The PresidencyChapters 13 & 14Starting with Ch. 13 Section 1…

Formal Qualifications & TermAt least 35 years of age

Reside in the US for prior 14 years

Natural born citizen Born on US soil At least one parent is a citizen

Term of office = 4 years 22nd Amendment – established two term limit Before FDR, Washington’s precedent

Job DescriptionChief of State

Chief Executive

Chief Administrator

Chief Diplomat

Commander in Chief

Chief Legislator

Chief of Party

Chief Citizen

Compensation$400,000/ year (since 2001)

$50,000/ year expense account Is taxed on this amount too

Other benefits: White House

Oval Office & West Wing with staff “The Beast” Air Force One Marine One Camp David, Thurmont, MD Healthcare, insurance, pension

13.2 Presidential SuccessionVice President – replaces the president in case

of death, resignation, or impeachment 1st VP to do this – John Tyler, 1841 Most recent – Gerald Ford, 1974

Presidential Succession Act of 1947 Worst case scenario After VP, Speaker of the House, Senate pro

tempore, then Cabinet heads in order dept. was created

25th Amendment, 1967 Allows for VP to be “Acting President” Provides for change if Pres. is incapacitated

Vice PresidentOfficially – preside over Senate and wait…

For much of history, VP was ignored Considered “political suicide” to accept spot

Can help “balance the ticket” Handpicked by Presidential nominee Can strengthen ticket, balance geography

Today’s VPs are much more active & involved Biden, Cheney, Gore

VP vacancies – nominated by Pres. confirmed by both House & Senate – majority vote

VPs cannot be fired, but may also be impeached

13.3 Presidential ElectionsThen vs. NowElectoral College grew out of Constitutional

compromises Concerned with education of most Americans then

Each state determined how to select a group of presidential electors = to # of Senators & Reps Often Americans then voted for “local electors”

Electors then met & voted for Pres & VP Candidate with most votes = Pres 2nd most votes = VP

Result problem – Pres Adams w/ VP Jefferson

12th Amendment, 1804, fixed it – run as a team

13.4 Now…starting with PrimariesPresidential Primaries – held in most states &

territories Voters cast secret ballots to pick candidate of YOUR party

Also selects delegates to National Convention Process began in early 20th Century

Primaries held in Jan thru June of presidential election years

Today most are proportional representation Used to be winner take all contests (like Electoral College)

Role of New Hampshire

CaucusesClosed meetings of members of a political

party to select delegates for Nat’l Convention and thus the party’s candidate for president Very different than what we do… Caucus goers “have done their homework”

Existed since 1840s

Today 19 states still use caucuses for one or both parties

Results in 10% of Dem’s delegates & 15% of Rep’s

Role of Iowa

National ConventionQuadrennial meetings of the major political parties to

officially nominate candidates for Pres. & VP

In the past, this is where & how nominees were picked

Today, events are scripted “pep rallies” to kick off the campaign season Also re-unites the party after the primary season Adopts the platform

1st 2 days – organization, adoption of the platform & Keynote Address

Day 3: the nomination & focus on VP

Day 4: all about the Pres. nominee

Who gets picked?Potential candidates start process often as much as

4 years before the election year Background, “testing the field,” likability

FUNDRAISING!!!

Incumbents typically get re-nominated

Political experience practically a must Military experience has counted instead

TV & Internet

“pleasant, healthy,” public speakers

13.5 The Campaign“organized chaos”

Daily news coverage

Advertising, interviews, speeches, Internet, “whistle stop” tours, press conferences, press releases, rallies, dinners & events, “stuff”, shake hands, “kiss babies”, pose for pictures

Debates – formalized & run by the Commission on Presidential Elections

Focus on swing voters & battleground states

Electoral College NOWElectors are also voted on Election Day

Most states however their names are NOT on the ballots Each party picks electors who have pledged to support

the party’s nominee So picking the candidate elects those electors

Most states are winner-take-all, including PA Maine & Nebraska

Electors meet in state capitals – mid – Dec.

Result is mailed to Senate

Mail is opened during a joint-session of Congress

“magic number” is 270 out of total of 538

What if no one gets 270…House of Reps votes for President

Top 3 candidates only considered Each state gets one vote Must reach 26 votes to win Happened in 1800 & 1824

Senate votes for Vice President Only top 2 candidates considered Happened in 1836

Criticisms of the Electoral CollegeWinner of the popular vote does NOT necessarily

win the election 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000

Electors CAN still vote for who they want… “broken their pledges”

Happened 11 times, never impacted outcome

Possible that ANY election can end in the House 1800 & 1824

Alternatives have been proposed District plan, proportional plan, direct popular election

plan, & national popular vote plan

14.1 Growth of Presidential PowerUnity of the office – “the buck stops here” –

Truman & huge staff

Personalities of various Presidents

Leadership in an increasing complex society & economy

Times of crisis

Congress has delegated to Executive branch how to enforce laws

Mass media

All in a Day’s Work iCivics Lesson…

See handouts

Expressed powers of the President from Constitution

14.2 Executing the LawCongress makes the laws Executive branch enforces

the laws Often Congress leaves it to the Executive branch to define

what that means

Executive Orders – directives, rules, & regulations from the President that have the effect of laws From Ordinance power from the Constitution & Congress

Appointment Power – naming approx. 3000 appointees Ambassadors, the Cabinet & high ranking officials, federal

judges, marshals, & attorneys, Justices, officers in armed forces – approved by Senate

Recess appointments – only valid until end of Congressional Term

Con’tRemoval Power – President may dismiss anyone he

appointed except federal judges & Justices Upheld in Myers v. United States, 1926

Over dismissal of a postmaster However, in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, 1935,

placed a limit on the removal power if the position appointed to is a specific term length

Executive Privilege Claims by presidents that certain pieces of info are

reserved for their eyes only Continues to be a source of disagreement w/ Congress United States v. Nixon, 1974 – ruled against Nixon

14.3 Domestic vs. Foreign policy iCivics lesson…

Domestic – involving mostly issues within the US

Foreign – involving issues dealing with other countries

See and fill in handouts

Other Presidential actions in Foreign policy…Executive agreements – pact between the President &

the head of another nation Are NOT approved by the Senate but have the same

standing as treaties Cannot violate US law or other treaties Only continue to exist if new President also applies it

Power of Recognition – acknowledges the legal existence of a country Typically leads to embassies, etc Does NOT necessarily mean we agree with them on

everything Persona non grata – when a diplomat is no longer

welcome

President & Military powersUndeclared wars – President has the power to send in

combat troops when he deems it necessary Korea, Vietnam, to some degree Iraq & Afghanistan (“war

on terrorism”) Congressional resolutions – when Congress authorizes

the use of force but does not declare war

War Powers Resolution, 1973 if President sends in combat troops after an attack has

happened President MUST tell Congress within 48 hours May only keep troops there for max. 60 days unless

Congress authorizes longer

14.4 President’s Legislative powersRecommending legislation

“message power” – minimum of 3 times a year: State of the Union, budget message, & Economic Report

Veto power & even threat of veto NOT line-item veto

Signing statements – issued to either challenge Constitutionality of some laws or to explain the enforcement or not of other

Power to call Special Sessions of Congress Rarely used not that Congress meets so often

President’s Judicial powersCan grant reprieves – postponement of the

sentence

Can grant pardons – legal forgiveness of a crime Power is absolute except for impeachments Usually granted after the conviction Must be accepted by the person receiving it Pardons can include conditions, commutation, or

amnesty