People

People

The Executive Branch
Article 2, Section 1
 
•    The executive power shall be invested in a President of the United States of America
President’s Job Description
 
•    Chief of State
o    President is the ceremonial head of the government of the USA
 
•    Chief Executive
o    President executes (carries out) laws from Congress and decisions of the Supreme Court
    •    Ex. Obama signed Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law; bill aimed to help workers against gender discrimination
    •    Ex. Andrew Jackson declines treaty involving Cherokee Nation v. State of Georgia (1831)
    Resulted in the Trail of Tears
 
•    Chief Administrator
o    President is head of Executive Branch and directs the 2.7 million employees with a budget of about $3 trillion
o    Has the Cabinet and others to assist in the administration of duties
o    Uncle Sam spent $3 trillion last year, $8.2 billion in a day, $344 million in an hour, $5.7 million in a minute, and $95,000 in a second
o    How long would it take to spend 1 million dollars at a rate of $1,000 a day? 3 years
o    How about 1 billion? 3,000 years
 
•    Chief Diplomat
o    President is architect of American foreign policy
o    Makes treaties
o    Makes executive agreements
o    Appoints ambassadors
o    Holds Summit Conference
    •    1985- Reagan with Mikhail Gorbachev, Summit Conference in Geneva, Switzerland
    •    2004- George Bush addresses the United Nations
 
•    Commander in Chief
o    President is leader of armed forces
 
•    Chief Legislator
o    President is architect of public policy
 
•    State of the Union Address
o    Veto is Latin for “I forbid”
o    Congress can override veto with 2/3 majority vote in House and Senate
 
•    Chief of Party
o    President is acknowledged leader of his political party
o  ...