The Executive Branch

Qualifications for Presidency Natural Born Citizen 35 years old Live in the US for at least 14 years

Traditional (“unwritten”) Qualifications All men WhiteProtestant All Christian All ChristianWealthy Married (sometimes more than once, but not often) Have some military experience

Electoral College Each state has a body of electors equal to the number of representatives the state has Each state guaranteed three electoral votes Votes are to reflect the vote of the people from each respective state

State Representation Electoral votes are given to winner of the state (winner take all) Maine and Nebraska have proportional electoral votes

Race to total electoral votes Must receive a majority (270) If no candidate get to 270 then the House of Representatives decides

Flaws in Electoral College Winner of popular vote is not guaranteed presidency Has happened four times 1824, 1876, 1888, , 1876, 1888, 2000

Flaw #2 Electors are not required to vote in accord with popular vote Never been a major issue, but it could potentially be Never been a major issue, but it could potentially be

Flaw #3 The House decides if no candidate gets to 270 Strong third party candidates could influence election, thus leaving election to House Strong third party candidates could influence election, thus leaving election to House

What else could we use? District Plan Proportional Plan Direct Popular Election

Is this the best we can do? Is the Electoral College fair? Does it work? Should we change? Why or why not?

Term of Office Limited to two terms (FDR) 22 nd Amendment No one can be elected more than twice No one can be elected more than twice Anyone who serves more than 2 years of another’s elected term can be reelected once Anyone who serves more than 2 years of another’s elected term can be reelected once 20 th Amendment Newly elected President is sworn in on January 20 th Newly elected President is sworn in on January 20 th

Salary and Benefits $400,000 annually Perks-Fringe benefits the President receives, set by congress Travel $100,000 Travel $100,000 Expense $50,000 Expense $50,000 Residence at the White House (gym, library, bowling alley and movie room) Residence at the White House (gym, library, bowling alley and movie room) Executive Staff, over 100 people Executive Staff, over 100 people Camp David Camp David Doctors, Dentists and other healthcare professionals Doctors, Dentists and other healthcare professionals Air Force One, Marine One Air Force One, Marine One Retirement Benefits Retirement Benefits

Roles of the President Chief Executive-The official who actually runs the Government Armed forces Armed forces Pardons Pardons Negotiate Treaties Negotiate Treaties Appointments Appointments Meet with foreign leaders Meet with foreign leaders Carry out the Law Carry out the Law

Roles of the President Chief of State –Figure Head for the US Foreign Relations (entertainment) Foreign Relations (entertainment) Speaks to Charitable Groups Speaks to Charitable Groups Unveils Monuments Unveils Monuments Recognizes effort in battle Recognizes effort in battle First Pitch First Pitch

Line of Succession Eight American Presidents have died in office (four of natural causes, four assassinated) Line of Succession is the order in which determines who serves as president if the president dies, is disabled, or removed from office Line of Succession is the order in which determines who serves as president if the president dies, is disabled, or removed from office The Vice President Joseph Biden The Vice President Joseph BidenJoseph BidenJoseph Biden Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiNancy Pelosi President Pro Tempore of the Senate Daniel Inouye President Pro Tempore of the Senate Daniel Inouye Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Hillary Rodham ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonHillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner Secretary of the Treasury Timothy GeithnerTimothy GeithnerTimothy Geithner Secretary of Defense Robert Gates Secretary of Defense Robert GatesRobert GatesRobert Gates Attorney General Eric Holder Attorney General Eric HolderEric HolderEric Holder Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar Secretary of the Interior Ken SalazarKen SalazarKen Salazar Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Secretary of Agriculture Tom VilsackTom VilsackTom Vilsack Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke Secretary of Commerce Gary LockeGary LockeGary Locke Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis Secretary of Labor Hilda SolisHilda SolisHilda Solis Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen SebeliusKathleen SebeliusKathleen Sebelius Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun DonovanShaun DonovanShaun Donovan Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHoodRay LaHoodRay LaHood Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu Secretary of Energy Stephen ChuStephen ChuStephen Chu Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Secretary of Education Arne DuncanArne DuncanArne Duncan Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric ShinsekiEric ShinsekiEric Shinseki Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano Secretary of Homeland Security Janet NapolitanoJanet NapolitanoJanet Napolitano

Executive Privilege or Immunity Right to withhold info from Congress and the courts Why would the President want to do this?

Messages to Congress State of the Union Economic Report Budget Message

Approving Legislation Options: Sign bill into law Sign bill into law Veto bill Veto bill Do nothing (pocket veto) Do nothing (pocket veto) Does not have line-item veto

Judicial Powers Appoints Supreme Court Justices Able to grant pardons-release from punishment “absolute” or “conditional”

Judicial Powers Amnesty-general or blanket pardon

Voting Trends and Behavior

Why is voter turnout so low? Socioeconomic factors Occupation Occupation Age Age Race Race Gender Gender Education Education Income Income Residence Residence

Education and Income More education = More wealth (generally) More education & $$$ = More likely to vote (Republican)

Occupation Employed are much more likely to vote In 2000, 60% of employed voted, only 46% of unemployed Gov’t workers-75%

Age Older more likely to vote Lowest participation is in year olds More mobile group More mobile group (college, military, travel) (college, military, travel)

2008 Election Ages % of pop. that reg. to vote % of pop. that actually voted %49% %60% %69% %72% 75 and older 77%68% Total (225 mil.) 71% (146 mil.) 64% (131 mil.)

Race Whites more likely to vote % of whites voted % of whites voted 54% of blacks 54% of blacks 24% of Latinos 24% of Latinos

Gender 2008 election 62% of men 62% of men 66% of women 66% of women

Residence Midwest and Northeast much higher than South or West Rural areas more likely to vote than metropolitan areas

Voter attitudes Apathy or indifference 27% of registered voters claimed they didn’t vote because they didn’t want to, didn’t prefer any candidate, or were simply uneducated 27% of registered voters claimed they didn’t vote because they didn’t want to, didn’t prefer any candidate, or were simply uneducated 41% claim they were unable to get to polling place 41% claim they were unable to get to polling place

Trends Only Switzerland has lower turnout Some say U.S. doesn’t necessarily have a problem, other nations are just more politically active

Suffering for suffrage Voter turnout has declined as suffrage (the right to vote) has increased 26 th Amendment gave 11 million more people the right to vote Less than ½ actually turned out Less than ½ actually turned out Number of voters went up 4 million Number of voters went up 4 million Percentage went down 6% Percentage went down 6%

When do people vote? Presidential elections draw more voters than Congressional, state, and local elections

Easier Voting Motor Voter Act of 1993 Registration at Dept. of Motor Vehicles Registration at Dept. of Motor Vehicles

Election Predictions Media influences voters Image Image Heighten interest Heighten interest Can hurt turnout by predicting winners Can hurt turnout by predicting winners

What do we look for in a candidate? Why? Why? Discuss Discuss

Voting Decisions Party identification Party loyalty-”coattail effect” Party loyalty-”coattail effect” Split ticket voting Split ticket voting

Issues Where does the candidate stand on the issues?

Image 1952 Eisenhower vs. Stevenson

Image 1960 Kennedy vs. Nixon

Image 1984 Reagan vs. Mondale

Image 1992 Clinton vs. Bush

Image 1996 Clinton vs. Dole 1996 Clinton vs. Dole

Image 2000 Bush vs. Gore

Image 2008 Obama vs. McCain 2008 Obama vs. McCain