CIVICS IN PRACTICE

HOLT

Chapter 6

The Executive Branch

Section 1:
Section 2:
Section 3:
Section 4:

The Presidency
Powers and Roles of the President
Executive Departments and the Cabinet
Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commi
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Section 1: The Presidency

The Main Idea
The president and the vice president are required to
have certain qualifications.
Reading Focus
What are the qualifications and terms of office for
the presidency?
What are the duties of the vice president?
What are the rules of succession for the presidency?
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Section 1: The Presidency

Qualifications for the presidency:

Native-born U.S. citizen
At least 35 years of age
A resident of the United States for at least 14

years

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Section 1: The Presidency

Terms of office:
Four-year term and may be elected to a

second term
Salary of $400,000 per year plus $50,000
nontaxable allowance

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Section 1: The Presidency

Duties and terms of office of the vice

president:
Takes over if the president dies, resigns, or is

removed from office

Presides over the Senate
Must meet the same constitutional qualifications
as the president
Salary of $186,300 per year plus $10,000 taxable
allowance
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Section 1: The Presidency

The order of presidential succession:

The vice president
The Speaker of the House
The president pro tempore of the Senate
Members of the presidents cabinet in the

order in which their departments were created

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Question: What are the term of office and the

duties of the vice president?

Vice President
Term of
Office
fouryears
four

years

Duties
preside over the Senate
remain prepared to assume
presidency
help presidential candidate get elected

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Section 2: Powers and Roles of the President

The Main Idea
The powers and roles of the U.S. president affect
not only the citizens of the United States but
also people throughout the world.
Reading Focus
What are some of the leadership roles of the
president?
What powers does the president have?
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Section 2: Powers and Roles of the President

The President and the Legislative

Process
Recommends laws to Congress in speeches,

writing, or through State of the Union Address

Sends Congress an economic message
Influences legislation with veto power
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Section 2: Powers and Roles of the President

Congress and the Commander in Chief

Only Congress can declare war.
The president has the power to send troops

into foreign lands.

1973War Powers Act: requires troops to be
recalled within 60 days unless approved by
Congress to stay longer
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Section 2: Powers and Roles of the President

Presidents duties as foreign-policy

leader and chief of state:
Appoints officials to represent the United States abroad
Travels to foreign nations to meet with leaders and

representatives of other countries

Serves as the nations chief diplomat and assumes final
responsibility for treaties
Symbolizes the United States and its people
Performs ceremonial duties
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Question: What are the duties of the president

as foreign-policy leader and chief of state?
Presidents
Duties
Foreign
Policy
Leader
Presidents
Duties
as as
Foreign
Policy
Leader
and
Chief of State and Chief of State
secure friendly relations with foreign governments
preserve the security of the United States
appoint officials to represent the United States in
foreign countries
meet with leaders of foreign countries
travel abroad to meet with foreign leaders
assume responsibility for treaties with foreign
countries
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Section 3: Executive Departments and the Cabinet

The Main Idea
The executive branch of the U.S. government is divided
into several departments, each of which has certain
duties.
Reading Focus
What is the Executive Office of the President, and
what is the cabinet?
What are the purposes of the Department of State and
the Department of Defense?
What are the other executive departments in the
federal government?
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Section 3: Executive Departments and the Cabinet

The Executive Office of the President

Established in 1939 and reorganized by each

president
Contains agencies and offices that advise the
president on current issues
The White House Office keeps the presidential
schedule, writes speeches, and maintains relations
with Congress, the press, and the public.
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Section 3: Executive Departments and the Cabinet

The 15 executive departments work to

improve life for all Americans.
Department of:
Agriculture (USDA)
Commerce (DOC)
Defense (DOD)
Education (ED)
Energy (DOE)
Health and Human Services (HHS)
Homeland Security (DHS)*
* newest executive department
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Housing and Urban

Development (HUD)
Justice (DOJ)
Labor (DOL)
State (DOS)
Interior (DOI)
Treasury
Transportation (DOT)
Veterans Affairs (VA)
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SECTION 3

Question: What are the fourteen department

secretaries included in the presidents cabinet?
Cabinet Members
Secretary of State

Secretary of Health and Human Services

Secretary of Treasury

Secretary of Housing and Urban

Attorney General

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Development

Secretary of the Interior

Secretary of Transportation

Secretary of Agriculture

Secretary of Energy

Secretary of Commerce

Secretary of Education

Secretary of Labor

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Secretary of Defense

Secretary of Homeland Security

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Section 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions

The Main Idea

The Independent Agencies and Regulatory
Commissions of the U.S. government perform
specialized duties.
Reading Focus
What are some examples of independent agencies,
and what duties do they perform?
What are regulatory commissions, and who runs
them?
What makes up the federal bureaucracy?
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Section 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions

Independent Agencies
Perform specialized duties that do not fit into regular

departments
Some serve all of the departments and some assist the
work of the entire government.
Examples:
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Farm Credit Administration
Small Business Administration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Section 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions

Regulatory Commissions
Independent agencies make rules and bring

violators to court.
Commission heads are appointed by the president
and approved by Congress to serve long terms.
Commissions are independent in order to freely
do their jobs.
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Section 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions

Regulatory Commissions (continued)

Examples:
Federal Election Commission
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Securities and Exchange Commission
National Labor Relations Board

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Section 4: Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions

The Federal Bureaucracy

Formed by the departments and agencies of

the executive branch

Almost 3 million workers
Operates under heavy rules and regulations
that create red tape but allow the executive
branch to function
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Question: What are some of the independent

agencies and regulatory commissions of the federal
government?
Independent Agencies
Commission on Civil Rights
Farm Credit Administration
Regulatory Commissions

Federal Election Commission

Consumer Product Safety Commission
Securities and Exchange Commission
National Labor Relations Board
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Administration
Office of Personnel Management
General Services Administration
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Chapter6WrapUp
1. Whatisthevicepresidentsroleinthegovernment?
2. WhatlimitationdidtheTwentysecondAmendment
placeonthetermsofthepresidency?
3. WhatisthepurposeoftheStateoftheUnionAddress?
4. Howdoesthepresidentparticipateinthelegislative
process?
5. HowdoestheExecutiveOfficeofthePresidentserve
thepresident?
6. Whatotherpositiondotheexecutivedepartment
headshold?
7. Whyaretheindependentagenciesseparatefromthe
executivedepartments?
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