The Executive Branch

The Presidency

Qualifications

• 35 Years of Age• Natural Born Citizen• U.S. Resident for at

least 14 years.• 4 Year Term• Limited to 2 terms

– (22nd Amendment, 1951)

• Honesty/Integrity• Leadership Ability• Understanding of

foreign and domestic policy

Formal Informal

Presidential Roles

• Chief of State– Appoint officials with

consent of the senate– Represent the U.S. in

all ceremonial functions

• Chief Executive– Ensure that laws are

faithfully executed– Grant approval of laws

• Chief Administrator– Administer the government– 2.7 million employees/$2.5

trillion budget

• Chief Diplomat– Make treaties with consent

of the senate– Create and pursue foreign

policy

Presidential Roles (continued)

Presidential Roles (continued)

• Chief Legislator– Make policy

recommendations to Congress

– Set legislative agendas (State of the Union, Budget Plan)

• Commander in Chief – Commands Army, Navy,

Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard

– Call forth and command the states’ militias in times of national crisis

Additional Roles

• Chief Citizen– Represent the public

interest– Serve as a role model– Provide moral leadership

• Chief of Party– Build consensus within

party– Set policy goals– Support party candidates

seeking election

Pay and Benefits

• Compensation– $400,000 Salary

– $50,000 Expense Allowance

– Excellent Healthcare

• White House• Air Force One• Camp David• The Presidential pension is

not a fixed amount, rather it matches the current salary of Cabinet members which is $191,300/year as of March, 2008

Secret Service protection for 10

years for presidents inaugurated

after Jan 1, 1997

The Vice-Presidency

• Qualifications:– Same as for the President

• Duties:– Assume the Presidency when needed– Ceremonial President of the Senate

• Can only cast a vote to break a tie

The Cabinet

• Secretary of State• Secretary of Treasury• Secretary of Defense• Attorney General• Secretary of Interior• Secretary of Agriculture• Secretary of Commerce• Secretary of Labor• Secretary of Health and

Human Services• Secretary of Housing and

Urban Development• Secretary of Transportation• Secretary of Energy• Secretary of Education• Secretary of Veteran Affairs• Secretary of Homeland

Security

• Vice-President• Chief of Staff• Director of the office of Budget

and Management• U.S. Trade Representative• Director of the Office of

National Drug Control Policy• Administrator of the

Environmental Protection Agency

Presidential Succession

1. Vice-President2. Speaker of the House of Representatives3. Senate President Pro Tempore4. Secretary of State5. Secretary of Treasury6. Secretary of Defense7. Attorney General8. Secretary of Interior9. Secretary of Agriculture10. Secretary of Commerce11. Secretary of Labor12. Secretary of Health and Human Services13. Secretary of Housing and Urban Develmnt14. Secretary of Transportation15. Secretary of Energy16. Secretary of Education17. Secretary of Veteran Affairs18. Secretary of Homeland Security

The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 determines how a presidential vacancy is filled.