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The President: Powers, Limitations, and Responsibilities.

Learn about the powers, limitations, and responsibilities of the President of the United States. From enforcing laws and managing the economy to being the commander-in-chief and chief diplomat.

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The President: Powers, Limitations, and Responsibilities.

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  1. The President

  2. Welcome to Election Day! Please choose the next President of the United States. The Candidates are: Candidate 1: Associates with ward healers and consults with astrologists. Has two mistresses. He chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day. Candidate 2: Kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks a quart of brandy every evening. Candidate 3: A decorated war hero, a vegetarian, doesn’t smoke, drinks an occasional beer and hasn’t had any illicit affairs.

  3. The Actual Person Candidate 1: Franklin Delano                     Roosevelt Candidate 2: Winston Churchill Candidate 3: Adolf Hitler

  4. The Executive Branch • Powers listed in Article II • Main duty: Enforce Laws • Includes: The President Vice-President President’s Cabinet

  5. Qualifications To be the President or Vice President: • At least 35 years of age • Born in the U.S. • Resident for 14 years

  6. Terms • 22nd Amendment: -Limits the President to two terms or 10 years • 25th Amendment: Presidential Succession

  7. Salary • $400,000 per year VP: $230,700 • $50,000 a year allowance • Lives in the White House (132 rooms, 18.3 acres) • Air Force One • $100,000 for travel • Camp David Resort • Medical and Dental Care • Secret Service Protection- Life • Pension $191,300/yr

  8. Powers & Limitations of the President ROLE: CHIEF OF STATE • the ceremonial head of the U.S. government & people • “Mascot” or figure head • Making a patriotic speech on the Fourth of July.

  9. Powers & Limitations of the President ROLE: CHIEF EXECUTIVE • enforces federal law, treaties, court decisions. The “boss” of govt. workers. • Appoints cabinet members, commissions, federal judges A. Senate approval needed for appointments Can also remove those people from office. Except Supreme Court Justices Ex. meeting with his cabinet and bureaucratic agencies

  10. Powers and Limitations of the President • ROLE: CHIEF MANAGER OF THE ECONOMY 1. Does not have “formal” power over the economy 2. Works with advisors and legislators on unemployment, high prices, taxes, and debt

  11. Powers & Limitations of the President ROLE: CHIEF DIPLOMAT 1. general charge of foreign policy 2. appoints ambassadors 3. executive agreements 4. negotiates treaties 5. recognition of foreign governments A. Senate must approve appointments B. Senate must approve treaties (2/3 vote)

  12. DIPLOMAT Continued… • Treaties: formal agreement between two or more sovereign states • Pres. Usually neg. treaties through the Secretary of State • Executive Agreement • Like treaties: agreements between the President and foreign leaders or subordinates • Do NOT require approval of the Senate • Stem from previous legislation, or a previous treaty

  13. Power of Recongnition • The President acknowledges the legal existence of that country and its government. • Recognition is not permanent. Can change with revolutions or changes in government.

  14. Powers & Limitations of the President ROLE: COMMANDER IN CHIEF 1. civilian authority over the military (1.4 million) A. War Powers Resolution 1973 (what is this?) - Notify Congress 48hrs. -Remove troops within 60 days or ask Congress for extension B. Congress declares war

  15. Powers & Limitations of the President ROLE: CHIEF LEGISLATOR • Veto • . 2/3- both houses of Congress can override a veto 2. outlines legislative proposals (ex. The Federal Budget) 3. calls special sessions of Congress A. Congress is not obligated to pass the president’s proposals

  16. Contin…. • Executive Orders: (EOs) are legally binding orders given by the President,. • Generally used to direct federal agencies and officials in their execution of congressionally established laws or policies. • Highly Controversial- Do Not need approval from Senate. • Ex. State of the Union Address

  17. Powers & Limitations of the President ROLE: HEAD OF POLITICAL PARTY 1. Political patronage A. Face of the party B. Party tied to success or failure of the President Ex. Campaigning for party members

  18. Powers & Limitations of the President ROLE: CHIEF CITIZEN • “the Representative of all the people” • Certain moral obligations • Ex. Consoling families from natural disasters.

  19. JUDICIAL POWERS OF PRES • Pardon: one person forgiveness for a crime • Amnesty: pardon for a large group of people • Reprieve: postponing of a sentence • Commutation: reduction of a sentence

  20. VICE PRESIDENT • Preside over the Senate • Help decide the question of presidential disability • Pres. Unable to carry out the duties • Votes in the Senate if there is a tie • Presides of the impeachment trials of many fed. Officers, but not the pres. • Can act as Chief of State

  21. Check for Understanding • Commander in Chief • Chief of State • Chief Diplomat • Chief Manager of the Economy • Chief Policymaker • Chief of Party • Chief Citizen • Chief Executive

  22. Check for Understanding • What are the Sole Powers of the President? • Powers Shared with the Senate? • Shared with Congress as a whole?

  23. Check for Understanding • What are the Sole Powers of the President? • Act as commander in chief of the military, commission military officers, grant reprieves and pardons, call Congress into session, ensure that laws of Congress are faithfully executed, exercise executive power, appoint officials to executive office. • Powers Shared with the Senate? • Make treaties, appoint ambassadors, judges, and high officials • Shared with Congress as a whole • Approve legislation.

