The Many Roles of the President Chief of State Chief of State Ceremonial head of the country Ceremonial head of the country Acts as the “face of

The Many Roles of the PresidentThe Many Roles of the President

Chief of StateChief of StateCeremonial head of the Ceremonial head of the

countrycountryActs as the “face of the U.S.”Acts as the “face of the U.S.”Welcomes foreign dignitariesWelcomes foreign dignitariesFor example…For example…


Chief ExecutiveChief ExecutiveEnsures that the nation’s Ensures that the nation’s

laws are enforced and laws are enforced and carried outcarried out

Head of the executive branchHead of the executive branch


Chief AdministratorChief Administrator Head of the entire bureaucracy – Head of the entire bureaucracy –

people who work for the people who work for the government to implement policiesgovernment to implement policies

Appoints everyone in the top levels Appoints everyone in the top levels of the bureaucracy, with approval of of the bureaucracy, with approval of a majority of the Senatea majority of the Senate

May also fire any appointed personMay also fire any appointed person


Chief DiplomatChief DiplomatDevelops the nation’s foreign Develops the nation’s foreign

policy stancespolicy stancesSpokesperson to the rest of the Spokesperson to the rest of the

worldworldMeets and befriends leaders of Meets and befriends leaders of

foreign countriesforeign countries

BFF!BFF!

I I ♥ ♥ USA!USA!


Commander-in-ChiefCommander-in-ChiefTop commander of all Top commander of all

branches of the armed forcesbranches of the armed forcesAll are subject to his All are subject to his

immediate controlimmediate control


Chief LegislatorChief LegislatorProposes Laws to CongressProposes Laws to CongressChooses whether to sign bills Chooses whether to sign bills

into law or veto theminto law or veto themFor example…For example…


Chief of PartyChief of PartyHe is the undisputed leader He is the undisputed leader

and face of the party that and face of the party that helped elect himhelped elect him

Plans future strategy and Plans future strategy and direction of the partydirection of the party


Chief CitizenChief CitizenWork to help the public as a Work to help the public as a

whole, rather than private whole, rather than private interestsinterests

Represent what all American Represent what all American people should be (in terms of people should be (in terms of character)character)

QualificationsQualificationsWHAT DOES IT

TAKE TO BE THE MOST POWERFUL

MAN IN THE WORLD?!?!

QualificationsQualifications

35 years old35 years oldNatural Born U.S. CitizenNatural Born U.S. Citizen

Could be born in another Could be born in another country to an American parentcountry to an American parent

Resident of the U.S. for 14 Resident of the U.S. for 14 yearsyears

TermsTerms

Pres. serves a 4 year termPres. serves a 4 year term Limited to 2 terms by the 22Limited to 2 terms by the 22ndnd

AmendmentAmendment If V.P. takes over less than half of If V.P. takes over less than half of

President’s term, it doesn’t count President’s term, it doesn’t count against himagainst him

Thus, most possible years = 10Thus, most possible years = 10

$ Perks $$ Perks $Salary of $400,000 per year Salary of $400,000 per year

for lifefor life$50,000 in expenses$50,000 in expensesFree medical care for lifeFree medical care for lifeLive in the White HouseLive in the White HouseUse of Air Force One, Marine Use of Air Force One, Marine

One, other transportationOne, other transportation

Presidential SuccessionPresidential Succession

Constitution originally only Constitution originally only provided that when Pres. provided that when Pres. becomes incapable, V.P. becomes incapable, V.P. would become “acting would become “acting president”president”

2525thth Amendment fixed this and Amendment fixed this and other issuesother issues


If president dies, resigns, is If president dies, resigns, is impeached, or is temporarily impeached, or is temporarily incapable, succession occursincapable, succession occursPres. can be declared Pres. can be declared

temporarily incapable by temporarily incapable by himself, or V.P. with a majority himself, or V.P. with a majority of the Cabinetof the Cabinet


Order of SuccessionOrder of SuccessionVice PresidentVice PresidentSpeaker of the HouseSpeaker of the HousePresident Pro-TemporePresident Pro-TemporeSecretary of StateSecretary of StateEach Cabinet Dept. Secretary in Each Cabinet Dept. Secretary in

the order they were createdthe order they were created

But what if I die?!?!

