Week 6: Article 2 - The Executive Branch


46th and current U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in the Oval Office


Last week we learned all about the executive branch of the federal government--the department of the president, vice president and the president's cabinet. We read through Article 2, which gives the enumerated powers of the president (which really aren't that many compared to the Legislative branch). Those powers are as follows:

  1. Be Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. military
  2. Require written counsel from any principal officer in his cabinet
  3. Grant reprieves and pardons, except for impeachment
  4. Make treaties (with 2/3 Senate approval)
  5. Appoint ambassadors, diplomats, supreme court justices and other officers and consuls
  6. Call special sessions of Congress
  7. Enforce the law
  8. Commission officers
  9. Receive ambassadors and public ministers
  10. Deliver the State of the Union address
The president also has the following implied powers that just naturally go along with being the head of state:
  1. Re-institute the draft, or forced enlistment of soldiers
  2. Foreign policy/diplomatic power
  3. Removal of officers
  4. Establish offices in federal bureaucracy (create federal agencies and task forces)
  5. Issue executive orders*
  6. Exercise executive privilege (withhold information from congressional, judicial or public scrutiny)
  7. Act as symbolic head-of-state
Because of these powers, the president also has the accompanying duties to:
  • Recommend department budgets
  • Represent the will of the people
  • Shape the national agenda
  • Implement party priorities
  • Shape the party agenda
  • Act as symbolic party head
*Read this article for more information on executive orders: 


ASSIGNMENTS:

WRITING: Should the president have the power to issue executive orders?

CONSTITUTION JOURNAL: Article 2, Section 1

READING: Start reading The Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz. Underline, highlight and take notes to be ready for the book discussion on April 7th. Also, many of you haven't finished the previous two books: please get those completed so you can earn your ribbon!

HERO REPORTS: Pace yourselves and spend 30-45 minutes per day on this project. If you do, you will have a really impressive, stress-free, finished project, ready to turn in on April 21st!

DEVOTIONAL: MORGAN

CANDY TRIVIA:

After a president signs an executive order, where does it go?


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