  24. Cabinet MembersIn order of Succession • Joe Biden - V.P. • Department of State: Hillary Clinton • Department of Treasury: Timothy F. Geithner • Department of Defense: Robert M. Gates • Department of Justice: Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. • Department of the Interior
Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar • Department of Agriculture
Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack • Department of Commerce
Secretary Gary F. Locke • Department of Labor
Secretary Hilda L. Solis • Department of Health and Human Services
 • Secretary Kathleen Sebelius • Department of Housing and Urban Development
 • Secretary Shaun L.S. Donovan • Department of Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood • Department of Energy
Secretary Steven Chu • Department of Education
Secretary Arne Duncan • Department of Veterans Affairs
Secretary Eric K. Shinseki • Department of Homeland Security
Secretary Janet A. Napolitano

  25. The Federal Bureaucracy • Government organizations, usually with officials selected on the basis of experience and expertise, that implement public policy. • Freeof political accountability - still affected by Congressional budget and oversight Ideally: members apply specific rules of action to each case in a rational, nondiscretionary, predictable, and impersonal way.

  26. White House Staff • Established in 1939 and changed by each administration since. • The “inner circle” of the President (400) • Chief of staff • Press secretary • Physician • Counselor / Senior advisors

  27. Executive Office of the President • National Security Council (NSC) • Office of Homeland Security • Work closely with the President on security issues • CIA, military chiefs, etc.

  28. Executive Office of the President • Office of Management and Budget (OMB) • Office of National Drug Control Policy • Office of Science and Technology • Trade, Economy, Environment, etc.

  29. The Executive Departments (Cabinet) • In 1789, Congress created 3 • Today there are 15 departments • Each department is headed by a secretary except the Department of Justice (attorney general) • Departments are divided into subunits. (pg. 426)

  30. Choosing Department Leaders • Nominated by President, confirmed by the Senate • Party patronage (campaign influence) • Professional qualifications • Regional balance (Geography) • Interest group pressure

  31. Independent Agencies • 150 agencies independent of the Cabinet (not the President) • Some do not fit into departments • Congress wanted them independent to escape influence

  32. Independent Agencies • FTC- Federal Trade Commission • SEC- Securities and Exchange Commission • FCC- Federal Communications Commission • SSA- Social Security Administration • Peace Corps • FEC- Federal Election Commission • USPS- United States Postal Service • FDIC- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

  33. Choosing Candidates • Primary elections- Each state conducts an election to determine: • Delegates to the National Convention • Preferred candidate • 1st primary in New Hampshire Beginning of February • 1st Caucus in Iowa Beginning of February

  34. Open or Closed • Closed Primaries/Caucuses • Only registered party members can participate in the primary/caucus • Sometimes allow Independents to participate • Open • Get to vote in whichever primary or particpate in a caucus regardless of party affiliation.

  35. Open Continued • You get both republican and democratic parties’ ballots. • You fill out one and return it. • If you fill out both, they are negated and thrown away.

  36. National Conventions • Delegates from each state’s primary election gather in one location • Party determines number of delegates • 2,059 Republicans • 1,237 needed for nomination • 4,353 Democrats • Superdelegates • 2,383 needed for nomination • July- Party out of power • August (July 2016)- party in power • Brokered Convention?? 2016

  37. National Conventions • At the Convention: • Presidential are chosen by majority votes of delegates. • Various factions and the leading personalities of the party come together. • Party platform is created and adopted.

  38. General Election • The Democrat and Republican candidates that were chosen the primaries compete for president. • Pick a Vice President • 2nd Tuesday after the First Monday in November. • 2nd- 8th • 2016- November 8th

  39. Electoral College • A group of people (electors) chosen from each state and D.C. to formally elect the President and Vice President. • Why? • Public ignorance and apathy

  40. # OF ELECTORS • Each state get the number of electors = the number of Congressmen the state • Minimum of 3 • Win- 270 Electors Votes • Tie- House of Reps votes • 48states – Winner-Take-All • Nebraska & Maine- Proportional

  41. Electoral College • Electors are people chosen by the political parties at their State party conventions or by a vote of the party's central committee in each State. • They may be State elected officials, party leaders, or persons who have a personal or political affiliation with the Presidential candidate.

  42. Summary of Election Process • Primary Elections • Political Party Conventions • General Election Tuesday after first Monday in Nov: Voters cast ballots for all electors representing a particular party in each state.

  43. Election Process • Electors Vote Monday after second Wednesday in Dec: Electors of party winning popular vote in each state cast ballots for President and Vice President in their state capitols.

  44. Election Process • Electoral Votes Are Counted First Week in January: Ballots cast by electors are counted by Congress

  45. Election Process • Inauguration Day January 20: Candidate receiving majority of electoral votes becomes President (at least 270/538)

  46. Jean Jacques Rousseau Social Contract, 1762 “I was born a citizen of a free state and a member of its sovereign body, and however weak may be the influence of my voice in public affairs, my right to vote on them suffices to impose on me the duty of studying them.”

  47. Voter Registration • Citizen of the U.S. • Resident of the state in which you are voting • 18 years at the time of the election • Registered to vote • Selecting a political party

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