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The Presidency

The Presidency. Chapter 8. Objectives. Describe the duties and qualifications of the President of the United States. Identify the president’s line of succession. Describe the role of the Vice President. Explain the process of electing the president. Electoral College

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The Presidency

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  1. The Presidency Chapter 8

  2. Objectives • Describe the duties and qualifications of the President of the United States. • Identify the president’s line of succession. • Describe the role of the Vice President. • Explain the process of electing the president. • Electoral College • Examine the role of the president’s cabinet. • Identify the Executive Office of the President (EOP).

  3. Duties of the President • Commander in Chief • Oversees the 4 branches of the military. • Manages a defense budget: • 2004: almost $400 billion • 2010: almost $700 billion • Appointments • With consent of Senate. • Appoints: • Heads of executive depts. • Federal court judges

  4. Duties of the President • Foreign Policy • Makes treaties • Advice and consent of Senate. • Meets heads of state • Host foreign officials • Appoints ambassadors of U.S. • Executing the Law • Ensures that all laws of the United States are “faithfully executed.” (Constitution) • May pardon people convicted of federal crimes • Except in cases of impeachment.

  5. Duties of the President • Proposing policy changes • The president’s lawmaking power • State of the Union • Ceremonial Head of State • Hosts kings, queens, and other government leaders. • Lights national Christmas tree. • Giving awards and medals. • Public service statements.

  6. Term and Salary • 22nd Amendment (1951) • Limited president to 2 terms* • 1 term = 4 years • Salary • The amount of compensation is a matter for Congress to determine. • 1969-2001: $200,000 • 1999, Congress raised salary to $400,000. • Congress cannot increase salary during president’s term

  7. Benefits • Travel allowance • $100,000 a year. • Air Force One, helicopters, limousines, etc. • Free medical, dental, and health care • White House • 132 room mansion • Domestic staff • Retirement • Pension: $148,400 a year

  8. Presidential Qualifications • Constitutional Requirements: • Article II, Section 1 • Natural-born citizen of U.S. • At least 35 years old • Resident of U.S. for at least 14 years • Informal Requirements: • Government experience • Experience in government is an important qualification for the presidency.

  9. Presidential Qualifications • Informal Requirements • Money • Running for president requires using one’s own personal finances. • Campaign spending requires tens of millions of dollars. • Campaign Reform Act of 2000 • Political Beliefs • Candidates usually hold moderate positions on most issues.

  10. Presidential Qualifications • Informal Requirements: • Personal Characteristics • Presidents generally have been white, married, Protestant, financially successful men. • No women or persons of Hispanic or Asian ancestry have been president. • Personal Growth • Requires immense responsibility and difficult decisions.

  11. Presidential Succession • Line of Presidential Succession • 25th Amendment • Succession Act of 1947 established: • Vice President • Speaker of the House • President pro tempore of the Senate • Sec. of State • Sec. of the Treasury • Sec. of Defense • Attorney General • Sec. of the Interior

  12. Current Line of Succession

  13. Vice President’s Role • Duties • Preside over the Senate and votes in case of a tie • Helps decide whether the president is disabled and acts as president should that happen. • Modern Responsibilities • V.P. responsibilities have increased overtime. • Salary: $208,100 • Influence?

  14. Stress?

  15. Electing the President • Original System • Article II, Section 1 establishes Electoral College • Each state would choose electors according to a method the state legislatures set up. • Each state had as many electors as it had senators and representatives. • Electors would meet in their states and cast votes for two presidential candidates. • Known as electoralvote • No popular vote • If tie or no majority, House of Representatives would choose president. • Each state had one vote.

  16. Electing the President • Impact of Political Parties • Election of 1800: • Jefferson and Burr had 73 electoral votes • Went to House of Representatives • Led to the 12th amendment which reformed the process. • In the 1820s states began to place presidential candidates on the ballot. • Electors chosen by popular vote.

