The PresidentThe President

Chapter 13Chapter 13

Section 1—The President’s Job DescriptionSection 1—The President’s Job Description

The President must fill a The President must fill a number of roles all at one number of roles all at one time. These roles time. These roles include:include:

chief of statechief of state chief executivechief executive chief administratorchief administrator chief diplomatchief diplomat commander in chiefcommander in chief chief legislatorchief legislator party chiefparty chief chief citizenchief citizen

Chief of StateChief of State

This means that he is This means that he is the ceremonial head the ceremonial head of the government. of the government.

This is a PR role, This is a PR role, much like the Queen much like the Queen of England, who does of England, who does not have any real not have any real power, but is the power, but is the symbol of the nation.symbol of the nation.

Chief ExecutiveChief Executive

The Constitution vest the President with The Constitution vest the President with the executive power of the United States. the executive power of the United States. That is broad power. That is broad power.

He is the one who carries out and He is the one who carries out and enforces laws and directs the operation of enforces laws and directs the operation of the country.the country.

Chief AdministratorChief Administrator

President is the ultimate boss of everyone President is the ultimate boss of everyone employed by the federal government. employed by the federal government.

The government can only operate through The government can only operate through people and agencies that “administer” the people and agencies that “administer” the laws. laws.

Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat

President is the President is the maker of and maker of and spokesman for spokesman for American Foreign American Foreign PolicyPolicy

Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief

President is the President is the ultimate boss of ultimate boss of everyone in the everyone in the armed forces and armed forces and controls the generals. controls the generals.

Civilian control over Civilian control over the military is one of the military is one of the hallmarks of a the hallmarks of a democracy and an democracy and an important protection important protection against tyranny.against tyranny.

Chief LegislatorChief Legislator

This is not part of President’s official job This is not part of President’s official job description, because Congress is in description, because Congress is in charge of legislation. charge of legislation.

Over time the presidents have become Over time the presidents have become active in setting the legislative agenda and active in setting the legislative agenda and in proposing legislation through in proposing legislation through congressman close to the administration. congressman close to the administration.

Chief of PartyChief of Party

President is the head President is the head of his political party of his political party and can do much to and can do much to shape the direction it shape the direction it takes and the types of takes and the types of candidates that the candidates that the national party national party supports.supports.

Chief CitizenChief Citizen

Representative of the Representative of the people against private people against private interests. interests.

Public watch-dog. Public watch-dog. Not all Presidents Not all Presidents

have embraced this have embraced this role. role.

T. Roosevelt did to a T. Roosevelt did to a great degreegreat degree

QualificationsQualifications

Formal Formal QualificationsQualifications Natural-Born CitizenNatural-Born Citizen 35 years old35 years old Lived in the US for at Lived in the US for at

least 14 yearsleast 14 years

Informal Informal Qualifications?Qualifications?

……such as intelligence such as intelligence and character, are also and character, are also important considerations.important considerations.

The President’s TermThe President’s Term

Framers: unlimited four-year terms. Framers: unlimited four-year terms. As a matter of practice, Presidents and As a matter of practice, Presidents and

their parties followed Washington’s their parties followed Washington’s example and limited themselves to two example and limited themselves to two terms. terms.

FDR broke the no two-term tradition and FDR broke the no two-term tradition and was elected four times. was elected four times.

In response, 22nd Amendment. Limits In response, 22nd Amendment. Limits president to two terms. president to two terms.

VP who becomes president can only run VP who becomes president can only run once if filled more than half of term he once if filled more than half of term he inherited.inherited.

Pay and BenefitsPay and Benefits

Presidents Salary is fixed by Presidents Salary is fixed by Congress (can’t be increased or Congress (can’t be increased or decreased during the president’s decreased during the president’s term). term).

Currently $400,000. Currently $400,000. Also, $50,000 expense accountAlso, $50,000 expense account Benefits—House, car, plane, Benefits—House, car, plane,

vacation home, offices and staff.vacation home, offices and staff. Former Presidents get pensionFormer Presidents get pension

Section 2—Presidential Succession and Section 2—Presidential Succession and the Vice Presidencythe Vice Presidency

One-in-five Vice Presidents One-in-five Vice Presidents have become President have become President because of death or because of death or resignation. resignation.

Five of our last 11 Five of our last 11 presidents have been vice presidents have been vice presidents at some point. presidents at some point.

Humphrey, Mondale and Humphrey, Mondale and Gore were nominated by Gore were nominated by their parties.their parties.

Vice Presidency is a much Vice Presidency is a much more important stepping-more important stepping-stone to the presidency stone to the presidency than it once was.than it once was.

The Constitution and SuccessionThe Constitution and Succession

VP automatically takes over as VP automatically takes over as president if Pres. dies, resigns president if Pres. dies, resigns or is removed from office.or is removed from office.

