“BO knows this and BO knows that…” and he also knows everything about doing his job and professionally checking his colleagues on behalf of the people. Way to go BO!
In a press conference earlier today to acknowledge the “re-opening” of our government, President Obama was clear and adamant in stating there were “no winners” in an “unnecessary” shutdown to our government. He also characterized the actions of [some members of] Congress as undermining to our economy.
I, like you, have read comments in which people, ignorant of the roles of the branches of government, have rendered that President Obama was responsible for the shutdown because he did nothing to stop it. Since the aforementioned philosophy lacks understanding let’s work to understand the role, duties and responsibilities of the Executive Branch of government together!
Article II of the US Constitution specifically speaks to the Executive Branch and specifically to the Office of the President. In doing so, the Constitution states that a President must be at least 35 years old, have a minimum of 14 years residency in the United States, and be a natural-born citizen (remember those “Birthers’ claims about President Obama?).
The Executive Branch of government includes President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, all 15 Secretaries of the various departments in our government, and various other important offices. These people work with President Obama in his Cabinet, or advisors, and within this Administration (the people working for the White House during President Obama’s terms as President).
Although the Cabinet is not officially mandated by the Constitution, it remains a viable part of the unwritten Constitution (actions that are followed but are not in the Constitution)—George Washington was the first President to use a Cabinet which included 4 people. President George W. Bush expanded the Cabinet following 9/11 with the Department of Homeland Security.
Department Secretaries
- Department of State
Secretary John Kerry
http://www.state.gov - Department of the Treasury
Secretary Jack Lew
http://www.treasury.gov - Department of Defense
Secretary Chuck Hagel
http://www.defense.gov - Department of Justice
Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.
http://www.usdoj.gov - Department of the Interior
Secretary Sally Jewell
http://www.doi.gov - Department of Agriculture
Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack
http://www.usda.gov - Department of Commerce
Secretary Penny Pritzker
http://www.commerce.gov - Department of Labor
Secretary Thomas E. Perez
http://www.dol.gov - Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
http://www.hhs.gov - Department of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary Shaun L.S. Donovan
http://www.hud.gov - Department of Transportation
Secretary Anthony Foxx
http://www.dot.gov - Department of Energy
Secretary Ernest Moniz
http://www.energy.gov - Department of Education
Secretary Arne Duncan
http://www.ed.gov - Department of Veterans Affairs
Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
http://www.va.gov - Department of Homeland Security
Acting Secretary Rand Beers
http://www.dhs.gov
Additional Members
- White House Chief of Staff
Denis McDonough - Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Gina McCarthy
http://www.epa.gov - Office of Management & Budget
Director Sylvia Burwell
whitehouse.gov/omb - United States Trade Representative
Ambassador Michael Froman
www.ustr.gov - United States Mission to the United Nations
Ambassador Samantha Power
usun.state.gov/ - Council of Economic Advisers
Chairman Jason Furman
www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/cea/ - Small Business Administration
Acting Administrator Jeanne Hulit
www.sba.gov/
The primary function of the Executive Branch of government is enforcing the law. Beyond that role, however, the Executive has the following powers:
- Act as the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces and the National Guard.
- Maintain a Cabinet of advisors who the run the various departments mentioned above.
- Grant pardons in all federal criminal offenses and postpone punishments like executions
- Negotiate treaties with other countries
- Appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court Justices, federal court judges, and Cabinet members
- Deliver State of the Union Addresses to Congress
- Represent America when dealing with foreign countries
Although many Presidents of the past have used their executive privilege (power that only the President has) to enforce *Executive Orders (actions that have been taken by Presidents to enact immediate action without seeking the approval Congress), it is simply not the duty of the President to make laws or to pass spending bills.
In President Obama’s address today, he sent a rather pertinent and challenging message to the Congressional Republicans: “You don’t like a particular policy or a particular president? Then argue for your position. Go out there and win an election…”
Winning an election? BO knows that!
*The Emancipation Proclamation and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) are both Executive Orders
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