BELL RINGER

List 5 specific things a President does as part of his (and, eventually, her) job.

2014: STATE OF THE UNION BINGO!

Pick and write these words on your bingo sheet. Make sure to leave room in the box because you will be asked to summarize what Obama says about these topics. Health Care Immigration Minimum Wage Job Training Student Loans Budget Tax Codes Unemployment Insurance NSA Iran Syria Affordable Care Act

Gas Prices Congress Legislation Education Gun Control Equality Trade Military Family Defense War Debt

EXIT TICKET

What is one topic Obama talked about that is important to you? Explain.

UNIT 4: EXECUTIVE BRANCHThe President’s Job Description

THE PRESIDENT’S ROLES

Chief of StateThe President is chief of state. This means he is the symbol of all the people of the nation. Duties:

Ceremonial head of the nation Bestows honors on citizens, addresses the nation in time of crisis, etc.

THE PRESIDENT’S ROLES

Chief ExecutiveThe Constitution gives the President the executive power of the United States. Duties:

Enforces laws, treaties, court decisions, etc. Issues executive orders

Power check! Power of impeachment

THE PRESIDENT’S ROLES

Chief AdministratorThe President is the chief administrator, or director, of the United States government. Duties:

Directs entire executive branch (“CEO” of law enforcement)

Hires heads of bureaucracyPower Check!

Congress doesn’t have to agree to fund agencies Senate can reject presidential appointments

THE PRESIDENT’S ROLESChief Diplomat

As the nation’s chief diplomat, the President is the main architect of American foreign policy and chief spokesperson to the rest of the world. Duties:

Oversees all foreign policy Appoints and receives ambassadors Negotiates treaties Executive agreements Gives diplomatic recognition

Power check! Power of the purse Senate may reject ambassadors or treaties

THE PRESIDENT’S ROLESChief Legislator

The President is the chief legislator, the main architect of the nation’s public policies. Duties:

Initiates legislation Uses power of the media State of the Union Signs bills into law

Power check! Congress doesn’t have to pass legislation Congress can override veto (2/3 majority)

THE PRESIDENT’S ROLES

Commander in ChiefThe Constitution makes the President the commander in chief, giving him or her complete control of the nation’s armed forces. Duties:

Leader/head of the armed forcesPower check!

Congress can choose not to declare war or defund wars

War Powers Act (1974)

THE PRESIDENT’S ROLES

Chief of PartyThe President acts as the chief of party, the leader of the political party that controls the executive branch. Duties

Influences and leads political party Helps members of his party get elected to office

THE PRESIDENT’S ROLES

Chief CitizenThe President is expected to be “the representative of all the people.” Duties:

Leads by example Gains and keeps the public trust Puts nation’s interests above himself

WHICH ROLE?

WHICH ROLE?

WHICH ROLE?

WHICH ROLE?

WHICH ROLE?

WHICH ROLE?

UNIT 4: EXECUTIVE BRANCHQualifications, terms, pay and benefits

QUALIFICATIONS FOR PRESIDENT

ARTICLE II, SECTION 1, CLAUSE 5, OF THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT THE PRESIDENT MUST:

1. Be “a natural born citizen.” A person must be born a citizen of the United States to be able to become President.

2. Be at least 35 years of age. John F. Kennedy at age 43 was the youngest person to be elected President.

3. Have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.

Informal qualifications, such as intelligence and character, are also important considerations.

THE PRESIDENT’S TERM Until 1951, the Constitution placed no limit on the number of terms a President could serve.

Traditionally, Presidents limited the number of terms served to two. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected for a 3rd term in 1940—then a 4th in 1944!

The 22nd Amendment placed limits on presidential terms—limited to two terms of office.

PAY AND BENEFITS(CONGRESS DETERMINES THE PRESIDENT’S SALARY, AND THIS SALARY CANNOT BE CHANGED DURING A PRESIDENTIAL TERM)

Pay: $400,000/year Expense Allowance: $50,000 A 132-room mansion (the White House) Offices and staffing Other fringe benefits: Presidential Pension, secret service protection, etc.

The White House Camp David, MD

Other BenefitsAir Force One, Cadillac One, and Marine

One

Kennedy’s Boeing 707

Cadillac One

The Boeing

747 Air Force

One

Marine One

THE CONSTITUTION AND SUCCESSION Presidential succession is the plan by which a presidential vacancy is filled.

25th Amendment (1967): Clarified that VP will become President if President is removed from office.

Presidential Succession Act of 1947: Set succession order (post-VP).

PRESIDENTIAL DISABILITYSections 3 and 4 of the 25th Amendment provide procedures to follow when the President is disabled.

The Vice President is to become acting President if:

(1) the President informs Congress, in writing, “that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,” or (2) the Vice President and a majority of the members of the Cabinet inform Congress, in writing, that the President is thus incapacitated.

THE VICE PRESIDENCYThe Constitution only gives the Vice President two duties besides becoming President if the President is removed from office:1) to preside over the Senate, and2) to help decide the question of presidential disability.

If the office of Vice President becomes vacant, the President nominates a new Vice President subject to the approval of Congress.

Today, the Vice President often performs diplomatic and political chores for the President.

INTO THE OVAL OFFICE

ORIGINAL PROVISIONS

According to the Constitution, the President and Vice President are chosen by a special body of presidential electors.

Originally, these electors each cast two electoral votes, each for a different candidate. The candidate with the most votes would become President, and the candidate with the second highest total would become Vice President.

THE 12TH AMENDMENT

The 12th Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1804 following the election of 1800.

The major change in the electoral college made by the amendment was that each elector would distinctly cast one electoral vote for President and one for Vice President.

ELECTING THE PRESIDENTThe Electoral College System

Fear of Congressional Election- why?

Fear of Direct Popular Vote- why?

FOUNDERS’ CONCERNS

Electors: members of a party chosen in each state who officially elect the President

Each state:* 2 Senators + # Representatives = Electoral Votes

* State legislatures decide how electors are chosen

What’s the total number of electors in the Electoral College?(Hint: There are 3 extra for D.C.!)

STATES & THEIR ELECTORS

Majority of popular vote = ALL of electoral votes!

“WINNER-TAKE-ALL” SYSTEM

If no clear majority… the House decides the election

Party whose candidate wins the largest amount of popular votes wins all of the electoral votes for that state

(EXCEPT Maine and Nebraska- divide proportionally!)

Presidential Election every 4 years

November: voters cast ballots

December: electors meet in state capitals to vote(Send tallies to Congress)

January: Congress counts electoral votes

Jan 20: Candidate who won majority is “sworn in”

ELECTION TIMELINE

1) Candidate must have broad appeal

Not simply regional or local appeal If directly elected by popular

vote, where do you think candidates would spend most of their time campaigning?

2) Promotes federalism Keeping states involved!

3) Discourages voter fraud No benefit to it– same amount of

electoral votes regardless

BENEFITS OF ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

1) Winner-Take-All is unfair Makes it possible for someone to lose the popular vote but still win the electoral vote

2) Third Party CandidatesCan change or prevent majority

3) Election by the HouseAll states counted equally (1 vote)

ISSUES WITH ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM