1. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
“BEING PRESIDENT IS LIKE RUNNING A CEMETERY: YOU’VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDER YOU AND NOBODY’S LISTENING” – Bill Clinton
“BEING PRESIDENT IS LIKE RIDING A TIGER. A MAN HAS TO KEEP RIDING OR BE SWALLOWED” – Harry Truman

2. Eight roles of the President of the usa…
Some formal, some informal

3. Chief of state Ceremonial head of government and symbol of the people
In many other countries, the chief of state “reigns, but doesn’t rule” e.g. Kings and Queens across Europe

4. Chief Executive & chief administrator
Constitutionally vested with the executive power of the US Government
Executive Orders often have the “feel” of being law
Why the presidency is sometimes called “the most powerful office in the world”
The Executive Branch consists of Almost 2.1 million people (2015) and spends approximately $3 Trillion (2016)
Technically the President is in charge of all of this!!!

5. Chief diplomat Primary architect of American foreign policy
President’s words are often carefully monitored abroad

6. Commander in Chief
2.3 Million Active and Reserve uniformed servicemen & servicewomen are “subject to the President’s direct and immediate control”
World’s 2nd largest (China) military

7. Other “Chief” Duties include…
Chief Legislator – sets much of congress’s Legislative agenda (budget etc…)
Chief of Party – de facto head of whichever party he sits atop*
Chief Citizen – Representative of the people… “place of moral leadership”*
*have these two changed since your textbook was written in 2004? Were they just “wishful thinking” even then? Nixon? Clinton? Trump?

8. Constitutional qualifications for President
1) 35 by the time you take office (Kennedy elected at 43; TR assumed office at 42)
2) Be a “natural born citizen” (no 100% consensus on meaning of this…)
3) Have lived in the US for at least 14 years

9. Presidential pay
Salary is $400,000/year; $50,000 expense account; $100,000 travel account; $19,000 entertainment account
Not allowed to accept other gifts/pay etc.. To prevent corruption/foreign influence
Recent presidents (and federal congressmen) able to make serious $$$ upon leaving office