1. The Presidency

2. Constitutional requirements to become President:
NATURAL BORN CITIZEN
Must be born in the United States or born to a U.S. citizen anywhere in the world
35 YEARS OF AGE
14 YEAR RESIDENCY
Must be living in the United States for 14 years

3. The Election Process Step 1: GET NOMINATED
Presidential candidate is nominated by a Nominating Convention
Convention meets about three months before the election
Delegates from all the states assemble and nominate a President/Vice President ticket
Delegates decide on a party platform
The issues the president will represent in the election

4. The Election Process continued..
Step 2: GO TO THE PEOPLE
The candidates make speeches, appear at rallies, and present the party platform and their views on current issues
On the first Tuesday in November the voters go to the polls to vote for electors
The electors then vote for the candidates

5. The Election Process continued…
Step 3: GATHER ELECTORAL VOTES
The group of electors vote for the President
Each elector has one electoral vote
Each state has a number of electors equal to the number of their Senators and Representatives
Known as the Electoral College
The candidate that wins at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes is declared President

6. What happens if no candidate receives the required number of electoral votes to win the election?
If the Electoral College does not give any candidate the necessary majority, the House of Representatives chooses the President from among the top three candidates in electoral votes.

7. Presidential Powers and Limitations:
The President of the United States is one of the most powerful democratically elected officials in the world
His powers are stated in the Constitution and through the use of “checks and balances” his actions are always controlled and checked by the Legislative and/or Judicial branches.

8. Presidential Powers and Limitations:
The President may not violate laws while he is in office. If he does the House of Representatives may bring impeachment charges against him. He would then be tried in the Senate and if two-thirds of the Senators vote to convict him he would be removed from office.

9. Power of Chief Executor:
The president enforces the Constitution and laws passed by Congress
Can issue executive orders
Appoints all government officials, including Cabinet officers, Supreme Court Justices, and others
Limitations on this power:
The presidents orders can be declared unconstitutional in the courts and his appointments must be approved by the Senate

10. Power of Chief Legislator:
The president can recall Congress into a special session
The president may veto the bills passed by Congress or use his influence to get a bill passed or proposed
Limitations on this power:
Congress can override the president’s veto by a two-thirds majority

11. Judicial Powers of the President:
The president may grant pardons to most individuals
The president has indirect control of the courts
The president appoints all federal judges
Limitations on this power:
All presidential appointments must be approved by the Senate

12. The Power of Chief Ambassador:
The president determines the foreign policy of the nation, directs and negotiates treaties, and appoints other ambassadors and diplomats
Limitations on these powers:
These appointments must also be cleared by Congress
Treaties must be ratified by the Senate

13. The Power of Commander in Chief:
The president maintains civilian control over the military
The president appoints top military commanders, gives them military advice, and has the power to discharge officers
The president can order the armed forces into action
Limitations on this power:
He cannot commit U.S. troops to international conflicts for more than 90 days without a formal declaration of war, a power reserved for Congress as a result of the War Powers Act.

14. Presidential Succession (the back-up plan)
In case of death, resignation, or removal of the President, the Constitution states that he would be succeeded by the Vice President If there is a vacancy in the Presidency and the Vice Presidency, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, then the President pro tempore of the Senate, and then the Cabinet members starting with the Secretary of State fills those positions

15. 22nd Amendment This amendment to the Constitution was passed in 1947
It states that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once

16. 25th Amendment
This amendment was passed in 1967 and stated that in cases of Presidential disability, the Vice President would take office until the disability was resolved
If the Vice President becomes President, he could appoint a new Vice President, subject to approval by the Congress