The chief executive

Chief executive means “the one who carries out the law”

Article II gives executive power to the president. Chief executive is the job of enforcing laws Congress passed, running the federal bureaucracy, and making sure agencies do their work.

The president appoints cabinet secretaries, ambassadors, and federal judges. The Senate must confirm most of those appointments. The president can also issue executive orders, which are directions to the executive branch. An executive order is not a new law, and courts can strike one down if it breaks the Constitution.

Remember: Chief executive = enforce the laws and run the executive branch. Congress still makes the laws.

The other hats the president wears

Commander in chief: leads the armed forces. Only Congress can declare war, but the president directs the military.

Chief diplomat: meets foreign leaders, negotiates treaties (the Senate must approve a treaty by two-thirds), and decides whether to recognize other governments.

Chief legislator: suggests laws, gives the State of the Union, signs bills, or vetoes them. Congress can override a veto with two-thirds of both houses.

Chief of state: the ceremonial symbol of the country. Party leader and a model citizen are political roles, not powers written in the Constitution.

Remember: Diplomat = foreign affairs. Legislator hat = sign or veto. Commander = military, not a declaration of war.

Who can be president, and for how long

A president must be a natural-born citizen, at least 35, and have lived in the United States for 14 years. The term is four years.

The 22nd Amendment limits anyone to two elected terms. If the president dies, resigns, or is removed, the vice president becomes president. The 25th Amendment also covers a president who is unable to serve, and how a new vice president is chosen.

The House can impeach (accuse) the president. The Senate holds the trial. Removal takes a two-thirds vote in the Senate.

Cabinet, departments, and the state chief executive

The Cabinet is the president’s team of advisors. Most members lead an executive department: State (foreign policy), Treasury (money), Defense (military), and Justice, led by the Attorney General. There are more departments, such as Education and Homeland Security.

A governor is the chief executive of a state. Governors enforce state laws, can veto state bills, command the state national guard in many cases, and often appoint state officials. A mayor is often the chief executive of a city.

United States v. Nixon (1974) matters here: even the chief executive is under the law. Executive privilege cannot hide evidence in a criminal case.

Remember: President = national chief executive. Governor = state chief executive. Neither one is above the law.