Executive Branch

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• Article II establishes the power of the executive branch
• president leads the executive branch
  • is commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces
  • has the power to enforce laws
  • responsible for maintaining day-to-day operations of U.S. government
  • can sign or veto any legislation that Congress passes
    • Congress can override a presidential veto with two-thirds vote of both House and Senate
• Once president signs a bill, it becomes an Act of Congress
  • a federal law passed by the Congress and signed by president
• President appoints federal judicial, executive, and administrative officials
  • Senate must approve of some of the appointees:
    • Cabinet members
      • role of Cabinet is to advise the president
      • includes U.S. vice president and 15 heads of executive departments
      • Constitution recognizes that the president should have advisors in executive departments
        • does not specify the type or number of executive departments
      • Congress creates executive departments
    • federal judicial appointees
• has the power to negotiate and enter into treaties with other countries
  • Senate must ratify those treaties