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| | {{Government Lectures}} | | {{Government Lectures}} |
| | + | == Review == |
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| − | American Government
| + | In our first three lectures we discussed our three branches of government at the federal (national) level, as authorized by the U.S. Constitution. Article I establishes the legislative branch (Congress), Article II authorizes the executive branch (the president), and Article III empowers the judicial branch (the courts). Which branch employs the most people? The executive branch employs millions of workers, including the entire military; the other two branches employ only a few thousand each. |
| − | <br>Fourth Lecture – President
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| − | Outline of Lecture:
| + | In this lecture we return to learn more about the executive branch, which is timely because our Nation will select the next president in the next four weeks. Nearly half the Nation may vote early, as allowed in many states, and by the evening of Election Day the winner will be announced. |
| − | <br>I. Review | + | |
| − | <br>II. Appointment Power | + | Mitt Romney was trailing the incumbent<ref>An "incumbent" is a candidate who currently holds the political office, and is running for reelection.</ref> Barack Obama in most polls, but Romney did much better than Obama in their first presidential debate last Wednesday.<ref>There are a total of three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate during the campaign.</ref> Polling after the debate indicated that Romney received a four point "bounce" in the polls from his strong performance in the debate. The Reuters poll showed Romney trailing Obama by only 44% to 46% as of Friday, March 5. Some observers feel that as long as Obama is below 50% in polls, then he is likely to lose because undecided voters tend to vote against an incumbent. |
| − | <br>III. Leader of the Executive Branch | + | |
| − | <br>IV. Foreign Policy
| + | Notice how important the media are in connection with the presidential debates. The media ask the questions of the candidates; the media broadcast the debates to the American public; and the media |
| − | <br>V. Department of Justice | |
| − | <br>VI. Elections
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| − | <br>VII. Issues
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| − | '''I. Introduction'''
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| − | The president is in the news more than any other politician. This is true regardless of what he does, or how important he is. It requires only one reporter and one news camera to air a story about the president. Often, the reporter simply stands in front of the White House and merely talks into the camera.
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| | 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 22nd Amendment, the president may not be elected more than two terms. In the past 40 years, only two presidents have even served two full terms (Reagan and Clinton). | | 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 22nd Amendment, the president may not be elected more than two terms. In the past 40 years, only two presidents have even served two full terms (Reagan and Clinton). |