Unit 5: Executive Branch and Bureaucracy
Essential Questions
1. Identify and explain the organization of the Executive.
The head of the executive branch is the president. The president appoints people to the Cabinet, which provides oversight to different departments in the federal government. The Cabinet consists of the vice president and the various heads of the executive departments.
2. Identify and provide an example of the powers of the Executive, both formal and informal.
Formal powers are powers that are specifically stated in the Constitution, for example, being Commander in Chief and the power to veto bills. Informal powers (or inherent powers) are powers that are implied, but not clearly states in the Constitution, for example, executive orders and the power to influence the congressional agenda.
3. Identify and explain how Executive shares powers with the Congress, Judiciary, and bureaucracy.
The legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch enforces laws, and the judicial branch interprets laws. The executive branch is allowed to appoint federal judges, but the legislative branch has to confirm appointments.
The executive branch has jurisdiction over bureaucratic agencies.
4. Discuss the implications of Executive sharing powers with each of the following: Congress, Judiciary, and bureaucracy.
The executive branch shares powers with congress by being able to sign or veto any bill that congress has made. If the president vetoes the bill, congress can override the veto with a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate. The executive branch shares powers with the judiciary branch by being able to appoint judges to courts, while the judiciary branch has the power to make sure that the executive branch does not violate the Constitution or any laws. The executive branch has jurisdiction over the bureaucracy, while congress creates the agencies. The bureaucracy acts as a civil servant and implement the laws that were created by congress and passed by the president.
5. Discuss the functions that Executive performs.
The functions of the executive branch: Chief Legislator: veto bills, outline legislative proposals, and call special sessions of Congress; Head of Party: appoint people based off political patronage and organize party structure; Chief Diplomat: negotiate treaties, appoint ambassadors, be in general charge of foreign policy, and executive agreements; Commander in Chief: have civilian authority over military; Chief of State: a symbol of the U.S. government and people; Chief Executive: enforce federal law, treaties and court decisions, appoint cabinet members, and delegate executive orders; Chief Jurist: appoint federal judges and pardon powers; Chief Economist: develop national budget; and Leader of the Free World: persuasion powers over allies.
6. Identify how the power of the Executive has/may evolve gradually.
Executive power has expanded over time through the creation of the cabinet and federal agencies. The cabinet and federal agencies are under jurisdiction of the president. Also, due to the growth of the country, it is believed that more government control is needed to keep the balance of order, freedom, and equality in check. With deteriorating political efficacy in our government, citizens with the ability to vote choose not to and think that considering how powerful government is today, they can't make a difference.
7. Identify how the power of the Executive has/may change dramatically as a result of crisis.
In times of crisis, the power of the Executive increases greatly. During times of crisis, the president might take steps to help the country without the consent of Congress, such as the War Powers Act, which allowed the president to organize the country for war and monitor communications between foreign countries and the U.S. Another example is with FDR and the New Deal, who passed some of the programs with executive order rather that waiting for the consent from congress.
8. Identify and discuss the ties between the Executive and political parties.
As head of the executive branch, the president is also the Head of Party. As head of party, the president is able to provide political patronage, which is rewarding one's own party or donor. In today;s government, the political structure is fragmented, with the President identifying as one party and Congress majority party being another.
9. Identify and discuss the ties between the Executive and interest groups.
Interest groups are an important factor in helping a presidential candidate win election. Interest groups can rally more support for a candidate in exchange for support in their own causes. With more interest groups supporting a president, the more support from citizens they get for him showing that he at leasts recognizes causes that are important to them.
10. Identify and discuss the ties between the Executive and media.
The media has a positive and negative tie to the executive branch. The media can aid the executive branch by providing coverage of events, such as the State of the Union Address, press conferences, and advertisements (during election races) to citizens, but can also show the president in a negative light by criticizing his/ her actions or by going back to remembering a president's mistake often, such as the impeachment of President Nixon for the Watergate Scandal.
11. Identify and discuss the ties between the Executive and state and local governments.
State and local governments still have to obey rules made and enforced by congress and the president. The executive branch provides funds for states through grants, these grants could be either categorical, a grant for a specific purpose, or block, a grant that can be used for a variety of different purposes.
