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The Presidency

The Presidency. The Most Powerful Office in the World. The Constitution is very broad when addressing the powers of the president. The power of the presidency has grown dramatically over the years. Individual presidents have really elevated the power of the office!.

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The Presidency

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  1. The Presidency

  2. The Most Powerful Office in the World • The Constitution is very broad when addressing the powers of the president. • The power of the presidency has grown dramatically over the years. Individual presidents have really elevated the power of the office!

  3. Reasons for the Expansion of Power • The unity of the office • The presidents themselves (strong personalities) – use of the Mass Media to capture public attention • Complex social and economic circumstances • The need for immediate and decisive action in times of crisis • New laws passed by Congress

  4. Influence • The President’s actions largely set the nation’s agenda, and it is to the President that people usually turn when something significant occurs. STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

  5. Need for a Strong Executive • Without a strong executive, the government had no one to carry out the acts of Congress (this had been one of the major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation). • Allows government to respond quickly to problems and enforce laws. • To hold the legislative branch in check

  6. Presidential Powers

  7. The Power of Persuasion • Going Public • Public support is perhaps the greatest source of influence a president has. • Presidential appearances are staged to get the public’s attention. • As head of state, presidents often perform many ceremonial functions, which usually result in favorable press coverage.

  8. The President’s Roles(first six come directly from the Constitution) 1. Chief of State – ceremonial head / symbol of all people 2. Chief executive – enforce laws 3. Chief administrator – director of executive branch/bureaucracy; more than 2.7 million employees 4. Chief diplomat – foreign policy; spokesperson to rest of the world 5. Commander in chief – controls military 6. Chief legislator – proposes public policy / sets overall shape of Congressional agenda

  9. The President’s Roles(first six come directly from the Constitution) 7. Chief of party – acknowledged leader of the political party that controls the executive branch 8. Chief citizen – representative of all the people

  10. Formal Qualifications • Natural born citizen • At least 35 years of age • 14 years residency

  11. Informal Qualifications • Experience • “Clean” record • Appearance • Communication ability • Access to large amounts of money • “Electability”

  12. Length of term 2. Max # of terms 3. Max # of years possible in office 4 2 10 Presidential Terms

  13. Setting the Limit • FDR was elected to 4 terms • This leads to the passage of the 22nd Amendment

  14. Salary and Benefits The current presidential salary is $400,000 per year.

  15. Salary and Benefits • Benefits include: • $50,000 expense account • The White House • Fleet of automobiles • Air Force One • The finest health care • Secret Service

  16. 25th Amendment Provides for situations in which the President becomes disabled.

  17. Presidential Succession • Vice President • Speaker of the House • President Pro Tempore of the Senate 4. Secretary of State *Then the heads of the 14 other cabinet departments follow.

  18. Constitutional Duties of the Vice President • Preside over the Senate • Help determine Presidential Disability (acting president) • President in waiting (25th Amendment)

  19. The Vice Presidency “I am Vice President. In this, I am nothing. But I may be everything.” John Adams: The nation’s first VP

  20. Selection of Vice Presidents The Presidential Candidate typically chooses someone who will balance the ticket

  21. VP Succession How can a vacancy in the Vice Presidency be filled? The President shall nominate a VP who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both houses (25th)

  22. Interesting Facts • Eight Presidents have died in office; nine total Vice Presidents have succeeded to the Presidency for any reason. • FOURTEEN PRESIDENTS served as vice presidents: J. Adams, Jefferson, Van Buren, Tyler, Fillmore, A. Johnson, Arthur, T. Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman, Nixon, L.B. Johnson, Ford, and George Bush. Chart – p.362

  23. Flexibility Of the Presidency • Each president defines the office to meet the needs of the times and his view and exercise of power. • Consequently, the power of the Presidency has greatly expanded over time to meet the changing needs of the nation.

  24. Limits on Presidential Power • Congress can override a presidential veto by 2/3’s vote in both chambers • The Supreme Court can rule presidential actions unconstitutional • Public opinion can also limit the president’s power by convincing them to avoid certain programs or ideas

  25. Impeachment • To accuse or bring charges against federal officials • The House has the sole power to impeach (simple majority vote) • The Senate has the sole power to try (judge, sit as a court) in impeachment cases. A conviction requires a two-thirds vote. • Two U.S. Presidents have been impeached, but neither has been removed.

  26. Presidential Selection Electoral College Winner-Take-All System whereby the presidential candidate who wins the preference vote in a primary or caucus automatically wins all the Electoral College votes of a State • Group of persons chosen in each State and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President.

  27. War Powers Resolution (1973) War Powers • Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, but presidents can commit troops and equipment in conflicts • War Powers Resolution was intended to limit the president’s use of the military - but may be unconstitutional • Presidents continue to test the limits of using the military in foreign conflicts

  28. Executive Agreement vs. Treaty Executive Agreement – Formal government agreement entered into by the president that does not require the advice and consent of the Senate. These agreements are not binding on future administrations Since 1900, they have been used far more frequently than treaties (giving the president more power in foreign affairs. • Presidents often try to get around the constitutional “advice and consent” of the Senate requirement for ratification of treaties and the congressional approval requirement for trade agreements by entering into Executive Agreements.

  29. Executive Orders Executive Order – a rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect of law. Many have been issued to help clarify or implement legislation enacted by Congress, but many others have the effect of making new law. • Major policy changes may be instituted when a president has issued an executive order. • Demonstrates how easily presidents may thwart the wishes of Congress and substitute their own policy preferences

  30. Created by Josh Allen

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