Executive Branch

"..and will to the best of my judgment and power, preserve, protect, and defend, the Constitution of the United States."

What are the Executive powers of the President of the United States according to the Constitution?

Execute or carry out the laws made by Congress
Commander in Chief of the military
Pardoning power
Diplomatic power-handling foreign relations
Chief Executive Officer of the whole executive branch of the government

No more...no less! 
Is it the Presidents responsibility to make sure Americans have employment? Assign billions of dollars to educating youth? Provide federal relief for victims of natural disasters?

Electoral College

The Founders felt it was unwise for the people to vote directly for president. "The job requirements of the President spelled out in the Constitution are duties such as Commander-in-Chief of the military and chief executive; not something the common man is typically familiar with. It would be the same as if a truck driver tried to interview a doctor for a job at a hospital."1 

If the system were working today as originally intended, the people would vote for the electors and the electors would vote for the president. Today electors are chosen by their political party leadership and perform more of a token duty of voting for the candidate with the popular vote in their state.



Homework:

1. Power to declare war.  According to the Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war but for the last 60 years the President has declared war.  Which branch in your opinion should have the power-Legislative or Executive?
2. Read The Great Little Madison, by Jean Fritz.  Colloquium 4/4
3. Continue to write the Constitution in your own words.
4. Choose an ammendment for your presentation.

Presentation:  George

1 See A Guide for Learning and Teaching The Declaration of Independence and the U.S Constitution by Joseph Andrews. p.145