Changes

There are three branches of government:  legislative, executive and judicial.  Last week we learned about the legislative branch, which for the United States (federal) government is Congress.  This week we learn about the executive branch.

There are three branches of government:  legislative, executive and judicial.  Last week we learned about the legislative branch, which for the United States (federal) government is Congress.  This week we learn about the executive branch.

The top official in the executive branch is the [[President of the United States of America|president]].  He is mentioned on the news more than anyone else, not because he is necessary the most influential, but because it is easiest for news sources to put one reporter and one camera outside the White House (his home) to speculate about what the president thinks, or what he is going to do about something, or why the executive branch made a particular decision, and it easiest to refer to the entire executive branch as the "[president's name] Administration" regardless of whether the president has any involvement in the issue.  It is far more difficult (and more expensive) for the media to report on and explain what Congress is doing, and even harder still to describe an important case being decided by the Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court has nine people who jointly make decisions, and it does not help television ratings to place all nine pictures on the screen!

The top official in the executive branch is the [[President of the United States of America|president]].  He is mentioned on the news more than anyone else, not because he is necessarily the most influential, but because it is easiest for news sources to put one reporter and one camera outside the White House (his home) to speculate about what the president thinks, or what he is going to do about something, or why the executive branch made a particular decision, and it easiest to refer to the entire executive branch as the "[president's name] Administration" regardless of whether the president has any involvement in the issue.  It is far more difficult (and more expensive) for the media to report on and explain what Congress is doing, and even harder still to describe an important case being decided by the Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court has nine people who jointly make decisions, and it does not help television ratings to place all nine pictures on the screen!

The president is not a king.  His powers are limited and enumerated.  He lacks a special title, and is called simply “Mr. President.”  Under the [[Twenty-Second Amendment|22nd Amendment]], the President of the United States of America|president may not be [[election|elected]] more than two terms.  But often a president serves only one term, and is defeated for reelection (examples include Jimmy Carter and the first President Bush, George H.W. Bush).

The president is not a king.  His powers are limited and enumerated.  He lacks a special title, and is called simply “Mr. President.”  Under the [[Twenty-Second Amendment|22nd Amendment]], the President of the United States of America|president may not be [[election|elected]] more than two terms.  But often a president serves only one term, and is defeated for reelection (examples include Jimmy Carter and the first President Bush, George H.W. Bush).