

National Security Advisor

the director of the National Security Office of the President (EOP)

Electoral College

the institution that is composed of a set of electors who are chosen to elect a vice president into office every four years

Embassy

the official residence and offices of the ambassador and his or her staff; the primary function of an embassy is to make diplomatic communication between governments easier

Presidential succession

the order in which officials fill the office of president in case of a vacancy

Cabinet

the president's closest advisers, consisting of the vice president, the secretaries of each of the 15 executive departments, and other top government officials who help the president make decisions and policy

Vice President Responsibilities

tie breaking vote in Senate, other than that, none. - The first one says that the vice president becomes president if the president dies, becomes disabled, is impeached, or resigns. The second duty says that the vice president oversees the Senate and votes in case of a tie. The third duty says, under the twenty-fifth amendment, the vice president helps decide whether the president is unable to carry out his or her duties and acts as president when that happens. Along with these three duties, the vice president's work now, depends upon the duties the president assigns. In the past, the vice presidency was more ceremonial, but today, the vice president's role is more important. They are expected to have more contact with the president, take part in policy meetings, take part in important special work, get involved in foreign policy, and aid in creating new ideas.

impeach

to accuse a public official of misconduct in office

Impound

to refuse to spend

Leak

to release secret information to the media by anonymous government officials

Spoils system

victorious politicians rewarding their supporters with government jobs