The Roles of the The Roles of the PresidentPresident

By George CassuttoBy George Cassutto

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

The PresidentThe President Chief of StateChief of State Chief ExecutiveChief Executive

– Tools of InfluenceTools of Influence Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat

Commander in ChCommander in Chiefief

Chief Legislator Chief Legislator Party LeaderParty Leader Economic PlannerEconomic Planner Simulation: Simulation:

President for a daPresident for a day!!y!!

The President: Some FactsThe President: Some Facts

Elected by the Electoral CollegeElected by the Electoral College Four year termsFour year terms Two term limit, or 10 years – this was Two term limit, or 10 years – this was

set with the 22set with the 22ndnd Amendment Amendment Congress decides presidential salary: Congress decides presidential salary:

$400,000/yr salary$400,000/yr salary Must be 35 years old, 14 year Must be 35 years old, 14 year

resident, and a natural born citizen.resident, and a natural born citizen.

Role: Chief of StateRole: Chief of State

This is a ceremonial role. This is a ceremonial role. Acts as example for and symbol of Acts as example for and symbol of

the United Statesthe United States Represents America at special Represents America at special

occasions and ceremonies.occasions and ceremonies. Kings and Queens are heads of Kings and Queens are heads of

state.state. Example: Awarding medals and Example: Awarding medals and

speechmaking speechmaking

Click button to see an example of Click button to see an example of the Chief of State rolethe Chief of State role

Role: Chief Role: Chief ExecutiveExecutive

Acts as the boss of federal government Acts as the boss of federal government workers in 14 executive departments.workers in 14 executive departments.

These departments help the President These departments help the President carry out, enforce, or execute the law.carry out, enforce, or execute the law.

The president chooses cabinet The president chooses cabinet members to advise and assist him.members to advise and assist him.

Example: Holding cabinet meetings Example: Holding cabinet meetings and appointing federal officials.and appointing federal officials.

Tools of influence: Tools of influence: How laws are carried How laws are carried

outout Issues Executive Orders: rules that have the force of lawsIssues Executive Orders: rules that have the force of laws Makes Appointments – The President appoints about 2,200 Makes Appointments – The President appoints about 2,200

top-level federal officialstop-level federal officials Removes officials they have appointedRemoves officials they have appointed

– Not always easy if have a lot of support (i.e. J. Edgar Hoover)Not always easy if have a lot of support (i.e. J. Edgar Hoover) Impoundment: the president sets aside or refuses to spend Impoundment: the president sets aside or refuses to spend

money that Congress has appropriated for a certain money that Congress has appropriated for a certain purposepurpose

Appoints federal judgesAppoints federal judges Issues Reprieves: delays punishmentIssues Reprieves: delays punishment Issues Pardons: forgiveness of a crime, and the associated Issues Pardons: forgiveness of a crime, and the associated

punishmentpunishment– Examples: Clinton took a lot of heat for pardoning a bunch of Examples: Clinton took a lot of heat for pardoning a bunch of

big donors just before leaving office; many of them were big donors just before leaving office; many of them were relatives.relatives.

– Ford pardoned Nixon, saving the former President from future Ford pardoned Nixon, saving the former President from future prosecutionprosecution

Amnesty – A group pardon to people for offense against Amnesty – A group pardon to people for offense against the governmentthe government– Example: Ford and Carter to draft dodgers during VietnamExample: Ford and Carter to draft dodgers during Vietnam

President Bush with President Bush with Cabinet MembersCabinet Members

Role: Chief DiplomatRole: Chief Diplomat Directs US foreign policyDirects US foreign policy

– President gets most up-to-date information from CIA, President gets most up-to-date information from CIA, State Department, Defense Department, and State Department, Defense Department, and National Security CouncilNational Security Council

– Ability to make decisive action – One man at topAbility to make decisive action – One man at top– Ability to make treatiesAbility to make treaties– Executive AgreementsExecutive Agreements– Recognition of foreign governments (i.e. Cuba)Recognition of foreign governments (i.e. Cuba)

Conducts foreign policy by directing the Conducts foreign policy by directing the actions of American ambassadors.actions of American ambassadors.

Signs treaties and trade agreements with Signs treaties and trade agreements with leaders of other nations.leaders of other nations.

Example: Serves as host to other heads of Example: Serves as host to other heads of state state

In charge of US Armed Forces.In charge of US Armed Forces. President decides where President decides where

armed forces are to be armed forces are to be stationed, weapons to be stationed, weapons to be used.used.

Role: Commander in Role: Commander in ChiefChief

Role: Commander in Role: Commander in ChiefChief

Power to make warPower to make war Military operations and strategyMilitary operations and strategy

– Presidents from military backgroundsPresidents from military backgrounds Power to use nuclear weapons – Power to use nuclear weapons –

– Truman is the only one who has, while Truman is the only one who has, while others have considered the option others have considered the option (Nixon – tactical nukes in N. Vietnam)(Nixon – tactical nukes in N. Vietnam)

Controls problems within the countryControls problems within the country

Role: Chief LegislatorRole: Chief Legislator Congress has the power to make laws.Congress has the power to make laws. President can propose bills and must President can propose bills and must

sign bills into law.sign bills into law. Presents his agenda to Congress in the Presents his agenda to Congress in the

annual State of the Union address.annual State of the Union address.– FDR and LBJ had extensive legislative FDR and LBJ had extensive legislative

programs (New Deal and Great Society)programs (New Deal and Great Society) Tools of Presidential LawmakingTools of Presidential Lawmaking

– Give out political favors for congressional Give out political favors for congressional supportsupport

– Veto powerVeto power

Role: Chief LegislatorRole: Chief Legislator

President Reagan before a joint-President Reagan before a joint-session of Congress.session of Congress.

Stem Cell Bill Gets Bush's Stem Cell Bill Gets Bush's First VetoFirst Veto

President Bush issued President Bush issued the first veto of his the first veto of his five-year-old five-year-old administration administration yesterday, rejecting yesterday, rejecting Congress's bid to lift Congress's bid to lift funding restrictions funding restrictions on human embryonic on human embryonic stem cell research stem cell research and underscoring his and underscoring his party's split on an party's split on an emotional issue in emotional issue in this fall's elections.this fall's elections.

By Charles Babington; Washington Post Staff WriterThursday, July 20, 2006; Page A04

Click picture to read the article

Role: Party LeaderRole: Party Leader

Presidents help members of their party Presidents help members of their party get elected or appointed to office.get elected or appointed to office.

They make campaign speeches needed They make campaign speeches needed for re-election.for re-election.

Head of fund-raising for the party.Head of fund-raising for the party. Selects party’s national chairpersonSelects party’s national chairperson Political patronage – rewards, with jobs Political patronage – rewards, with jobs

and contracts, those who support and contracts, those who support president and party during electionpresident and party during election

Monitors:Monitors:– UnemploymentUnemployment– Inflation, taxation, businessInflation, taxation, business– The general welfare of the nation.The general welfare of the nation.

He does not control the economy, He does not control the economy, but he gets credit if it goes well.but he gets credit if it goes well.

Role: Economic PlannerRole: Economic Planner

Click on the picture to begin playing the Click on the picture to begin playing the game.game.