  17. Electoral College System Today • The Electoral College system adapted to the growth of democracy. • Voters are not actually voting for the POTUS and V.P. • They are voting for all of their party’s electors in their state. • EC includes 538 electors • 435 HR members • 100 Senators • 3 for D.C.

  18. Electoral College System Today • A majority of electoral votes is needed to win • 270- magic number • EC is a winner-take-all system • Candidate winning the largest popular vote wins the electoral votes of the state. • Except Maine and Nebraska • Most states do not legally require electors to vote for candidate who wins popular vote.

  19. Electoral College 2008

  20. Electoral College Issues • Winner Take All • Unfair to those who vote for losing candidate. • Bush v. Gore (p. 225) • Third-Party Candidates • Could prevent major-partycandidates from receiving a majority of the votes. • Election by the House V.

  21. Ideas for Reform • Ideas: • Choose electors from congressional districts. • Candidates could win a portion of the states electoral votes. • Direct election of the president and vice president.

  22. Inauguration • The popular election takes place on the Tuesday following the first Monday in Nov. • New president is sworn in and takes office at noon on Jan. 20th. • Oath: • “I do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability; preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” (Art. II, Section 8)

  23. The Cabinet • Cabinet: 15 secretaries of the executive departments, the vice president, and other top officials that help the president make decisions and policy.

  24. The Cabinet • Selection of the Cabinet • Background compatible with the dept. he or she will head. • POTUS’s need to satisfy powerful interest groups • Administrative skills and experience • POTUS considers the race, gender, and ethnic background of candidates. • Obstacles: • The pay, work, and life in Washington politics: unattractive

  25. The Cabinet • Background of Cabinet Members: • College graduates • Leaders in the fields of business, industry, law, science, and education. • Cabinet secretaries earn $161, 200 per year. • Nominations and Confirmations: • Senate confirmation hearings • Answer questions about background and views • Appointments are not automatic

  26. The Cabinet • Role of the Cabinet • The Cabinet in History • The role has depended on how each president wanted to define it. • The Modern Cabinet • Recent presidents have attempted to increase the role of the cabinet; however, most have turned elsewhere for advice. • Inner cabinet: • secretaries of state, defense, treasury, and the attorney general

  27. The Cabinet • Factors limiting the Cabinet’s Role • Conflicting Loyalties • No president commands the complete loyalty of the cabinet members. • Secrecy and Trust • Presidents want people they know and trust. • However, most presidents have appointed relative strangers to head their departments.

  28. The Executive Office of the Pres. (EOP) • Executive Office Agencies • Consists of individuals and agencies that directly assist the president. • EOP has 1500 full-time employees • EOP Growth • Every president reorganizes it in response to various problems. • Presidents want experts available to advise them on different issues.

  29. EOP • EOP Growth (continued) • EOP staff members have been added to help executive departments and agencies work together. • Office of Management and Budget • Prepares the national budget that the president proposes to Congress. • OMB makes recommendations on where the president should make cuts in the budget • Central clearance: the review of all the legislative proposals that the executive agencies prepare.

  30. EOP • National Security Council (NSC) • Advises the president and helps coordinate American military and foreign policy. • Homeland Security Council • Coordinates all federal agencies working to counter terrorism. • Develops a national strategy to protect the U.S. from future terrorist attacks. • Council of Economic Advisors • The Council assesses the nation’s economic health, predicts future economic conditions, and aids other executive agencies involved in economic planning.

  31. The White House Office

  32. The White House Office • The nation’s first presidents had no personal staff • Organization and Growth: • POTUS appoints White House staff without Senate confirmation. • Key aides usually personal supporters of POTUS. • White House is the most important part of EOP. • Inner circle: chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, White House counsel, and press secretary

  33. The White House Office • Duties of the White House Staff: • WH aides perform whatever duties the president assigns them. • WH Office gathers information and provides advice on key issues. • Top staff members work as enforcers for the president.

  34. The White House Office • Duties of the White House Staff: • Some WH staffers present the president’s views to the outside world. • Press secretary • Some staff members work directly with members of Congress. • Key aides decide who and what gets through to the POTUS.

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