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American Government

American [[Government]]

<br>Fourth Lecture – [[President of the United States of America|President]]

<br>Fourth Lecture – [[President of the United States of America|President]]

More generally, the [[President of the United States of America|president]] is responsible for all foreign policy.  He appoints the ambassadors, and decides what treaties to negotiate and sign.  But 2/3rd approval by the [[United States Senate|Senate]] is required for any treaty to become law.  The North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) established so-called “free trade” between the United States and Mexico and Canada.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] bypassed the requirement of [[United States Senate|Senate]] approval by arranging for [[Congress]] to pass the treaty directly into federal law.  Why do you think he did that?  (Answer: it only requires a majority to pass a law rather than 2/3 in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] to ratify a treaty).

More generally, the [[President of the United States of America|president]] is responsible for all foreign policy.  He appoints the ambassadors, and decides what treaties to negotiate and sign.  But 2/3rd approval by the [[United States Senate|Senate]] is required for any treaty to become law.  The North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) established so-called “free trade” between the United States and Mexico and Canada.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] bypassed the requirement of [[United States Senate|Senate]] approval by arranging for [[Congress]] to pass the treaty directly into federal law.  Why do you think he did that?  (Answer: it only requires a majority to pass a law rather than 2/3 in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] to ratify a treaty).

The [[President of the United States of America|president]] also has legislative authority in signing or vetoing new laws.  If the [[President of the United States of America|president’s]] political party is in control of [[Congress]], then he has implicit control over its agenda too.  The [[President of the United States of America|president]] typically submits a budget each year for [[Congress]] to pass in order to pay for the operations of the government and all its programs.  Typically [[Congress]] will add spending to that budget and include it in one massive bill for the [[President of the United States of America|president]] to sign.  An attempt to give the [[President of the United States of America|president]] “line-item veto” authority to strike out certain spending items was held to be unconstitutional.

The [[President of the United States of America|president]] also has legislative authority in signing or vetoing new laws.  If the [[President of the United States of America|president’s]] political party is in control of [[Congress]], then he has implicit control over its agenda too.  The [[President of the United States of America|president]] typically submits a budget each year for [[Congress]] to pass in order to pay for the operations of the [[government]] and all its programs.  Typically [[Congress]] will add spending to that budget and include it in one massive bill for the [[President of the United States of America|president]] to sign.  An attempt to give the [[President of the United States of America|president]] “line-item veto” authority to strike out certain spending items was held to be unconstitutional.

The [[President of the United States of America|president]] has complete control over his executive branch, and fills thousands of positions in the numerous federal agencies.  [[United States Senate|Senate]] approval is required only for a few top positions, such as the Cabinet officials who directly advise the [[President of the United States of America|president]].

The [[President of the United States of America|president]] has complete control over his executive branch, and fills thousands of positions in the numerous federal agencies.  [[United States Senate|Senate]] approval is required only for a few top positions, such as the Cabinet officials who directly advise the [[President of the United States of America|president]].

When George Washington was [[President of the United States of America|president]], there were only three Cabinet officials: State, War (now Defense), and Treasury.  As the federal government has expanded, so have the number of positions.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] has 15 Cabinet officials.  [[United States Senate|Senate]] confirmation was required for all of them.  Typically the [[President of the United States of America|president]] fills these positions with members of his own party, often those who were recently defeated for [[United States Senate|Senate]], or former governors.

When George Washington was [[President of the United States of America|president]], there were only three Cabinet officials: State, War (now Defense), and Treasury.  As the federal [[government]] has expanded, so have the number of positions.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] has 15 Cabinet officials.  [[United States Senate|Senate]] confirmation was required for all of them.  Typically the [[President of the United States of America|president]] fills these positions with members of his own party, often those who were recently defeated for [[United States Senate|Senate]], or former governors.

How many of [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush’s]] Cabinet members can you name?  How many departments under the [[President of the United States of America|president]] can you name?

How many of [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush’s]] Cabinet members can you name?  How many departments under the [[President of the United States of America|president]] can you name?

Much attention these days is focused on the fourth oldest department: the Department of Justice.  Its head, Attorney General John Ashcroft, was bitterly opposed by [[liberal]]s from the beginning.  The [[United States Senate|Senate]] delayed his confirmation and he won in a relatively close vote in early 2001, after [[George W. Bush|Bush]] became [[President of the United States of America|president]] and appointed him.

