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I. General Information A. Constitutional Requirements 1. Natural-born citizen 2. At least 35 years old 3. A resident of the United States for at least 14 years B. Term in Office 1. No person shall be elected to the office more than twice 2. Exception: 10 years C. Informal Requirements 1. Government experience 2. Money 3. Political beliefs 4. Personal characteristics

II. Presidential Succession & Disability (25 th Amendment) A. Presidential Succession (25 th Amendment) Vice President, Speaker of the House, Senate Pro Tempore, Secretary of State and then Cabinet members in the order that the cabinets were created. B. Presidential Disability 1. President informs congress in writing that he/she can no longer fulfill his/her duties. 2. V.P. and majority of the cabinet inform Congress that the president is disabled. C. Two roles of the Vice President as defined in the Constitution 1. Preside over the Senate and vote in case of a tie 2. Help decide the question of presidential disability.

III. Ways that a president’s authority can be limited a. Limitation by Congress -Congressional override -War Powers Act -Power to impeach -Confirmation power of the Senate b. Limitation by Federal Courts c. Limitation by Bureaucracy d. Limitation by Public Opinion

IV. Electoral College A. Definition: A group of persons (electors) chosen in each state and Washington, D.C. every four years who select the president and vice president. B. Electoral Votes (Congress+ D.C.) 535+3= Each state has as many electoral votes as they have representatives and senators combined. C. How it Works 1. Winner-Take-All 2. Need 270 (majority) to get elected 3. No majority – House of Representatives decides. Every state gets one vote. A candidate needs 26 votes to win.

D. Flaws in the Electoral College 1. “Winner-Take-All” feature: Person who received more popular votes could lose the election. 2. “Faithless” elector 3. House of Representatives decides election E. Ideas for Reform 1. Proportional Positive Results: -Cure “winner-take-all” problem -Remove the possibility of electors not voting for someone they are pledged to support. Negative Results: -Enlarge the role of third parties. No majority – force election into the House of Representatives.

2. Popular Vote Negative Results: -Undermine federalism -Candidate would focus on densely populated areas. -Require a Constitutional Amendment 3. Congressional Districts Negative Results: -Could still have more popular votes but lose the election. -Increase the stakes for redistricting/gerrymandering

A. Head of State: Represents the nation and performs many ceremonial duties. 1. Host to heads of governments 2. Giving medals, meeting public figures 3. Collective image of the United States B. Chief Executive: Carry out the laws passed by Congress. Tools the presidents uses to carry out laws. 1. Executive Orders: Rules that have the force of law. 2. Appoints and removes top level officials 3. Amnesty: A group pardon to people for an offense against the government. 4. Reprieves and Pardons: 1. -Reprieve: Postponement of legal punishment 2. -Pardon: A release from legal punishment

C. Chief Legislator: Propose and draft legislation that he/she wants enacted. 1. Difficult when majority of congress is from a different party. 2. Veto Power D. Economic Planner: 1. Annual economic report to Congress 2. Compose yearly federal budget: Size, how monies will be allocated, deficit spending, etc. E. Party Leader: Leader of his/her political party 1. Fund-Raising 2. Appoint members of party to leadership roles

F. Chief Diplomat: Directs foreign policy (Struggle between President and Congress) 1. Treaties: Formal agreement between two or more countries. Requires 2/3 Senate approval. 2. Executive Agreements: Pacts between President and head of a foreign government. No Senate approval. 3. Recognize foreign governments G. Commander in Chief: 1. Power to make war/shared with Congress 2. Makes key military decisions 3. Controls domestic disorders 4. Order use of atomic bomb