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The Road to the White House
These candidates must win support of delegates for their party.
• DELEGATES—people who will SELECT THEIR PARTY’S CANDIDATES for President and Vice-President
• The number of delegates a state receives is based on the number of electoral votes and the state’s support of the party in the most recent elections
How do you “win” delegates? You do well in presidential primaries.
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES—the presidential primaries either CHOOSE DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OR EXPRESS A PREFERENCE AMONG VARIOUS CANDIDATES.
Presidential Primaries
NATIONAL CONVENTIONS —a party pep rally where DELEGATES GO TO CAST THEIR VOTES
Three main purposes of the national convention:
• Name the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates
• Bring the party together
• Adopt the platform
National Conventions
• Each state has a certain number of ELECTORAL VOTES; this number is equal to THE NUMBER OF SENATORS PLUS THE NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES
General Election
• Pennsylvania has 21 ELECTORAL VOTES
• There are a total of 538 electoral votes; to win, a candidate must win 270 votes.
• If no candidate receives 270, the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES decides the winner.
General Election
David Axelrod—senior adviser
Rahm Emanuel—chief of staff
Joe Biden—Vice President of the United States
James Jones—national security adviser
Robert Gibbs—press secretary
Department of Defense
Robert Gates
Department of Homeland Security
Janet Napolitano
Department of Justice
Eric Holder
Department of State
Hillary Clinton
Department of Treasury
Timothy Geithner
A President not a Prime Minister
PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
PRIME MINISTER
LEGISLATURE
ADVISORS/CABINET
PEOPLE
Notes:
• Chosen by legislature
• Surrounded (Cabinet) by members of the legislature
• Always experiences a UNIFIED GOVERNMENT —the party of the prime minister is always the same as the party of the legislature
PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
PRESIDENT
LEGISLATUREADVISORS/CABINET
PEOPLE
Notes:
• Often an “outsider” to Washington
• Chosen by people (directly or indirectly)
• Surrounded (Cabinet) by mix of politicians and “outsiders” and “in-and-outers”
• May experience a unified government or a DIVIDED GOVERNMENT —when the legislature is not of the president’s party…GRIDLOCK
Powers
Legislative Powers
When a bill is passed, the President has three options:
• Sign the bill• Veto the bill• Do nothing
The President may suggest certain legislation be passed: formally or informally.
Ordinance Power
Ordinance power authorizes the president to issue executive order—rules or laws which
do not require Congressional approval
Executive Powers
Commander in Chief (“war powers)
• Commands and directs military• Is responsible for military strategy
Key limitations:
• Congress declares war• Congress raises armies and navies
• Congress must approve funding• War Powers Resolution—Congress must authorize troop deployments of over 60 days
Architect of US foreign policy:
• Responsible for recognition and relations with foreign countries
• Negotiates treaties with other countries (Senate must approve)
Chief Executive:
• Appoints as many as 6,000 positions while taking office (ambassadors, Cabinet members, etc.)
Judicial Powers
Judicial Powers:
• POTUS has the power to nominate federal judges
• May grant pardons, reprieves, commutations, and amnesty
• Can declare executive privilege
• Pardon—legal forgiveness of a crime
• Reprieve—a delay in punishment
• Commutation—lessening the punishment of a crime
• Amnesty—a pardon given to a group
• Executive privilege—the right of secrecy on certain matters within the executive branch
Impeachment
What is impeachment?
It is a process, authorized by the Constitution, to bring charges against certain officials of the federal government for misconduct while in office.
For what can the President, Vice-President, or other civil officers of the law be impeached?
The Constitution specifies that high government officials may be impeached for "treason, bribery, or
other high crimes and misdemeanors”
The Stages and Roles of Impeachment
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States,
shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of,
Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. Article II, Section 4,
US Constitution
House of Representatives—has power to bring about charges against government officials
Senate—hold the trial in impeachment cases
Procedures
1. House Judiciary committee—examines evidence; majority vote is needed to send to the full House
2. House of Representatives—a majority vote is needed. If achieved, charges are sent to the Senate
3. Senate—holds the trial; a two-thirds vote is needed
How many presidents have been impeached?
Two
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