Vice-Presidential SuccessionVice-Presidential Succession

If V.P. dies or resigns, If V.P. dies or resigns, president picks a new onepresident picks a new one

Majority of both houses of Majority of both houses of Congress must approveCongress must approve

What Does the Veep Do?What Does the Veep Do?

Take over if the Pres. diesTake over if the Pres. diesPreside over the SenatePreside over the SenateThese 2 jobs take no time, These 2 jobs take no time,

and allow Dick Cheney to and allow Dick Cheney to spend time shooting old men spend time shooting old men in the facein the face

So What do They Really Do?So What do They Really Do?

They do They do whatever the whatever the president lets president lets them dothem do

Reagan didn’t let me do anything.

How to Pick a V.P.How to Pick a V.P.Balance the Ticket – pick a Balance the Ticket – pick a

guy with qualities that will draw guy with qualities that will draw voters you wouldn’tvoters you wouldn’t

Example of Balancing the TicketExample of Balancing the Ticket

President ReaganPresident Reagan From California From California

(West Coast)(West Coast) Very conservativeVery conservative Idea man – not Idea man – not

concerned with concerned with details (big picture)details (big picture)

Vice-President BushVice-President Bush From Connecticut From Connecticut

(East Coast)(East Coast) Moderate conservativeModerate conservative Technocrat – obsessed Technocrat – obsessed

with nuance/detailswith nuance/details

Presidential SelectionPresidential Selection

Constitution says – “president Constitution says – “president shall be chosen by a number of shall be chosen by a number of electors”electors”

These electors are the These electors are the electoral electoral collegecollege

Why not by average citizens

like me?

Because you’re an idiot.

Original PlanOriginal Plan

Each elector gets 2 votesEach elector gets 2 votes11stst Place becomes president Place becomes president22ndnd Place becomes vice- Place becomes vice-

presidentpresidentThen, a crisis occurs…Then, a crisis occurs…

The Election of 1800The Election of 1800Political Parties had just Political Parties had just

appearedappearedJefferson and Burr – Jefferson and Burr –

Democratic RepublicansDemocratic RepublicansAdams and Pinckney – Adams and Pinckney –

FederalistsFederalistsEach elector casts his 2 ballots Each elector casts his 2 ballots

for his party’s 2 candidatesfor his party’s 2 candidates

The Election of 1800The Election of 1800

Final Result:Final Result:Thomas Jefferson - 73Thomas Jefferson - 73Aaron Burr - 73Aaron Burr - 73John Adams - 65John Adams - 65Charles Pinckney - 64Charles Pinckney - 64John Jay - 1John Jay - 1

The Election of 1800The Election of 1800

Burr had run intending to Burr had run intending to become Jefferson’s Vice, then become Jefferson’s Vice, then realized he had a legitimate realized he had a legitimate claim to win!claim to win!

Took 36 votes in the House of Took 36 votes in the House of Reps. to settle the dispute and Reps. to settle the dispute and pick Jeffersonpick Jefferson

The 12The 12thth Amendment Amendment

Requires Requires presidential and presidential and V.P. elections V.P. elections to be separateto be separate

Darn straight, they did.