John Tyler and the 25John Tyler and the 25thth AmendmentAmendment

Congress fixes the order of Congress fixes the order of succession after VP. Currently succession after VP. Currently Speaker of the House; President Speaker of the House; President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Pro Tempore of the Senate.

Presidential Succession Act of Presidential Succession Act of 19471947

No longer as important. Because No longer as important. Because of 25th Amendmentof 25th Amendment

Presidential DisabilityPresidential Disability

Before the 25th Amendment Before the 25th Amendment there was no provision for there was no provision for dealing with a disabled dealing with a disabled president. president. Garfield and WilsonGarfield and Wilson

2525thth Amendment fixes this Amendment fixes this problemproblem

Voluntary Disability (Sect. 3)Voluntary Disability (Sect. 3) VP becomes acting president if VP becomes acting president if

President informs congress in President informs congress in writing that he is unable to writing that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties discharge the powers and duties of the office. of the office.

Presidential DisabilityPresidential Disability

Involuntary Disability (Sect. 4)Involuntary Disability (Sect. 4) VP becomes acting president if VP and a majority of VP becomes acting president if VP and a majority of

the members of the cabinet inform Congress in writing the members of the cabinet inform Congress in writing that the President is incapacitated.that the President is incapacitated.

Disability disputes:Disability disputes: Under both sections, President gets his powers back Under both sections, President gets his powers back

once he informs Congress that there is no disability.once he informs Congress that there is no disability. But, if VP and Majority of Congress challenge this But, if VP and Majority of Congress challenge this

within four days, President does not get powers backwithin four days, President does not get powers back Congress then has 21 days to decide. Congress then has 21 days to decide. Must be a 2/3 vote of both houses that President is Must be a 2/3 vote of both houses that President is

unable to discharge duties.unable to discharge duties.

The Vice PresidencyThe Vice Presidency

The VP has only The VP has only three formal duties: three formal duties: Preside over the Preside over the

senatesenate break ties, break ties, help decide questions help decide questions

of presidential of presidential disability.disability.

History of the VPHistory of the VP

A dead-end job A dead-end job a way to get rid of troublesome a way to get rid of troublesome

politicians. politicians. Some dreadful VPs. Some dreadful VPs. VP was often selected for political VP was often selected for political

reasons reasons VP’s were often jettisoned VP’s were often jettisoned

between elections between elections Historically, VPs have had little Historically, VPs have had little

direct involvement in government. direct involvement in government.

Why?Why?

Modern VPModern VP

Section 2 of 25th Amendment provides Section 2 of 25th Amendment provides that president shall appoint a VP if the that president shall appoint a VP if the office becomes vacant. Must be office becomes vacant. Must be confirmed by Congress. confirmed by Congress. Happened Twice.Happened Twice. Ford; Nelson Rockefeller Ford; Nelson Rockefeller

Recent VPs have had much more power Recent VPs have had much more power and responsibility?and responsibility? Will the trend continue?Will the trend continue?

VP now a stepping stone to White HouseVP now a stepping stone to White House

Section 3—Presidential Selection: The Section 3—Presidential Selection: The Framers’ Plan Framers’ Plan

The Framers engaged in lots of debate The Framers engaged in lots of debate about how to choose the president. about how to choose the president.

Possibilities—Possibilities— Select by CongressSelect by Congress Select by direct electionSelect by direct election Selected by state legislaturesSelected by state legislatures Selected by specially elected electors.Selected by specially elected electors.

Pros and Cons of Each?Pros and Cons of Each?

Original Constitutional PlanOriginal Constitutional Plan

President to be selected by a special body President to be selected by a special body of electorsof electors

Each state would have as many electors Each state would have as many electors as it had representative AND Senators. as it had representative AND Senators.

Electors chosen in each state by a method Electors chosen in each state by a method specified by the state legislature.specified by the state legislature.

Each elector casts two votes for president, Each elector casts two votes for president, can’t double up.can’t double up.

Counted in a joint session of CongressCounted in a joint session of Congress

Original Constitutional PlanOriginal Constitutional Plan

Person with the most votes, if a majority, Person with the most votes, if a majority, becomes President.becomes President.

Person with the second most votes becomes Person with the second most votes becomes Vice President.Vice President.

If tie, or no majority, President selected by the If tie, or no majority, President selected by the House of Rep. between top three.House of Rep. between top three.

If tie for VP, chosen by the Senate between top If tie for VP, chosen by the Senate between top two.two.

Intended that electors be bright, respectable free Intended that electors be bright, respectable free agents.agents.

1212thth Amendment Amendment

Original system worked for Original system worked for only three elections.only three elections.

1800. Rise of parties 1800. Rise of parties messes up the system.messes up the system.

Jefferson v. Adams (v. Jefferson v. Adams (v. Burr)Burr)

1212thth Amendment Amendment Separates vote for president Separates vote for president

and Vice Presidentand Vice President