The White House

The President Qualifications for Office The Constitution requires that the president must be: thirty-five years old fourteen years a U.S. resident a natural-born citizen Terms of Office The length of the president's term was quite controversial...originally NO LIMITS The 22nd Amendment now limits presidents to two four-year terms or a total of ten years in office.

Succession Congress passed the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 that stated the order of succession after the Vice President: Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore of the Senate President’s Cabinet heads in order of the creation of their department The 25th Amendment (1967) lays out succession and allows the president to appoint a new vice president if the post is vacant and steps to determine presidential disability

The Vice President 12th Amendment Only formal duty is to preside over the Senate or to break tie votes in the Senate and help to determine presidential disability (25th Amendment) Historically, the office has had little power and often VPs have low profiles. A vice president is chosen for a number of reasons: geographical balance to bring the party back together at the convention achieve a social and cultural balance on the ticket VPs can also be used to overcome candidate shortcomings

Road to the White House 1. Exploratory Committee 2. Announce Candidacy 3. Primaries & Caucuses 4. The National Convention 5. The Campaign 6. Election Day (Electoral College) 7. Inauguration (Lame-Duck)

The Constitutional Powers of the President The president received certain enumerated powers in the Constitution; however, the first line of Article II may be the most important grant of power to the president. “the executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.”

Presidential Powers

Chief Legislator Chief-of-State Chief Politician Chief Jurist Chief Diplomat Chief Executive Party Leader Commander -in-Chief Persuasion Power

Running the Government: The Chief Executive The Vice President Basically just “waits” for things to do Recent presidents have given their VPs important jobs The Cabinet Presidential advisors, not in Constitution Is made up of the top executives of the Federal Departments, confirmed by the Senate

Running the Government: The Chief Executive

The Cabinet Usually an expert in department appointed with some political and private experience In most cases, the person barely has any personal or political relationship to the president, if any Some may be chosen for image of diversity Cabinet members focus on department and not necessarily the loyalty to president or party

Running the Government: The Chief Executive The Executive Office of the President Made up of several policymaking and advisory bodies

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) The EOP was established by FDR and is a very important inner circle of advisors to the president. The EOP is staffed by persons responsible to the president alone but must be confirmed by Senate National Security Council (NSC), the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Running the Government: The Chief Executive The White House Staff The people most directly responsible to the president are the White House staff such as press secretary, personal assistants, senior aides, chief of staff, etc. There is no Senate confirmation and their power comes solely from their personal relationship with the president.

Chief Executive Appointment Power Executive Order Agenda Setting Power to appoint ambassadors, public officers, and Supreme Court Judges with Senate approval (advice and consent) Myers v. United States Executive Order Agenda Setting The President can control public policy and discussion through… The media State of the Union speech Make policy proposals

Chief Legislator Veto: Sending a bill back to Congress with his reasons for rejecting it Pocket Veto: Letting a bill die by not signing it - only works when Congress is adjourned Line Item Veto: ability to reject particular parts of a bill without vetoing the entire bill Line Item Veto Act 1996 Clinton v. City of New York “There can be no liberty where the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or body of magistrates.”

The President and National Security Policy: Chief Diplomat Negotiates treaties with other countries Must be ratified by Senate Executive agreement Does not require Senate approval Diplomatic Recognition Ex. 1917-1933 – USSR not recognized Ex. 1949-1970s – China not recognized

The President and National Security Policy: Commander in Chief Writers of the constitution wanted civilian control of the military Ability to deploy troops War Powers Resolution

Executive Privilege Power to refuse appearing before or refusing to provide information to Congress or the Supreme Court Presidents argue for it based on separation of powers United States v. Nixon (1974) Evidence may not be withheld in criminal proceedings Clinton v. Jones (1997) Presidency cannot protect from civil litigation on actions before becoming president

Presidential checks on Congress Recommend legislation Veto power Call special sessions Adjourn Congress Impoundment: refusal to spend funds appropriated by Congress (Budget Reform and Impoundment Act of 1974) Divided Govt. (gridlock)

Presidential Checks on Supreme Court Appointment of Supreme Court Justices and federal court judges Reprieve—postpones execution of a sentence, temporarily freeing the individual from crime or imprisonment Pardon—forgiveness of a crime AND its penalties Commutation—reduction of penalties in a federal crime Amnesty—group pardon