Executive Branch

Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist No. 70 argues for a single, energetic executive to effectively govern the new U.S. government. The essay explains that a unitary executive is necessary for national defense, law enforcement, and protecting liberty because a single leader can act decisively, unlike a plural executive which is prone to conflict and inaction

The President

• Head of the executive branch and tasked with carrying out the nation’s laws
• Elected through electoral congress, 270 to win
• Must be 35 years old, natural born citizen, resident for 14 years
• 4 year terms, now limited to 2 terms
  • FDR only one to serve more than 2
• Each political party determines its own candidate through a primary election, before this it was party caucuses

Roles of the President

• Chief Executive
  • Large ability to shake the beurocracy and picks people to head committees
  • Can control funding in a way
• Chief Legislator (Head of Government)
  • Figurehead of the country
  • Has to give state of the union and sign laws into effect
  • Can suggest budget + policy proposals
• Head of State
  • Chief Diplomat
  • Face of the nation, go around the world as the representative of the country with foreign leaders, hosting state dinners
  • Choose ambassadors for other countries
    • Reward for political support or prominence in politics
      • Real professional diplomats for important ones
• Commander in Chief of the military
  • Take orders from civilian who holds political position
  • Extent to which president goes to war
  • World moves faster so troops get sent without congressional approval
• Crisis management
  • Creates and leads teams of peoole
  • Inspiration for the people