The Executive Branch

Some presidential trivia… Youngest: Theodore Roosevelt (42) Oldest: Ronald Reagan (69) Longest Inaugural Address: William Henry Harrison (105 minutes) Shortest Term: William Henry Harrison (32 days) Longest Term: Franklin Roosevelt (12 years) Tallest: Abraham Lincoln (6 feet, 4 inches)

Trivia, continued…. The ‘Teddy Bear’ was named for Theodore Roosevelt Largest feet: Warren Harding (Size 14) John F. Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic President Father-Son combos: John Adams and John Quincy Adams and George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush

….and more trivia…. President with most Grammy Awards: Barack Obama (2, both for Spoken Word performance) Shortest and lightest President: James Madison (5 feet, 4 inches and +/- 100 pounds Only President to not belong to a political party: George Washington President who regularly went skinny dipping in the Potomac River: John Quincy Adams

The Roles of the President Chief of State Chief Executive Chief Administrator Chief Diplomat Commander in Chief Chief Legislator Chief of Party Chief Citizen

Chief of State The ceremonial head of the government and the symbol of all Americans “…the personal embodiment and representative of their dignity and majesty”

Chief Executive The President has broad powers to carry out and enforce the laws of the United States

Chief Administrator Head of government offices 2.7 million employees 2.5 trillion dollar budget

Chief Diplomat The President conducts foreign policy and is the nation’s spokesperson to the rest of the world

Commander in Chief The President is the head of the armed forces The Constitution says this person must be a civilian and not an active military member Washington, Grant, Eisenhower

Chief Legislator The President is the main source of public policies and for the most part sets the agenda for what Congress works on

Chief of Party The President is the leader of his or her political party. Parties are not mentioned in the Constitution

Chief Citizen The moral leader of the nation and the person who protects the interests of the people

Term and Compensation The President serves a FOUR year term. According to the 22nd Amendment, he or she may only serve two full terms (or ten years in case he or she took over during another person’s term) Some Presidents have called for a repeal of the 22nd Amendment. What do you think?

So you want to be President… What are the formal qualifications? A “natural born citizen” of the United States Be at least 35 years of age 14 years a resident within the United States At least 100 million Americans meet these requirements!

$$$ 1789: $25,000 2001: $400,000 + $50,000/yr expenses A nice house, big staff, protection, cars, Air Force One, Camp David, travel and entertainment funds and great health care!

Are you sure you want to be President?

The Vice President “I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may become everything.” --- John Adams “ The Vice Presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm spit.” --- John Nance Garner

The Vice Presidency Vice President must meet all the same qualifications as the President VPs take over if President dies, resigns, or is incapacitated (25th Amendment) Duties: Presides over Senate (breaks ties) and helps to decide if the President is incapacitated