1. American Government and Politics Today
Chapter 12
The Presidency

2. Who Can Become President?
Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution sets forth the qualifications to be president.
The two major limitations are age, a minimum of 35, and being a natural-born citizen, thus eliminating naturalized citizens.

3. The Process of Becoming President
Nomination of one of the two major parties
Majority of the votes cast in the Electoral College
The electors are decided in most states on a winner-take-all system, with the candidate who receives the plurality of votes winning. Thus, it is possible for a candidate to lose the popular vote but still win election as president, as was the case in 2000.
If no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes, the House will elect the president by voting state by state for a candidate.

4. The Many Roles of the President
Head of State
Like the roll of the Queen in Great Britain or the President of France
Chief Executive
The Powers of Appointment and Removal
The Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons
Commander-in-Chief
Wartime Powers-Bush’s, Clinton, Reagan, Johnson, Kennedy
War Powers Resolution-Requires consultation with Congress with approval after 60 day or withdrawn
Chief Diplomat
Diplomatic Recognition-USSR, China, Republic of Vietnam
Proposal and Ratification of Treaties-NAFTA, Panama Canal
Executive Agreements-In place while still in office.

5. The Many Roles of the President (cont.)
Chief Legislator
Getting Legislation Passed
Saying No to Legislation
The Line-Item Veto
Congress’ power to override Presidential vetoes
Other Presidential Powers
Powers that Congress has bestowed on the president by statute (statutory powers) and those that are considered inherent powers. Inherent powers are those powers the head of government needs to fulfill his duties, as prescribed vaguely in the Constitution. The bureaucracy is one such power. Political party status is another.

6. The President As Party Chief and Superpolitician
The President as Chief of Party
Constituencies and Public Approval
Presidential constituencies
The Public, Their own Party, Opposing Party, Washington Community
Public approval-Opinion Polls
“Going Public.” When the president presents an idea to Congress, he may also “go public” in an attempt to generate popular support for his proposal.

7. Public Popularity of Modern Presidents

8. The Special Uses of Presidential Power
Emergency Powers
Embargo, Ordering State Militias into service, Mobilizing the Federal Budget and economy for war
Executive Orders
Executive order, a rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect of law. Executive orders can implement and give administrative effect to provisions in the Constitution, to treaties, and to statutes. Demand adherence to Affirmative Action, Ration consumer goods, Administer wage and price controls.
Require publication in the Federal Register, a publication of the U.S. government that prints executive orders, rules, and regulations.
Executive Privilege
United States v. Nixon--limiting executive privilege
Clinton’s Attempted Use of Executive Privilege
Used during 9-11 Commission Hearings

9. Abuses of Executive Power and Impeachment
Article I, Section 2, gives the House the sole power of impeachment. If a majority of the members of the House vote to impeach an officer of the United States, the Senate will conduct a trial. If two-thirds of the Senators vote for conviction the officer is removed from office.
The concept of impeachment is important because without this power there would be little that could be done to control criminal behavior by a top leader. On the other hand, this power could be abused and lead to politically motivated impeachments.

10. The Executive Organization
The Cabinet
The Members of the Cabinet
Strong conflicts of interest due to budgets, political aspirations etc and the agencies customers and lobby.
The Kitchen Cabinet
Presidential Use of Cabinets
Lincoln ‘7 nayes and 1 aye, the ayes have it.’
The Executive Office of the President
The White House Office
The Office of Management and Budget
Clearinghouse for agency legislative proposals, also represents the presidents party platform and continuing priorities or agenda
The National Security Council
President, Vice President, Secretary of State, Defense and others.

11. The Vice President The Vice President’s Job
Traditionally used to Strengthen the Ticket
Recent use to shore-up the Presidents weak points. Bush to Reagan, Gore to Clinton, Cheney to Bush.
Presidential Succession-Next Slide
The Twenty-fifth Amendment
The Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet inform Congress, Vice president serves as acting president. If the Presidents condition is in dispute, Congress decides by 2/3 vote
When the Vice Presidency Becomes Vacant
Simple Majority required to elect vice-president. Spiro Agnew, VP Ford and Nixon resignation before impeachment, later pardoned by Gerald Ford

12. Line of Succession to the Presidency of the United States