1. THE PRESIDENCY Chapter 8

2. Objectives  Describe the duties and qualifications of the President of the United States.  Identify the president’s line of succession.  Describe the role of the Vice President.  Explain the process of electing the president.  Electoral College  Examine the role of the president’s cabinet.  Identify the Executive Office of the President (EOP).

3. Duties of the President  Commander in Chief  Oversees the 4 branches of the military.  Manages a defense budget:  2004: almost $400 billion  2010: almost $700 billion  Appointments  With consent of Senate.  Appoints:  Heads of executive depts.  Federal court judges

4. Duties of the President  Foreign Policy  Makes treaties  Advice and consent of Senate.  Meets heads of state  Host foreign officials  Appoints ambassadors of U.S.  Executing the Law  Ensures that all laws of the United States are “faithfully executed.” (Constitution)  May pardon people convicted of federal crimes Except in cases of impeachment.

5. Duties of the President  Proposing policy changes  The president’s lawmaking power  State of the Union  Ceremonial Head of State  Hosts kings, queens, and other government leaders.  Lights national Christmas tree.  Giving awards and medals.  Public service statements.

6. Term and Salary  22 nd Amendment (1951)  Limited president to 2 terms*  1 term = 4 years  Salary  The amount of compensation is a matter for Congress to determine.  1969-2001: $200,000  1999, Congress raised salary to $400,000.  Congress cannot increase salary during president’s term

7. Benefits  Travel allowance  $100,000 a year.  Air Force One, helicopters, limousines, etc.  Free medical, dental, and health care  White House  132 room mansion  Domestic staff  Retirement  Pension: $148,400 a year

8. Presidential Qualifications  Constitutional Requirements:  Article II, Section 1  Natural-born citizen of U.S.  At least 35 years old  Resident of U.S. for at least 14 years  Informal Requirements:  Government experience Experience in government is an important qualification for the presidency.

9. Presidential Qualifications  Informal Requirements  Money Running for president requires using one’s own personal finances. Campaign spending requires tens of millions of dollars. Campaign Reform Act of 2000  Political Beliefs Candidates usually hold moderate positions on most issues.

10. Presidential Qualifications  Informal Requirements:  Personal Characteristics Presidents generally have been white, married, Protestant, financially successful men. No women or persons of Hispanic or Asian ancestry have been president.  Personal Growth Requires immense responsibility and difficult decisions.

11. Presidential Succession  Line of Presidential Succession  25 th Amendment  Succession Act of 1947 established:  Vice President  Speaker of the House  President pro tempore of the Senate  Sec. of State  Sec. of the Treasury  Sec. of Defense  Attorney General  Sec. of the Interior

12. Current Line of Succession

13. Vice President’s Role  Duties  Preside over the Senate and votes in case of a tie  Helps decide whether the president is disabled and acts as president should that happen.  Modern Responsibilities  V.P. responsibilities have increased overtime. Salary: $208,100  Influence?

14. Stress?

15. Electing the President  Original System  Article II, Section 1 establishes Electoral College  Each state would choose electors according to a method the state legislatures set up.  Each state had as many electors as it had senators and representatives.  Electors would meet in their states and cast votes for two presidential candidates.  Known as electoral vote  No popular vote  If tie or no majority, House of Representatives would choose president.  Each state had one vote.

16. Electing the President  Impact of Political Parties  Election of 1800:  Jefferson and Burr had 73 electoral votes  Went to House of Representatives  Led to the 12 th amendment which reformed the process.  In the 1820s states began to place presidential candidates on the ballot.  Electors chosen by popular vote.

17. Electoral College System Today  The Electoral College system adapted to the growth of democracy.  Voters are not actually voting for the POTUS and V.P.  They are voting for all of their party’s electors in their state.  EC includes 538 electors  435 HR members  100 Senators  3 for D.C.

18. Electoral College System Today  A majority of electoral votes is needed to win  270- magic number  EC is a winner-take-all system  Candidate winning the largest popular vote wins the electoral votes of the state.  Except Maine and Nebraska  Most states do not legally require electors to vote for candidate who wins popular vote.

19. Electoral College 2008

20. Electoral College Issues  Winner Take All  Unfair to those who vote for losing candidate.  Bush v. Gore (p. 225)  Third-Party Candidates  Could prevent major-party candidates from receiving a majority of the votes.  Election by the House V.

21. Ideas for Reform  Ideas: 1. Choose electors from congressional districts. 2. Candidates could win a portion of the states electoral votes. 3. Direct election of the president and vice president.

22. Inauguration  The popular election takes place on the Tuesday following the first Monday in Nov.  New president is sworn in and takes office at noon on Jan. 20 th.  Oath:  “I do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability; preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” (Art. II, Section 8)

23. The Cabinet  Cabinet: 15 secretaries of the executive departments, the vice president, and other top officials that help the president make decisions and policy.

24. The Cabinet  Selection of the Cabinet  Background compatible with the dept. he or she will head.  POTUS’s need to satisfy powerful interest groups  Administrative skills and experience  POTUS considers the race, gender, and ethnic background of candidates.  Obstacles: The pay, work, and life in Washington politics: unattractive

25. The Cabinet  Background of Cabinet Members:  College graduates  Leaders in the fields of business, industry, law, science, and education.  Cabinet secretaries earn $161, 200 per year.  Nominations and Confirmations:  Senate confirmation hearings Answer questions about background and views  Appointments are not automatic

26. The Cabinet  Role of the Cabinet  The Cabinet in History The role has depended on how each president wanted to define it.  The Modern Cabinet Recent presidents have attempted to increase the role of the cabinet; however, most have turned elsewhere for advice.  Inner cabinet: secretaries of state, defense, treasury, and the attorney general

27. The Cabinet  Factors limiting the Cabinet’s Role  Conflicting Loyalties No president commands the complete loyalty of the cabinet members.  Secrecy and Trust Presidents want people they know and trust. However, most presidents have appointed relative strangers to head their departments.

28. The Executive Office of the Pres. (EOP)  Executive Office Agencies  Consists of individuals and agencies that directly assist the president.  EOP has 1500 full-time employees  EOP Growth  Every president reorganizes it in response to various problems.  Presidents want experts available to advise them on different issues.

29. EOP  EOP Growth (continued)  EOP staff members have been added to help executive departments and agencies work together.  Office of Management and Budget  Prepares the national budget that the president proposes to Congress.  OMB makes recommendations on where the president should make cuts in the budget  Central clearance: the review of all the legislative proposals that the executive agencies prepare.

30. EOP  National Security Council (NSC)  Advises the president and helps coordinate American military and foreign policy.  Homeland Security Council  Coordinates all federal agencies working to counter terrorism.  Develops a national strategy to protect the U.S. from future terrorist attacks.  Council of Economic Advisors  The Council assesses the nation’s economic health, predicts future economic conditions, and aids other executive agencies involved in economic planning.

31. The White House Office

32.  The nation’s first presidents had no personal staff  Organization and Growth:  POTUS appoints White House staff without Senate confirmation.  Key aides usually personal supporters of POTUS.  White House is the most important part of EOP.  Inner circle: chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, White House counsel, and press secretary

33. The White House Office  Duties of the White House Staff:  WH aides perform whatever duties the president assigns them.  WH Office gathers information and provides advice on key issues.  Top staff members work as enforcers for the president.

34. The White House Office  Duties of the White House Staff:  Some WH staffers present the president’s views to the outside world. Press secretary  Some staff members work directly with members of Congress.  Key aides decide who and what gets through to the POTUS.