The Executive Branch
The President
The President of the United States enforces the laws, which s/he can do by giving edicts, or orders. The President is also the Commander-of-Chief of the armed forces and the head of state, which means that s/he signs treaties. People vote for the President every four years.
Executive check on the Legislative Branch: The President can sign bills into law or veto them. He can also refuse to sign a bill. If Congress is in session and the President leaves a bill unsigned for ten days, the bill automatically becomes a law. A pocket veto, on the other hand, occurs when the President leaves a bill unsigned for ten days and Congress is NOT in session. In this case, the bill automatically dies. To learn more about what a President can do to a bill, click on the "Bill to Law" tab above or click here.
Executive check on the Judicial Branch: The President nominates federal justices, including Supreme Court Justices.
Executive check on the Legislative Branch: The President can sign bills into law or veto them. He can also refuse to sign a bill. If Congress is in session and the President leaves a bill unsigned for ten days, the bill automatically becomes a law. A pocket veto, on the other hand, occurs when the President leaves a bill unsigned for ten days and Congress is NOT in session. In this case, the bill automatically dies. To learn more about what a President can do to a bill, click on the "Bill to Law" tab above or click here.
Executive check on the Judicial Branch: The President nominates federal justices, including Supreme Court Justices.
The Vice President
The Vice President is prepared to take office, or become President, if necessary. Eight Vice Presidents have taken office after the President suddenly died. One Vice President took office after the President resigned, or voluntarily stepped down from power. The President and Vice President run on one ticket; when people voted for Barack Obama this past election, they had to vote for his running mate, Joseph Biden, to become Vice President.
The Vice President is also the President of the Senate, which means that s/he can vote if there is a tie.
The Vice President is also the President of the Senate, which means that s/he can vote if there is a tie.
The Cabinet
The President appoints Cabinet members to advise him/her. There are fifteen Cabinet members total. Different members have different responsibilities.
Examples of Cabinet members: The Secretary of State is concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary of Defense works to protect America. The Secretary of the Treasury controls the country's overall economic policies. The Secretary of Education has certain powers over schooling.
The picture to the left includes members of the Executive Branch, including the Cabinet members. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden stand in the center.
Examples of Cabinet members: The Secretary of State is concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary of Defense works to protect America. The Secretary of the Treasury controls the country's overall economic policies. The Secretary of Education has certain powers over schooling.
The picture to the left includes members of the Executive Branch, including the Cabinet members. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden stand in the center.
Class Assignment: The class Executive Branch, acting as the President, must decide whether it will sign or veto the bill. Discuss why the President might decide to let a bill become a law without signing it. Discuss why the President might decide to pocket veto the bill.
Click on the seal above to learn about the Judicial Branch.
Click on the seal above to learn about the Legislative Branch.
