The Presidency

Overview Qualifications & Demographics Presidential Roles Organization of the Executive Branch Presidential Power

Qualifications Article II, Section 1: –Natural Born Citizen –35 years old –14 year resident of U.S.

Demographics Gender

Demographics Race

Presidential Roles Chief of State

Presidential Roles Commander in Chief

Presidential Roles Chief Executive –oversee federal bureaucracy –administer and execute the law

Presidential Roles Chief Diplomat –negotiate and sign treaties –appoint diplomats –receive foreign officials –negotiate and sign executive agreements

Presidential Roles Chief Legislator –recommend legislation to Congress –set legislative agenda –veto power

Presidential Roles Chief of Party

Checks on the President Commander in Chief Congress declares war Congress controls budget War Powers Act (1973) –48 hour alert to Congress –troops stay for 60 days pending Congressional approval –With no approval, troops must be withdrawn

Checks on the President Chief Executive –Senate must approve presidential appointments –Civil Service protection for most appointees –Congress controls the budget

Checks on the President Chief Diplomat –Senate confirmation of ambassadors –Senate confirmation of treaties Chief Legislator –President does not have seat in Congress –Congress can override veto

Checks on the President Party Chief –term limit and “lame duck” status –loose organization of American parties makes it difficult to “lead”

15 Departments

e.g., WHO, CEA, NSC, OMB

e.g., CIA, EPA, NASA, NRC, Peace Corps

Presidential Powers Executive Orders –Bush Administration EOs by subjectby subject –EO by disposition (Johnson to G.W. Bush)by disposition Executive Privilege –ability to withhold information from Congress or to refuse to recognize Congressional subpoena

Presidential Power Veto Power –threat to use and actual use can shape legislation Access to Media –use of mass media allows president to reach public in a way that no other institution or politician in government can

Presidential Power Persuasion –Bargain with members of Congress and bureaucracy –Success depends on variety of factors, including: personal communication skills partisan divide in Congress public approval ratings