Changes

The president also has the power to make appointments, particularly to the judiciary.  He nominates new judges, especially those needed to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court.  These judges can serve for the rest of their lives, and thus can hold power for more than 30 years.   

The president also has the power to make appointments, particularly to the judiciary.  He nominates new judges, especially those needed to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court.  These judges can serve for the rest of their lives, and thus can hold power for more than 30 years.   

'''II. Appointment Power'''

== Appointment Power ==

Today people view the appointment power of the president as his most important authority.  In particular, the president’s ability to fill Supreme Court vacancies and lower federal court positions is the focus of political attention.  The president can usually serve only eight years, but a Supreme Court justice can serve 35 years or more.

Today people view the appointment power of the president as his most important authority.  In particular, the president’s ability to fill Supreme Court vacancies and lower federal court positions is the focus of political attention.  The president can usually serve only eight years, but a Supreme Court justice can serve 35 years or more.

President Bush will likely complete his current term without picking a single Supreme Court justice.  This is surprising because several vacancies were expected.  Chief Justice Rehnquist in particular, nearly 80 years old, was expected to step down so that a Republican president could choose his replacement.  It is possible that President Bush talked him out of retiring in the hopes that Republicans will have greater power in the Senate after the 2004 elections, and that Bush will still be in power.  This is risky: libreal Justices Brennan and Marshall decided against retiring during President Carter’s term, but then faced 12 long years of Republican control of the White House.  Old age forced Justices Brennan and Marshall reluctantly to retire in the meantime, during the first President Bush’s term, and their spots were filled by Justices Souter and Thomas.

President Bush will likely complete his current term without picking a single Supreme Court justice.  This is surprising because several vacancies were expected.  Chief Justice Rehnquist in particular, nearly 80 years old, was expected to step down so that a Republican president could choose his replacement.  It is possible that President Bush talked him out of retiring in the hopes that Republicans will have greater power in the Senate after the 2004 elections, and that Bush will still be in power.  This is risky: libreal Justices Brennan and Marshall decided against retiring during President Carter’s term, but then faced 12 long years of Republican control of the White House.  Old age forced Justices Brennan and Marshall reluctantly to retire in the meantime, during the first President Bush’s term, and their spots were filled by Justices Souter and Thomas.

'''III. Leader of the Executive Branch'''

== Leader of the Executive Branch ==

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

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

How many of President Bush’s Cabinet members can you name?  How many departments under the president can you name?

How many of President Bush’s Cabinet members can you name?  How many departments under the president can you name?

'''IV. Foreign Policy'''

== Foreign Policy ==

Historically, the State Department has been the most important agency in the Executive Branch, and the Secretary of State has been the most important Cabinet official.  Many of our presidents first served as Secretary of State under an earlier president.

Historically, the State Department has been the most important agency in the Executive Branch, and the Secretary of State has been the most important Cabinet official.  Many of our presidents first served as Secretary of State under an earlier president.

Agencies in the Executive Branch handle many types of disputes before they become lawsuits.  The Department of Education hears complaints about violation of federal law in public schools; the Department of Labor hears labor disputes, including alleged discrimination; the Department of Health and Human Services handles the massive federal health care spending.  Each of the 15 federal agencies, including the new Department of Homeland Security, have responsibilities that grow over time.

Agencies in the Executive Branch handle many types of disputes before they become lawsuits.  The Department of Education hears complaints about violation of federal law in public schools; the Department of Labor hears labor disputes, including alleged discrimination; the Department of Health and Human Services handles the massive federal health care spending.  Each of the 15 federal agencies, including the new Department of Homeland Security, have responsibilities that grow over time.

'''V. Department of Justice'''

== Department of Justice ==

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 liberals from the beginning.  The Senate delayed his confirmation and he won in a relatively close vote in early 2001, after Bush became 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 liberals from the beginning.  The Senate delayed his confirmation and he won in a relatively close vote in early 2001, after Bush became president and appointed him.

The main dispute revolves around the Fourth Amendment.  The Patriot Act reduced the requirements for federal investigators to seize evidence and tape-record calls of alleged terrorists.  No longer must a local judge issue a warrant based on a detailed affidavit of probable cause prior to searches of alleged terrorists, broadly defined.  Also, federal investigators can now search certain homes without leaving a copy of a warrant so that the owner knows it has been searched.  This is known as “sneak and peak.”  There are many newspaper articles discussing this controversy.  On Sunday, a pollster said that after 9/11, people wanted to give up some freedoms in this area to stop terrorism, but now over two years later they no longer want to.  What do you think?

The main dispute revolves around the Fourth Amendment.  The Patriot Act reduced the requirements for federal investigators to seize evidence and tape-record calls of alleged terrorists.  No longer must a local judge issue a warrant based on a detailed affidavit of probable cause prior to searches of alleged terrorists, broadly defined.  Also, federal investigators can now search certain homes without leaving a copy of a warrant so that the owner knows it has been searched.  This is known as “sneak and peak.”  There are many newspaper articles discussing this controversy.  On Sunday, a pollster said that after 9/11, people wanted to give up some freedoms in this area to stop terrorism, but now over two years later they no longer want to.  What do you think?

President Harry S Truman would say, “The buck stops here.”  The president is accountable for all that he does, and all that the Executive Branch does while he is in charge.  The reelection or defeat of the president after his first term will depend not only on what he does, but also on everything else that happens under his “watch”.

President Harry S Truman would say, “The buck stops here.”  The president is accountable for all that he does, and all that the Executive Branch does while he is in charge.  The reelection or defeat of the president after his first term will depend not only on what he does, but also on everything else that happens under his “watch”.

You can post your answers at [[American Government Homework Four]].

You can post your answers at [[American Government Homework Four]].