1. The President: Flip Teaching Focus on the following things: Requirements of being the POTUS How the Presidency has changed The structure of the Presidential Establishment The POTUS’s role in law-making

2. The Presidency – an introduction American colonists distrusted the King so much so that the Articles of Confederation largely neglected the need for an executive. With the failure of the Articles, the Framers saw the need for an executive office that would be strong enough to govern, but not so strong that it could abuse power. The majority of the Framers agreed that the executive power should be vested in a single person to be called the president.

3. To Be President…. The Requirements to be the President: Natural-born U.S. citizen Reside in the U.S. for at least 14 years At least 35 years old (until President Obama, all had been white, Anglo-Saxon males…) The Terms of the President: Serves for 4 Years Since the 22 nd Amendment limited to 2 terms total (FDR served 4 straight terms, but died in office early in 4th…)

4. Commander -in-Chief Chief Appointer Chief of Party Legislator Chief Administrator Chief Citizen Chief ExecutiveChief Diplomat Chief-of-State Roles of the President….

5. The Modern Presidency In the 20th century, the presidency has become very powerful. The modern Presidency begins with FDR who was elected to four terms during two huge national crises: The Great Depression and WWII. FDR also personalized the presidency with his use of radio 'fireside chats' directly with Americans. The modern president: leads a large government plays an active and leading role in foreign and domestic policy plays a strong legislative role and uses technology to get 'close to Americans.'

6. Vice President The VP’s primary job is to assume office if the president dies or is incapacitated. His/her only formal duty is to preside over the Senate or to break tie votes in the Senate. Historically, the office has had little power and often VPs have low profiles Changing with Gore and Cheney …and Biden?? A vice president is chosen for a number of reasons: Geographical balance To bring the party back together at the convention Achieve a social and/or cultural balance on the ticket VPs can also be used to overcome candidate shortcomings

7. The Presidential Establishment Today, the president has numerous advisors to help make policy and fulfill the duties of chief executive:  The Cabinet (the Departments of the Bureaucracy)  The Executive Office of the President (EOP) – 3 Offices  The White House Staff

8. The Presidential Establishment The Cabinet (pg. 402) The Cabinet is not mentioned in the Constitution and is used by each president as he/she sees fit. To establish a new ‘executive department’, the president requests it and Congress approves it. The youngest/newest department is… The Department of Homeland Security. The Cabinet consists of the heads of the bureaucratic departments (State, Defense, Education, Transportation, Treasury, etc.). Congress exercises some control over the bureaucracy -- through recommendations, public hearings, legislation, and budget controls.

9. The Presidential Establishment The Executive Office of the President The EOP was established by FDR and is a very important inner circle of advisors to the president. The EOP is staffed by persons responsible to the president alone. The EOP includes such important offices as the National Security Council, the Council of Economic Advisors, and the Office of Management and Budget.

10. The Presidential Establishment The National Security Council (NSC)- Made up of the President, VP, Sec’y of State, and Sec’y of Defense. Has an appointed and hired staff of workers and advisors. Brings together multiple agencies and information, advises President on matters of national security, defense, crisis management, etc. Assists Pres. with actual national security policy formation.

11. The Presidential Establishment The Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)- Made up of the 3 members appointed by the President. Advises President on economic matters and assists with policy formation on economic issues such as inflation, unemployment, etc.

12. The Presidential Establishment The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)- Made up of appointees and professional staffers. Cabinet departments run their program ideas through OMB for budgetary analysis. Advises President and departments on budgetary impacts before going to Congress. Advises and prepares the President’s annual national budget.

13. The Presidential Establishment The White House Staff The people most directly responsible to the president are the White House staff such as personal assistants, senior aides, administrative personnel and more. There is no Senate confirmation and their power comes solely from their personal relationship with the President. The White House staff reached a height of 583 members in 1972, but has gotten smaller since then, generally running at around 400.

14. Electing the President The Election of 1800 Parties arose during the administrations of Washington and Adams  began nominating candidates in 1800 Led to a tie between Jefferson and Burr in the election of 1800  the House finally chose Jefferson (& 1824) The 12th Amendment (1804) – pg. 704 Required electors to specify which person they wanted for President and which for Vice President

15. Removal of the President - Impeachment Removal is the ultimate check on the president Impeachment is the political equivalent of a criminal indictment. The House conducts the investigation  ”treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanors”. Then recommends impeachment and sends it to the Senate The Senate tries the case  Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding If 2/3 of the Senate votes for the Articles (‘indictment charges’), the president is removed from office Only two presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson and William Jefferson Clinton  neither removed

16. Presidential Succession Through 2008, 7 presidents have died in office (plus Nixon on resignation). If the President is unable to perform his duties the vice president then becomes responsible for the office. Congress passed the Presidential Succession Act (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 The 25 th Amendment (1967), pg. 707, lays out the same succession and allows the president to appoint a new VP if the post is vacant. (Gerald Ford)

17. President’s Role in Law-Making What is the basic duty of the President under the Constitution ? Implementation of laws (policy) The President and Bills: Technically can not propose a bill Often is the architect behind bills Can ‘push’ the proposal and passage of bills Can veto bills passed through both houses Veto, Pocket veto Employs his Cabinet (the bureaucracy) to assist him in carrying out law, implementing policies, establishing programs to carry out laws, etc.

18. Presidential ‘Checks’ – Do you know…? What checks does the Presidency have on Congress? Vice-versa? What checks does the Presidency have on the Judiciary? Vice-versa What checks does the Presidency have on the Bureaucracy?