The President’s Job Description.

The President’s Roles  Six formal roles come directly from the Constitution  Other roles have been assumed by Presidents throughout history

1. Chief of State 2. Chief Executive  Ceremonial head of government  Symbol of the nation’s ideals, principles, traditions  “protect and defend the Constitution” (Art. II, s.1)  “take care that the laws be faithfully executed” (Art. II, sec. 3)  Executive Orders/Executive Privilege  Can grant pardons  Appointment power

3. Chief Administrator  Appointment and Removal Power  Rule of Senatorial Courtesy – Senate will only approve appointees acceptable to Senators of President’s party from that state  The Cabinet, White House Staff, federal judges, ambassadors, armed forces  Director of Executive Branch/federal bureaucracy  Over 2.7 million civilians; more than $2 trillion/year  Crisis Manager

4. Chief Diplomat 5. Commander in Chief  Chief architect of American foreign policy  Appoints ambassadors  Negotiates Treaties (with 2/3 Senate approval)  Power of Recognition  Final responsibility and authority for Armed Forces  Delegates authority to Sec. Defense and Joint Chiefs  Over 1 million troops subject to the President’s direct control

6. Chief Legislator  Main architect of public policies  Often shapes the congressional agenda  Initiates, suggest, or pressures Congress to enact much major legislation  Veto,

Informal Roles Chief of Party  Leader of Political Party  Parties not mentioned in Constitution, but play vital role in govt. Chief Citizen  Represent highest standards of citizenship  Expected to work for and represent the public interest

Formal Qualifications 1. NATURAL BORN CITIZEN YEARS OF AGE YEARS RESIDENCY IN U.S.

President’s Term  22 nd Amendment (1951): “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice….”  Maximum of two full terms [ 4 years/term] or 10 years  Tradition of two-terms an informal amendment to Constitution- is it arbitrary and undemocratic?

Pay and Benefits  Congress determines salary  It cannot be changed during a term  $400,000 per year set in 1999, became effective January 20,  Also provided with a $50,000-a-year expense allowance  Plus fringe benefits: White House, staff, cars, planes, Camp David, healthcare

Succession of the Presidency  Constitution says “power and duty” of the office transferred to the VP  Presidential Succession Act of 1947: VP, then Speaker of House

Presidential Succession Song =s4MF_aE0ZG0

Presidential Succession  The Vice President ･  Speaker of the House ･  President pro tempore of the Senate  Secretary of State  Secretary of the Treasury ･  Secretary of Defense  Attorney General ･  Secretary of the Interior  Secretary of Agriculture ･  Secretary of Commerce ･  Secretary of Labor ･  7 more cabinet positions are in the line of succession

Presidential Disability and the 25 th Amendment [1967] The Vice President becomes acting president if:  1-The President informs Congress, in writing, “that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of office.”  2-The VP and a majority of the cabinet members inform Congress, in writing, that the President is incapacitated

Presidential Disability and the 25 th Amendment [1967]  The President may resume the powers and duties of the office by informing Congress, in writing, that no inability exists  If VP and majority of Cabinet declare Pres. “unable to discharge powers”, what happens if President disagrees?  Congress has 21 days to decide: 2/3 of both houses

Impeachment “ Impeachment as provided for in the Constitution can never be wholly divorced from politics ” - Chief Justice William Rehnquist  Impeachment is the process by which a civil officer of the United States is charged/accused with wrongdoing. Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment, and the Senate has the responsibility to try the charges and remove guilty parties from office.

Impeachment  Article II Section 4  “ The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. ”

Impeachment procedure  Charges drawn  House of Representatives votes. Simple majority sends case to House Judiciary Committee for investigation  House Judiciary Committee then votes to send the case to full House

Impeachment  House votes - Simple majority sends case to Senate  House managers appointed…act like prosecutors…present case to Senate  Senate vote…need 2/3 vote to remove from office

Impeachment  Andrew Johnson (1868) o Tenure of Office Act  William Jefferson Clinton (1998)  Impeached of perjury and obstruction of justice by the House, acquitted by the Senate o Perjury (Defeated 45-55) o Obstruction of Justice (Defeated 50-50)  Richard Nixon would have been impeached in 1974 but resigned first

Ordinance Powers: The power to issue orders. Executive Orders: directives, rules or regulations that have the effect of law /Obama-announce-executive-orders-guns- quite-soon-says-White-House-charges-lawmakers- utterly-failed-responsibility-act.html

Executive Privilege The refusal to disclose certain information to Congress or the federal courts based on security matters. United States v. Nixon 1974: executive privilege cannot be used to prevent evidence from being heard in a criminal proceeding.

Treaty: a formal agreement between two or more countries. Needs 2/3 approval from the Senate. \

Executive Agreement: a pact between the president and the head of another country. Does not need Congressional Approval. Unlike treaties, which become a permanent of federal law, executive agreements do not. They expire if a new president does not agree with the agreement \

The War Powers Resolution (1973)  A result of growing frustration over Vietnam  Provisions:  1) Within 48 hours after sending American forces abroad, President must report to Congress with details  2) Combat commitment must end within 60 days, unless Congress agrees to a longer period  3) Congress may end combat by passing a resolution to that effect  Not yet tested

Legislative Powers: State of the Union Address [Article II, Section 3] Veto Power [Check on Leg. Branch] Override a veto [2/3 of both houses of congress: check on Executive power.

Judicial Powers Reprieve: a postponement of the execution of a prison sentence. Pardon: A legal forgiveness of a crime.

Economic Role  Stewardship of economy  International trade and planning  Submits annual budget to Congress  Economy seen as President’s job; President’s fault if poor