The presidency

The Job

Succession Nominating

Electing

THE PRESIDEN

CY

Natural born citizenAt least 35 years old JFK (youngest

elected); TR (youngest to serve); Reagan (oldest elected)

14 years a resident of US

Informal Qualifications

WHO CAN BE PRESIDENT?

Four years, with an option for four more Not codifi ed until 1951…Why? (22nd Amendment)

George Washington’s precedent

Should the 22nd Amendment be repealed?

Would a single, 6 year term be better?

THE PRESIDENT’S TERM

$400,000/year with $50,000 a year expense Perks:

HOW’S THE PAY?

WHAT DOES THE PRESIDENT DO?

“personal embodiment and representative of their dignity and majesty” – W. H. Taft

http : / /www.youtube .com/watch?v=UXuxCqPKfl o (Bush throws fi rs t p i tch_

CHIEF OF STATE

Leader of the executive branchWhat does this include?

2.7 million employees$2.5 trillion budget

CHIEF EXECUTIVE/CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR

Architect of foreign policy

CHIEF DIPLOMAT

Leads the armed forcesWhy has the president’s power in this realm grown?

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

Sets the public policy agendaCANNOT write lawsSuggests, initiates, insists and demands from

Congress

CHIEF LEGISLATOR

Chief of PartyChief Citizen“place of moral leadership” -- FDR

NON-CONSTITUTIONAL ROLES

THE BULLY PULPIT

What happens if the president dies? VP assumes the offi ce Not a reality until John Tyler

came to power after the death of William Henry Harrison

Constitution: “powers and duties…devolve to the vice president.”

25 th Amendment (1967) lays out the process of presidential succession

Presidential Succession Act of 1947: Congress fi xes the order of succession

PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION

THE CURIOUS CASE OF EDITH GALT

What happens if the president is disabled? Nothing, before the 25 th Amendment

provided for this scenario Offi ce goes to VP if: 1. President informs Congress, in

writing, that he or she cannot discharge the duties of the offi ce

2. VP and majority of the Cabinet informs Congress, in writing, that the president cannot fulfi ll the duties of the offi ce

1985: Reagan 2002: George W. Bush

PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION

What are the Constitutional duties of the VP?

9 VPs have succeeded to the PresidencyThe Modern Vice-PresidencyBalancing the Ticket

A Co-President?

THE VICE-PRESIDENT

"I do not propose to be buried until I am dead." — Daniel Webster, turning down the vice presidency in 1839.

Being vice president is comparable to "a man in a cataleptic fi t; he cannot speak; he cannot move; he suff ers no pain; he is perfectly conscious of all that goes on, but has no part in it." — Thomas R. Marshall, vice president under Woodrow Wilson.

"I am vice president. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything." — John Adams

"The second offi ce of this government is honorable and easy, the fi rst is but a splendid misery." — Thomas Jeff erson

"I would a great deal rather be anything, say professor of history, than vice president." — Theodore Roosevelt

"I go to funerals. I go to earthquakes." — Nelson Rockefeller

"The vice president has two duties. One is to inquire daily as to the health of the president, and the other is to attend the funerals of Third World dictators. And neither of those do I fi nd an enjoyable exercise." Presidential candidate John McCain, in 2000

Original PlanElectors from each state cast two ballots, each for a

diff erent candidate.Who were the electors?

Most votes: PresidentSecond most votes: VP

CHOOSING THE PRESIDENT

By election of 1796, parties take shapeAdams wins; Jeff erson his VPElection of 1800Both political parties nominate Pres & VP candidates

& electors Jeff erson & Burr tie; House elects Jeff erson12th AmendmentElectors vote for a Pres & VP candidate

POLITICAL PARTIES: A WRENCH IN THE WORKS

Party ConventionsBoth major parties using by 1832Creation of the political partiesEach state given a number of delegatesWho are these delegates & how are they chosen?

NOMINATING THE PRESIDENT

Most delegates chosen through primaries Process varies from state to state Most states award delegates proportionally Front-loading New Hampshire has, by state law, held fi rst primary since

1940 States continue to move primaries up on the calendar.

Why? How does front-loading impact the process?

ht tps : / /www.you tube .com/watch?v=X5OfR ioyK iw (NH p r imary )

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

What’s good about New Hampshire being fi rst?

What’s bad about New Hampshire being fi rst?

NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY

National PrimaryPros

Cons

Regional PrimariesPros

Cons

REFORMING THE PRIMARIES

States without a primary choose delegates via caucusCaucus-goers gather, debate, and select a candidate Iowa always the fi rst caucushttps : / /www.youtube .com/watch?v=0RXie7F JqOA ( Iowa)

CAUCUSES

Most decisions made before delegates show upPresident & VP candidates formally nominatedParty platforms decided…candidates not beholden to

themWhy are conventions still important?

NATIONAL CONVENTION

Be a governor of a large state

Be a US Senator

Be a WASP

Be telegenic

HOW TO GET NOMINATED FOR

PRESIDENT

What happens if there’s a tie?Decided by the HouseEach state one vote1800 & 1824

http : / /www.youtube .com/watch?v=ok_VQ8I7g6 I

h t tps: / /www.youtube .com/watch?v=OUS9mM8Xbbw (E lec tora l Co l lege CGPGrey)

ht tps : / /www.youtube .com/watch?v=7wC42HgLA4k (fl aws in EC)Homework

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

THREE FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM

Popular vote winner does not always win

Electoral votes are winner-take-allSmall states are over-represented

(CA v. WY)1824; 1876; 1888; 200015 presidents have won without a

majority (11 plurality)Distorted reflection of popular

vote…Is this bad?

https : / /www.youtube .com/watch?v=JEB9hWYMpA0 (E lec t ion 2000)

THE AL GORE CONUNDRUM

Electors not require to vote for the candidate favored by his or her state

Has happened, but has never impacted results of an election

Faithless electors

THE ROGUE ELECTOR MALFUNCTION

Third party candidates could prevent a candidate from getting a majority

Close in 1912, 1924, 1948, 1968Would throw election to House (Problems?)1.

2.

3.

THE GEORGE WALLACE RECURRENCE

FOUR REFORM PROPOSALS

Scrap the Electoral College all togetherPopular vote winner always winsAll votes equalCons:Small states opposedWeaken federalismTV Campaign

DIRECT POPULAR ELECTION

Electors chosen in the same way as member of Congress

No more winner-take-allMore accurate reflection of popular voteConsNo guarantee popular vote winner winsEncourage gerrymandering

DISTRICT PLAN

Candidates get electoral votes proportional to votes received

Example: 40% of the vote in a 20 electoral vote state gets:

Eliminates winner-take-allCons:Small states over-representedLoser of popular vote could still win election Increased clout of minor parties

PROPORTIONAL PLAN

Keeps electoral college largely in tactWinner of popular vote also gets 102 electoral votes

(321) If no majority, run-off election is heldElectors themselves eliminatedCons:Little supportDiffi cult to understandWacky

NATIONAL BONUS PLAN

Known processHas worked well, with few exceptions Identifies winner quickly and certainlyProvides winner a mandate

SUPPORTING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE