Identify and explain the organization of the Executive
Involves the President who is elected by the Electoral College, the Cabinet who is selected by the President. It also comprises of four agencies that advise the president in key policy areas: the White House Office, the National Security Council, the Council of Economic Advisers, and the Office of Management and Budget.
Identify and provide an example of the powers of the Executive, both formal and informal
Some formal powers of the President is appointing Supreme Court Justices that must be approved by Senate, Commander-in-Chief where the President in the final authority in military matters, Foreign affairs where the POTUS has the right to conduct diplomatic missions and set foreign policy for the U.S., Clemency where the POTUS can pardon convicted criminals, and Veto in which the president can veto any bill signed by Congress. An informal power is as the policy maker where he has the ability to influence the legislative agenda and set economic policy.
Identify and explain how Executive shares powers with the Congress, Judiciary, and bureaucracy
The Executive Branch can veto bills passed by Congress and vice versa. The POTUS can also appoint Justices who determine the constitutionality of his and Congress's actions.
Discuss the implications of Executive sharing powers with each of the following: Congress, Judiciary, and bureaucracy
The checks and balances were used so that not one branch has more power than any of the other branches. Also, they all have powers where each decision they make affect each other.
Discuss the functions that Executive performs
The Executive branch of the U.S. is responsible for enforcing laws and acts as both head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Identify how the power of the Executive has/may evolve gradually
Over time, the power of the Executive branch has expanded greatly because of precedents set by previous presidents which allow for more diverse power to fulfill his role as presidents.
Identify how the power of the Executive has/may changes dramatically as a result of crisis
Emergency powers of the President are used in times of need. The president can declare a place devastated by a storm a federal disaster area, making it eligible for federal aid. Other emergency powers are much vaster in scope. During the Civil War, for example, President Abraham Lincoln spent money without congressional approval, and he also suspended a number of civil liberties, including the writ of habeas corpus.
Identify and discuss the ties between the Executive and political parties
Political parties consists of a group of like-minded people who work together to get major control over the government. They support certain presidential candidates that have the same philosophies as them in order to gain the upper hand over the other party. Parties work together in order to mobilize voters and organize campaigns in order to support certain candidates of their choice. Therefore, political parties and the executive branch have a mutual relationship.
Identify and discuss the ties between the Executive and interest groups
Interest groups attempt to persuade government officials, such as the executive, through lobbying. Washington is filled with tons of lobbyists that cover every issue and viewpoint. Most lobbyists have direct contact to lower levels of the executive branch. They target the regulatory agencies that have the ability to affect policies affecting trade and commerce and sometimes even leading to agency capture.
Identify and discuss the ties between the Executive and media
The main effect the media has on the executive branch is during its presidential elections. The voter turnout for a specific candidate could depend all based upon a certain campaign video or a rumor spread upon media. Most presidential candidates will choose social media to spread a negative image of the other candidates in order to get an unfair advantage. The media sets the agenda issues that the public feels that the president needs to be aware of.
Identify and discuss the ties between the Executive and state and local governments
Most citizens have more contact with their state and local government than the federal government; therefore, in every state, the executive branch is headed by the governor who is directly elected by the people to represent them in the federal government. States' executive order differs according to each state.