THE PRESIDENCY Unit Four Chapters 13 & 14

The Roots of the Office of President of the United States Distrust of the King Articles of Confederation & Exec Branch –What did its’ failure mean?

The Philadelphia Convention Qualifications for Office The Constitution requires that the president must be: –Age, residency, anything else? Terms of Office Big to do, lots of different ideas thrown out 22 nd amendment

Pay and Benefits President –$450,000 (includes benefits)/year Any other benefits? Retirement plans? –$143,800/year What about the widows? –$20,000/year

Removal of a President Ultimate check on power! What does the House do? –Investigates, drafts “Articles of Impeachment,” and charges What does the Senate do? –Tries the case & if 2/3 say guilty – peace out! Who is the judge? How many Presidents have been impeached? How many Presidents have been removed?

Succession How many times has this happened? –Through 20014, 7 presidents have died in office (plus Nixon on resignation). Who takes over and where does it say this? Presidential Succession Act of 1947 that stated the order of succession after the VP: –Speaker of the House –President Pro Tempore of the Senate –Secretary of State, Treasury, Defense, and other Cabinet heads in order of the creation of their department 25 th amendment

Who takes over? 1 – Vice President, Joe Biden 2 – Speaker of the House, John Boehner 3 – President Pro- Tempore of the Senate, Patrick Leahy 4 – Secretary of State, John Kerry 5 – Secretary of Treasury, Jack Lew

The Vice President “I am the Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything.”- John Adams “The Vice Presidency isn’t worth a warm pitcher of spit.” - John Garner (two term VP to FDR) Two jobs: –Take over if needed –Preside over Senate and break ties Little power, low profile Why chose this person? –Unity (convention), social/cultural balance, overcome candidate’s shortcomings.

Presidential Selection: Electoral College Why is it here? –No direct popular vote for Pres –Were independent agents in the selection of the President. Was state by state, with each elector casting votes for 2 candidates. If there’s a tie…. The House chooses! However political parties messed things up. Shoulda listened to G.W.

Then Political Parties Came The Election of 1800 –When did parties come about??? –Parties chose candidate and electors Hmm…. How is this going to work out, tie duh! 12 th amendment

Electoral College Today Nominated at convention or chosen in state central committee and chosen by popular vote Winner take all (except Nebraska and Maine) Meet Monday after second Wednesday in Dec. Jan 6 – Congress counts votes – need 270! Jan 20 – Pres is sworn in!

Commander -in-Chief Appointment Power Pardoning Power Legislative Power Treaty-making Power Veto Power Chief Executive Chief Diplomat Chief-of-State Presidential Powers

Presidential Roles Head of State Commander in Chief Chief Executive Chief Diplomat Party Leader Voice of the People/Chief Citizen Chief Administrator Chief Legislator

FDR claimed the leadership and agenda setting power for the president and got it Shifted Pres powers from executing policy to making it –Hard during divided gov’t

Foreign Policy Isolationism to Internationalism Foreign Policy –Fed Gov’ts statements/actions dealing with foreign countries Treaties, alliances, international trade, defense, foreign aid. What does the Big Guy have to do with this? –Commander & Chief, and Chief Diplomat –Has tons of departments and agencies to help them Sec of State, Sec. of Defense, etc.

The Constitutional Powers of the President Article II Expressed powers Executive Power Clause – Article II, first line –It states "the executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America." Implied powers

What exactly are the Presidential Powers?

The President’s Executive Powers Diplomatic Powers Executing the Law –The President must carry out all laws. The Ordinance Power The Appointing Power The Removal Power The Power to Make Treaties Executive Agreements The Power of Recognition Can’t declare war Military with no war?? –Peace, Vietnam & Korea

The President’s Legislative Powers Judicial Powers Gives State of the Union Suggests annual budgets Recommends special legislation to Congress Can veto legislation Can call special sessions of Congress Can adjourn Congress if the two houses cannot agree on a date –Grant reprieves and pardons in cases involving federal law. –Reduce sentences, or fines, imposed by a court. –Grant amnesty, or a general pardon, to persons who have violated the law.

Don’t forget about the power of public opinion… Gotta love democracy, baby!

The Federal Bureaucracy A bureaucracy is… –Based on principles of hierarchical authority, job specialization, and formal rules. –A way of organizing people to do work. Made up of 3 major groups of admin agencies. –Executive Office of the President – covered it –The 15 Cabinet Departments – covered it –Independent Agencies

The Cabinet Not in the Constitution (changes with each Pres) Heads of major bureaucratic depts. (State, Defense, Treasury, etc.) –Serve as advisors to Pres President appoints members, Senate confirms

The President’s Cabinet

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) Created by FDR Close inner circle of advisors to President Responsible to President alone Chief of Staff, Press Sec., National Security Council, Office of Management and Budget, etc.

White House Staff Most directly responsible to the President. –Personal assistants, senior aides, administrative personnel and more. No Senate confirmation. –Get the job based on relationship with President. Height of 583 members in –Now it is smaller running around 400 people.

Independent Agencies These operate outside departments in Cabinet. Why are they independent? –Function doesn’t fit with a dept. –Protect officials from political pressure. –More responsive to people (interest groups) –Peculiar/sensitive nature of functions…. Examples: –Central Intelligence Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, Farm Credit Administration

3 Different kinds of Independent Agencies Independent Executive Agencies –Most Independent Agencies –Single administrator over subunits, operate on a regional basis. Independent Regulatory Commissions –Created to regulate important aspects of the nation’s economy. –Need Senate confirmation. Government Corporations –Within executive dept, under Pres’ control. –Need Senate confirmation.