The Executive Branch

The Presidency Roles Formal Qualifications President’s Terms Pay and Benefits Presidential Succession and the Vice Presidency Presidential Nominations Presidential Elections

The Roles of the President Chief of State The ceremonial head of government Chief Executive He executes or enforces the laws Chief Administrator The head director of the largest government in the world

The Roles of the President (Cont) Chief Diplomat The main architect of foreign policy The Commander in Chief The head of the military The Chief Legislator Sets the policy agenda of the country State of the Union address Chief of Party Leader of his or her political party Chief Citizen The President works for and represents the public interest.

The Three Formal Qualifications for President A “natural born citizen… of the United States” http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-april-28-2011/longformers Be at least 35 year of age “Have been fourteen years a resident within the United States.”

The President’s Term The President serves two, four year terms. Has a President ever served more that 8 years? A President may serve no more than 10 years. The 22nd Amendment, adopted in 1951, set presidential term limits. Are term limits democratic?

Pay and Benefits Pay was first set at $25,000 a year, in 1789. It is now $400,000 a year. Congress sets the figure. Also, $50,000 a year expense account. Use of White House. A fleet of automobiles, and Air Force One and Marine One. Use of Camp David A resort in Maryland

Presidential Succession Presidential succession is the order in which a presidential vacancy is filled. Succession occurs if a President dies, resigns, or is removed from office by impeachment. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 outlines the current law on the matter.

The Vice Presidency “I am the Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything.” – John Adams The Constitution assigns this position 2 duties To preside over the Senate To help decide the question of presidential disability.

Presidential Nominations The national convention is the way that presidential candidates are nominated. Each state sends a number of delegates to the convention. States hold presidential primary elections to pick who will represent the party in the general election. http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-march-14-2012/march-14--2012---pt--1 http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-may-30-2012/johnny-pregnant-pause-versus-captain-chucklebuns

Who is Nominated? If an incumbent President wants another term, than they get the nomination. If no President, up to a dozen or so contenders run in the primary elections and the winner is chosen at the convention. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/nomination.php

The Presidential Election Who officially elects the president? The Electoral College The people elect the electors. Each state has as many electors as members of congress. Arizona: 2 Senators + 8 Representatives = 10 Electoral College votes Electors are chosen on a winner take all basis (except for Nebraska and Maine). A candidate must earn a majority of the votes (270 out of 538) to win the election.

How do the Electors Vote The Electors vote based on how the popular vote went. This differs from the way the Founders envisioned the electoral college. They felt the electors should use their independent judgment in selecting a president. Now the electoral college is just a “rubber stamp”.

Flaws in the Electoral College The winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed the presidency Electors are not required to vote in accordance with the popular vote Any election might have to be decided in the House of Representatives If a candidate does not win a majority because of a major 3rd party candidate.

The Presidency in Action Executive offices, executive departments and independent executive agencies are the mechanism for the executive branch to execute the laws that the legislative branch makes.