The Nominating ProcessThe Nominating Process Candidates must win a majority of Candidates must win a majority of

delegates at the party conventiondelegates at the party convention Each state gets delegates at the Each state gets delegates at the

convention based on the number convention based on the number of electoral college votes, plus a of electoral college votes, plus a bonus for states loyal to the partybonus for states loyal to the party

Each state has a different method Each state has a different method of awarding delegatesof awarding delegates

State’s Options – How to VoteState’s Options – How to Vote

Primary Election – election Primary Election – election among the public to choose a among the public to choose a nomineenomineeOpen Primary – all eligible Open Primary – all eligible

voters may votevoters may voteClosed Primary – only party Closed Primary – only party

members may votemembers may vote

State’s Options – How to VoteState’s Options – How to Vote

Caucus – meeting of party Caucus – meeting of party members to debate and votemembers to debate and vote

State’s Options – How to Award State’s Options – How to Award DelegatesDelegates

Winner-Take-All – winner of Winner-Take-All – winner of the state’s contest gets all of the state’s contest gets all of the state’s delegatesthe state’s delegates

Proportional Representation – Proportional Representation – Each candidate gets delegates Each candidate gets delegates equal to the % of the vote they equal to the % of the vote they gotgot

The ConventionThe Convention Delegates “vote” Delegates “vote”

– everyone knows – everyone knows who will winwho will win

President officially President officially nominates his nominates his running materunning mate

General ElectionGeneral Election

General Election – one candidate General Election – one candidate from each party run against each from each party run against each other for the presidencyother for the presidency


Each Each statestate sets requirements for sets requirements for how a party gets qualified to be how a party gets qualified to be on the balloton the ballot


Traditionally, the Republican and Traditionally, the Republican and Democratic Candidates will Democratic Candidates will debate each other at least oncedebate each other at least once


Winner of the election is determined Winner of the election is determined by a majority of electoral college by a majority of electoral college votes (270 out of a possible 538)votes (270 out of a possible 538)


Electoral College is winner-take-Electoral College is winner-take-all – whoever gets a all – whoever gets a pluralityplurality (not (not a majority) in the state gets all the a majority) in the state gets all the state’s electoral college votesstate’s electoral college votes

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College ProsPros

Preserves stable Preserves stable 2 party system2 party system

No mass No mass confusion over confusion over recountsrecounts

Pushes Pushes candidates to candidates to campaign in campaign in smaller statessmaller states

ConsCons Undemocratic – Undemocratic –

can win with fewer can win with fewer votesvotes

Outdated – we Outdated – we have technology have technology for voters to have for voters to have full controlfull control

Voters in closely Voters in closely divided states divided states matter morematter more

Proposed Reforms to the Proposed Reforms to the Electoral CollegeElectoral College

District PlanDistrict Plan Electoral College Votes based on who Electoral College Votes based on who

wins each congressional districtwins each congressional district Example: California has 53 districtsExample: California has 53 districts McCain wins 20, gets 20 electoral votesMcCain wins 20, gets 20 electoral votes Obama wins 33, gets 33 electoral votesObama wins 33, gets 33 electoral votes Obama wins popular vote in CA, gets 2 Obama wins popular vote in CA, gets 2

bonus votesbonus votes


Proportional PlanProportional Plan Electoral College votes awarded based on Electoral College votes awarded based on

% of popular vote% of popular vote Example: State has 20 electoral votesExample: State has 20 electoral votes Obama gets 60%, McCain gets 40%Obama gets 60%, McCain gets 40% Obama gets 12 electoral votes, McCain Obama gets 12 electoral votes, McCain

gets 8gets 8


Direct Popular ElectionDirect Popular Election Most votes nationwide becomes the Most votes nationwide becomes the

presidentpresident


National Bonus PlanNational Bonus Plan Electoral College system still in placeElectoral College system still in place Whoever wins the popular vote Whoever wins the popular vote

nationwide gets a bonus of 102 nationwide gets a bonus of 102 electoral college voteselectoral college votes

102 is the number which makes it 102 is the number which makes it mathematically impossible to win mathematically impossible to win popular vote and lose the electionpopular vote and lose the election

Documents

The Many Roles of the President Chief of State Chief of State Ceremonial head of the country Ceremonial head of the country Acts as the “face of