1. U.S. Government

2. Duties of the President  The constitutional duties of George Washington and Obama are much the same, but presidents today have enormous power and responsibility.  The president ◦ Is the Commander and Chief of the Armed Services ◦ Appoints–with Senate consent– heads of executive departments, federal court judges, and other top officials ◦ Makes treaties ◦ Meets with heads of state ◦ Hosts foreign officials ◦ Appoints ambassadors. ◦ Ensures all laws of the United States are “faithfully executed.” ◦ Pardons people charged or accused of a federal crime ◦ Delivers State of the Union ◦ Proposes policy to Congress

3. President’s Term and Salary  Twenty-Second Amendment ◦ The Constitution didn’t say how many four-year terms a president may serve. ◦ All did two, except for FDR in 1940 and 1944. ◦ Concern over too much power being vested in long-term presidents resulted in the Twenty-Second Amendment in 1951. ◦ The amendment set the presidential limit at two terms, while allowing a vice president who takes over the presidency and serves two years or less of the former president’s term to serve two additional terms  This means a VP who becomes President could serve up to 10 years total

4. President’s Term and Salary  Salary and Benefits ◦ The Constitution doesn’t say the compensation, or salary, leaving it up to Congress to determine. ◦ The President also gets $50,000 a year for job-related expenses. ◦ The Executive Office of the President also provides a nontaxable travel allowance of up to $100,000 a year ◦ The VP makes $230,700 Effective Year Salary Amount 1789$25,000 1873$50,000 1909$75,000 1949$100,000 1969$200,000 2001$400,000

5. President’s Term and Salary  Salary and Benefits ◦ Other benefits include: –the Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the president –Air Force One, a specially equipped jet, as well as other planes, helicopters, and limousines –free medical, dental, and health care –residency in the White House, a 132-room mansion with a swimming pool, bowling alley, private movie theater, and tennis courts –a domestic staff which does the cooking, shopping, cleaning, and other chores for the president’s family –A pension, which is the same as a cabinet secretary ($148,400) for life –This also includes office space, mail, office staff, and security –Spouses receive $20,000 a year after the death of the president

8. Presidential Qualifications  Constitutional Requirements ◦ Not super hard to meet – In In Article II, Section 1, the Constitution defines the formal requirements for the office of president: –a natural-born citizen of the United States. –at least 35 years old. –a resident of the United States for at least 14 years before taking office.

9. Presidential Qualifications  Government Experience ◦ Many other qualities are necessary for a person to have a real chance of becoming president. ◦ Traditionally, experience in government is an unwritten but important qualification.  Is this true in this election? ◦ In recent history, candidates who are former United States senators or state governors have been the most successful in winning the presidential nomination.  Taft was Secretary of War and Hoover was Secretary of Commerce. All others were elected officials or generals.

10. Presidential Qualifications  Importance of Money ◦ A serious candidate for the presidency must have access to large amounts of money. ◦ There is a system in place to publicly fund campaigns, but no one uses it. It limits the amount they can spend and prevents them from raising large amounts of money from outside donors. ◦ Money is the largest barrier most people face when running for president.  In 2012 Obama spent $737.9 million and Romney spent $624.8 million

11. Presidential Qualifications  Importance of Money ◦ Even though the federal government provides funds for some aspects of presidential campaigns, running for the presidency means raising money from supporters and using one’s own personal finances.  Political Beliefs ◦ Moderates generally do better because they can appeal to the masses. ◦ Far right or far left candidates have historically done very poorly in the general election.

13. Presidential Succession  Order of Succession ◦ Eight presidents have died in office (four by assassination and four by natural causes)  William Henry Harrison – Pneumonia 1841  Zachary Taylor – Digestive Illness 1850

14. Presidential Succession  Order of Succession ◦ Eight presidents have died in office (four by assassination and four by natural causes)  Warren G. Harding – Heart Attack 1923  Franklin Delano Roosevelt – Stroke 1945

15. Presidential Succession  Order of Succession ◦ Eight presidents have died in office (four by assassination and four by natural causes)  Abraham Lincoln – John Wilkes Booth 1865  James A. Garfield – Charles Guiteau 1881

16. Presidential Succession  Order of Succession ◦ Eight presidents have died in office (four by assassination and four by natural causes)  William McKinley – Leon Czolgosz 1901  John F. Kennedy – Lee Harvey Oswald 1963

17. Presidential Succession  Order of Succession ◦ Eight presidents have died in office (four by assassination and four by natural causes) ◦ After JFK’s death in 1963, the 25 th amendment was developed and ratified in 1967, providing an official rule for succession.  It was first used in 1973 when Spiro Agnew resigned and again in 1974 when Richard Nixon resigned. ◦ The line of succession if both Presidency and VP are vacant is outlined in the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.

18. Presidential Succession  Order of Succession #OfficeCurrent officer 1Vice PresidentJoe BidenJoe Biden (D) 2Speaker of the House of RepresentativesPaul RyanPaul Ryan (R) 3President pro tempore of the SenateOrrin HatchOrrin Hatch (R) 4Secretary of StateJohn KerryJohn Kerry (D) 5Secretary of the TreasuryJack LewJack Lew (D) 6Secretary of DefenseAsh CarterAsh Carter (D) 7Attorney GeneralLoretta LynchLoretta Lynch (D) —Secretary of the InteriorSally JewellSally Jewell (D) [a] [a] 8Secretary of AgricultureTom VilsackTom Vilsack (D) 9Secretary of CommercePenny PritzkerPenny Pritzker (D) 10Secretary of LaborThomas PerezThomas Perez (D) 11Secretary of Health and Human ServicesSylvia Mathews BurwellSylvia Mathews Burwell (D) 12Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentJulián CastroJulián Castro (D) 13Secretary of TransportationAnthony FoxxAnthony Foxx (D) 14Secretary of EnergyErnest MonizErnest Moniz (D) 15Secretary of EducationJohn KingJohn King (D) 16Secretary of Veterans AffairsBob McDonaldBob McDonald (R) 17Secretary of Homeland SecurityJeh JohnsonJeh Johnson (D)

19. Presidential Succession  Presidential Disability ◦ The 25 th Amendment spells out the procedure for when a president is unable to fulfill their duties. ◦ The President can inform Congress, allowing the VP to temporarily take over ◦ The VP and a majority of the cabinet can inform congress and VP takes power ◦ The President can end the leave at any time by informing Congress  If the VP and cabinet disagree, Congress must choose who should be in power within 21 days. It takes a 2/3 vote in both houses for VP to stay in power.

20. The Role of the Vice President  The Constitution only gives the VP two roles ◦ President of the Senate – only votes in case of a tie ◦ Fills in when the President is unable to fulfill duties  The day to day duties of the VP are completely dependent on the President. ◦ Until Eisenhower, the VP was largely ignored – it was generally seen as the end of a career. ◦ Today, they make speeches, spearhead programs, represent the President at functions, visit foreign countries, etc.