Ch.13 The Presidency

Chief Executive  Oversees cabinet, independent agencies & regulatory commissions (4.2 million people)  Gives executive orders  Makes appointment to the cabinet & federal agencies (2,500 appointments)

Judicial Leader  Grants commutations, reprieves and amnesty/pardon  Makes appointments to the federal courts (District, Appeals & Supreme court)

Commander in Chief  Decides use of military (foreign or domestic)  Makes key military decisions (sites, strategies & weapons)

Head of State  Represents country internationally  Performs ceremonial duties

Chief Diplomat  Makes treaties  Negotiates executive agreements  Recognizes foreign countries  World mediator

Party Leader  Helps party members get elected (Presidential Coattails)  Appoints national party chairperson  Gives party members jobs

Chief Legislator  Gives State of the Union address  Recommends legislation to Congress (most successful during honeymoon period)  Signs & Vetoes legislation  Call Congress into special sessions

Economic Planner  Submits annual economic report  Creates federal budget  Influences economic policy

Formal Qualifications  Natural Born Citizen  35 Years Old  Residency: at least 14 years

The President’s Term  22nd Amendment: made the unwritten custom limiting presidential terms a part of the written Constitution – maximum of 2 full terms

Pay & Benefits  $400,000/yr.  $50,000/yr. spending allowance (non- taxable)  White House (132 rooms)  Offices & Large staff  Fleet of automobiles  Air Force One and Marine One  Camp David  Finest medical, dental and other health care  Travel & Entertainment Funds

13.2 – Presidential Succession  The Constitution & Succession Succession: the scheme by which a presidential vacancy is filled by the Vice President when a president dies, resigns, or is removed from office by impeachment The 25th Amendment states that the Vice President shall become the President Presidential Succession Act of 1947: set the order of succession following the Vice President

The Vice Presidency  Importance of the Office Formal Duties: (1) to preside of the Senate and (2) to help decide the question of presidential disability Elected by the people – Can not be fired by the President  Benefits $198, 600 (salary)

13.3 – Presidential Selection: The Framer’s Plan  Original Provisions President & Vice President were to be chosen by presidential electors – casting 2 electoral votes The candidate with the most votes would become President; The candidate with the 2nd most votes would become Vice President

13.4 – Presidential Nominations  Presidential primary: used to choose a candidate for the party; At-Large election  National Convention: Presidential Party Candidate is nominated and chosen

13.5 – The Election  The Electoral College Today People do not vote directly for the president – they elect presidential electors Constitution provides for the election of the President by the electoral college, in which each State has as many electors as it has members of Congress Presidential electors are expected to vote automatically for their party’s candidates

The Electoral College  Choosing Electors Today: Names of the individual elector-candidates appear on the ballot in only a handful of States In most states, only the names of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates are listed  Flaws in the Electoral College The winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed the presidency Electors are not required to vote in accord with the popular vote Any election might have to be decided in the House of Representatives

Map of the Electoral College

The Electoral College  Proposed Reforms The District Plan: Electors would be chosen the same way as the members of Congress are chosen (At-Large Election) The Proportional Plan: Each presidential candidate would receive the same share of a State’s electoral vote as he or she received in the State’s popular vote Direct Popular Election: Do away with the electoral college system and allow a direct popular election of the President