Much attention these days is focused on the fourth oldest department: the Department of Justice.  Its head, Attorney General John Ashcroft, was bitterly opposed by [[liberal]]s from the beginning.  The [[United States Senate|Senate]] delayed his confirmation and he won in a relatively close vote in early 2001, after [[George W. Bush|Bush]] became [[President of the United States of America|president]] and appointed him.

The Department of Justice is responsible for handling all prosecutions and litigation for the federal government.  Originally, the federal government prosecuted very few crimes.  Treason was one.  Counterfeiting was another.  But not much more.

The Department of Justice is responsible for handling all prosecutions and litigation for the federal [[government]].  Originally, the federal [[government]] prosecuted very few crimes.  Treason was one.  Counterfeiting was another.  But not much more.

Now the federal government prosecutes thousands of crimes in all areas of life.  Fraud.  Accounting deception.  Monopolies.  Lying to a federal official is a special federal crime.  Obstruction of justice is a federal crime, when someone interferes with an investigation.  Certain types of murder are now federal crimes.  It was the Department of Justice that attempted to break up Microsoft’s monopoly; it is the Department of Justice that is prosecuting Martha Stewart; it is the Department of Justice that is currently investigating a leak from the [[White House]] about a CIA agent.

Now the federal [[government]] prosecutes thousands of crimes in all areas of life.  Fraud.  Accounting deception.  Monopolies.  Lying to a federal official is a special federal crime.  Obstruction of justice is a federal crime, when someone interferes with an investigation.  Certain types of murder are now federal crimes.  It was the Department of Justice that attempted to break up Microsoft’s monopoly; it is the Department of Justice that is prosecuting Martha Stewart; it is the Department of Justice that is currently investigating a leak from the [[White House]] about a CIA agent.

Unlike state prosecutors, federal prosecutors are not elected.  They work under the Attorney General, who is appointed by the [[President of the United States of America|president]].  They are called U.S. Attorneys or assistant U.S. Attorneys.  State prosecutors are called District Attorneys.  The top state prosecutors are elected, and thus directly accountable to the public.  When a state prosecution meets with public disapproval, the responsible district attorney can be defeated at the next election.  But the [[President of the United States of America|president]] has to be defeated to change the Department of Justice, and presidential elections are typically determined by economic rather than legal issues.

Unlike state prosecutors, federal prosecutors are not elected.  They work under the Attorney General, who is appointed by the [[President of the United States of America|president]].  They are called U.S. Attorneys or assistant U.S. Attorneys.  State prosecutors are called District Attorneys.  The top state prosecutors are elected, and thus directly accountable to the public.  When a state prosecution meets with public disapproval, the responsible district attorney can be defeated at the next election.  But the [[President of the United States of America|president]] has to be defeated to change the Department of Justice, and presidential elections are typically determined by economic rather than legal issues.

'''VII. Issues'''

'''VII. Issues'''

1.  Should we have free trade with China?  China is a communist country notorious for requiring abortion, persecuting citizens for religious reasons, and pouring its money into a military that threatens free Chinese on Taiwan and aims missiles at our western cities like Los Angeles.  When we buy goods from Communist China, some of that money funds its totalitarian government.  Should our government encourage trade with China by granting it “Most Favored Nation” trade status?

1.  Should we have free trade with China?  China is a communist country notorious for requiring abortion, persecuting citizens for religious reasons, and pouring its money into a military that threatens free Chinese on Taiwan and aims missiles at our western cities like Los Angeles.  When we buy goods from Communist China, some of that money funds its totalitarian [[government]].  Should our [[government]] encourage trade with China by granting it “Most Favored Nation” trade status?

2.  The Attorney General has been controversial in exercising greater federal powers to investigate criminals, including terrorists.  Do you think the federal government should have more power in this area?

2.  The Attorney General has been controversial in exercising greater federal powers to investigate criminals, including terrorists.  Do you think the federal [[government]] should have more power in this area?

3.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] beat Al Gore in 2000 even though Gore won the popular vote, because [[George W. Bush|Bush]] won a narrow majority of the electoral college.  Is that fair?

3.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] beat Al Gore in 2000 even though Gore won the popular vote, because [[George W. Bush|Bush]] won a narrow majority of the electoral college.  Is that fair?