The head of the executive branch is the president. The president appoints people to the Cabinet, which provides oversight to different departments in the federal government. The Cabinet consists of the vice president and the various heads of the executive departments.
2. Identify and provide an example of the powers of the Executive, both formal and informal.
Formal powers are powers that are specifically stated in the Constitution, for example, being Commander in Chief and the power to veto bills. Informal powers (or inherent powers) are powers that are implied, but not clearly states in the Constitution, for example, executive orders and the power to influence the congressional agenda.
3. Identify and explain how Executive shares powers with the Congress, Judiciary, and bureaucracy.
The legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch enforces laws, and the judicial branch interprets laws. The executive branch is allowed to appoint federal judges, but the legislative branch has to confirm appointments.
The executive branch has jurisdiction over bureaucratic agencies.
4. Discuss the implications of Executive sharing powers with each of the following: Congress, Judiciary, and bureaucracy.
The executive branch shares powers with congress by being able to sign or veto any bill that congress has made. If the president vetoes the bill, congress can override the veto with a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate. The executive branch shares powers with the judiciary branch by being able to appoint judges to courts, while the judiciary branch has the power to make sure that the executive branch does not violate the Constitution or any laws. The executive branch has jurisdiction over the bureaucracy, while congress creates the agencies. The bureaucracy acts as a civil servant and implement the laws that were created by congress and passed by the president.
5. Discuss the functions that Executive performs.
The functions of the executive branch: Chief Legislator: veto bills, outline legislative proposals, and call special sessions of Congress; Head of Party: appoint people based off political patronage and organize party structure; Chief Diplomat: negotiate treaties, appoint ambassadors, be in general charge of foreign policy, and executive agreements; Commander in Chief: have civilian authority over military; Chief of State: a symbol of the U.S. government and people; Chief Executive: enforce federal law, treaties and court decisions, appoint cabinet members, and delegate executive orders; Chief Jurist: appoint federal judges and pardon powers; Chief Economist: develop national budget; and Leader of the Free World: persuasion powers over allies.
6. Identify how the power of the Executive has/may evolve gradually.
Executive power has expanded over time through the creation of the cabinet and federal agencies. The cabinet and federal agencies are under jurisdiction of the president. Also, due to the growth of the country, it is believed that more government control is needed to keep the balance of order, freedom, and equality in check. With deteriorating political efficacy in our government, citizens with the ability to vote choose not to and think that considering how powerful government is today, they can't make a difference.
7. Identify how the power of the Executive has/may change dramatically as a result of crisis.
In times of crisis, the power of the Executive increases greatly. During times of crisis, the president might take steps to help the country without the consent of Congress, such as the War Powers Act, which allowed the president to organize the country for war and monitor communications between foreign countries and the U.S. Another example is with FDR and the New Deal, who passed some of the programs with executive order rather that waiting for the consent from congress.
8. Identify and discuss the ties between the Executive and political parties.
As head of the executive branch, the president is also the Head of Party. As head of party, the president is able to provide political patronage, which is rewarding one's own party or donor. In today;s government, the political structure is fragmented, with the President identifying as one party and Congress majority party being another.
9. Identify and discuss the ties between the Executive and interest groups.
Interest groups are an important factor in helping a presidential candidate win election. Interest groups can rally more support for a candidate in exchange for support in their own causes. With more interest groups supporting a president, the more support from citizens they get for him showing that he at leasts recognizes causes that are important to them.
10. Identify and discuss the ties between the Executive and media.
The media has a positive and negative tie to the executive branch. The media can aid the executive branch by providing coverage of events, such as the State of the Union Address, press conferences, and advertisements (during election races) to citizens, but can also show the president in a negative light by criticizing his/ her actions or by going back to remembering a president's mistake often, such as the impeachment of President Nixon for the Watergate Scandal.
11. Identify and discuss the ties between the Executive and state and local governments.
State and local governments still have to obey rules made and enforced by congress and the president. The executive branch provides funds for states through grants, these grants could be either categorical, a grant for a specific purpose, or block, a grant that can be used for a variety of different purposes.