The Executive Branch
Unit 5 Lessons
Unit 5 Exam Review Materials
- The Electoral College and Electing the President
- Federal Government AgenciesStructure and Organization of Executive Branch
- Roles and Powers of the Modern Presidency
- The Executive and Foreign Policy
- The Executive and the Economy
- State and Local Executives
Unit 5 Exam Review Materials
Unit Five Overview (Adapted from the MSDE Web Based Course)
Rationale or Purpose for Teaching:
The purpose of this unit is to provide students with knowledge about the importance of the executive branch of American government to the foundations of democracy. Students begin by examining the following roles and responsibilities of the executive branch:
In addition to the office of the presidency, students will examine the roles and responsibilities of state and local executives: governors, county executives, and mayors. As part of that examination, students will consider topics, such as legislation, budget creation, controlling growth, dealing with natural disasters, and law enforcement. Finally, they will also consider the influence that the media, public opinion, and interest groups have on executive decision-making.
Essential Concepts:
Essential Vocabulary:
Rationale or Purpose for Teaching:
The purpose of this unit is to provide students with knowledge about the importance of the executive branch of American government to the foundations of democracy. Students begin by examining the following roles and responsibilities of the executive branch:
- the structure, powers and authority of the executive branch
- the responsibilities of national, state, and local executives
- the executive and the economy
- the implementation of foreign policies
- to command the armed forces
- to make treaties
- to approve or veto legislation
- to grant pardons
- to appoint ambassadors, justices, and cabinet members
- to ensure that laws are enforced
In addition to the office of the presidency, students will examine the roles and responsibilities of state and local executives: governors, county executives, and mayors. As part of that examination, students will consider topics, such as legislation, budget creation, controlling growth, dealing with natural disasters, and law enforcement. Finally, they will also consider the influence that the media, public opinion, and interest groups have on executive decision-making.
Essential Concepts:
- The organization and power of the executive branch provides a structure for limited government and law enforcement.
- The President has both foreign and domestic responsibilities in conjunction with Congress.
- The executive balances competing socio-economic goals to ensure economic equity.
- National, state and local executives create fiscal policy.
- The Electoral College system provides a structure for the election of the President.
- The power of the executive has changed over time.
- Executive power is constrained by the system of checks and balances.
- The branches and levels of government have separate spheres of influence and power, but our government is a federal system that works in checks and balances.
- External factors (special interest groups, the media and public opinion) can influence the decisions of the executive.
- What are the powers, structure, and authority of the executive branches (President, Governor and local executives)?
How do regulatory agencies carry out the policies of the executive on the national and state level? - How does the executive branch balance competing socio-economic goals to ensure economic equity?
- How does the executive branch develop fiscal policy to manage the economy?
- What are the budget responsibilities of the executive branch at the national, state and local levels of government?
- How does the Electoral College system function within the presidential election process?
- How and why has the power of the executive expanded over time?
- How can the executive use their power to maintain order and safety?
- How do the legislative and judicial branches limit the powers of the executive?
- How do the media, special interest groups and the public affect the policy decisions of the executive?
- What are the President’s responsibilities in making foreign policy and setting the legislative agenda?
Essential Vocabulary: