The Executive Branch
(President Barack Obama)
The Executive Branch (www.whitehouse.gov) is made up of the President, the Vice President, and the Cabinet. The Executive Branch carries out the laws that the Legislative Branch creates. The President is the head of the Executive Branch. Our current President is Barack Obama from Illinois. He is the 44th President of the United States. According to the Constitution, the President can nominate ambassadors, veto legislation (although Congress can override that decision by two-thirds majority vote), report on the State of the Union, and negotiate treaties with other countries. He makes appointments to his Cabinet and many other positions in the Government. The Senate must approve all of these appointments; this is another "check" that Congress has over the Executive Branch. The President is also given the power to pardon anyone convicted of breaking a federal law. In addition, he serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. If the President becomes seriously ill, dies, or if he is impeached, the Vice President will automatically assume the Presidency. He must be born in the United States, be at least 35 years of age, and have been a permanent resident for at least 14 years.
Term of the Presidency
The President is elected for a four year term. He may be re-elected for a second four year term, but may not run again after that. He promises to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Fun Fact: Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected for four terms during his Presidency. He died shortly after the beginning of his fourth term, prompting an Amendment to the Constitution limiting the President to only two terms of office.
The Cabinet
The Cabinet is comprised of 15 executive department heads. These officials are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. All the members of the Cabinet are called "Secretary," as in "Secretary of the Treasury" except the Justice Department, whose head is referred to as the Attorney General. The Cabinet also plays a role in the succession of the Presidency. After the Vice President, Speaker of the House, and the Senate President Pro-tempore, the Cabinet.
This website identifies the various cabinet departments, a contact for the heads of the 15 executive departments, and the official website link of each deparment.
www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet
*For more information on the functions of the Executive Branch, click on the link below. Ben Franklin will be your guide!