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National Government: The Executive Branch
Standard(s) of Learning
| GOVT.7 |
The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and powers of the national government by |
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a) |
examining the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; |
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b) |
analyzing the relationship between the three branches in a system of checks and balances. |
Content
Explain that the executive branch is headed by the President and Vice President, who are supported by the Executive Office, the cabinet, and the federal bureaucracy.
Identify responsibilities of the President and Vice President.
• Overseeing the various parts of the executive branch
• Enforcing laws
• Issuing executive ordinances
• Appointing and removing officials
• Making treaties and executive agreements
• Commanding the military
Explain that a constitutional system of checks and balances gives each of the three branches of government ways to limit the powers of the other branches and protects against an abuse of power by any one branch of government.
Identify checks of the executive branch
• Over the legislative branch
– To veto acts of Congress
– To call special sessions of Congress
• Over the judicial branch
– To appoint federal judges
Sample Resources
Below is an annotated list of Internet resources for this organizing topic. Copyright restrictions may exist for the material on some Web sites. Please note and abide by any such restrictions.
“Government Offices.” Infoplease. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0101184.html>. This site provides information on dates of appointment of cabinet members.
“Official U.S. Executive Branch Web Sites.” Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room. <http://www.loc.gov/rr/news/fedgov.html>.
Picture History. <http://www.picturehistory.com/find/c/261/mcms.html>. This site provides pictures, historical and current, related to the United States government.
The White House. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/cabinet.html>. This is the official White House site for the President’s cabinet. |
