V

The Road to the White House

These candidates must win support of delegates for their party.

• DELEGATES—people who will SELECT THEIR PARTY’S CANDIDATES for President and Vice-President

• The number of delegates a state receives is based on the number of electoral votes and the state’s support of the party in the most recent elections

How do you “win” delegates? You do well in presidential primaries.

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES—the presidential primaries either CHOOSE DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OR EXPRESS A PREFERENCE AMONG VARIOUS CANDIDATES.

Presidential Primaries

NATIONAL CONVENTIONS —a party pep rally where DELEGATES GO TO CAST THEIR VOTES

Three main purposes of the national convention:

• Name the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates

• Bring the party together

• Adopt the platform

National Conventions

• Each state has a certain number of ELECTORAL VOTES; this number is equal to THE NUMBER OF SENATORS PLUS THE NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES

General Election

• Pennsylvania has 21 ELECTORAL VOTES

• There are a total of 538 electoral votes; to win, a candidate must win 270 votes.

• If no candidate receives 270, the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES decides the winner.

General Election

David Axelrod—senior adviser

Rahm Emanuel—chief of staff

Joe Biden—Vice President of the United States

James Jones—national security adviser

Robert Gibbs—press secretary

Department of Defense

Robert Gates

Department of Homeland Security

Janet Napolitano

Department of Justice

Eric Holder

Department of State

Hillary Clinton

Department of Treasury

Timothy Geithner

A President not a Prime Minister

PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

PRIME MINISTER

LEGISLATURE

ADVISORS/CABINET

PEOPLE

Notes:

• Chosen by legislature

• Surrounded (Cabinet) by members of the legislature

• Always experiences a UNIFIED GOVERNMENT —the party of the prime minister is always the same as the party of the legislature

PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

PRESIDENT

LEGISLATUREADVISORS/CABINET

PEOPLE

Notes:

• Often an “outsider” to Washington

• Chosen by people (directly or indirectly)

• Surrounded (Cabinet) by mix of politicians and “outsiders” and “in-and-outers”

• May experience a unified government or a DIVIDED GOVERNMENT —when the legislature is not of the president’s party…GRIDLOCK

Powers

Legislative Powers

When a bill is passed, the President has three options:

• Sign the bill• Veto the bill• Do nothing

The President may suggest certain legislation be passed: formally or informally.

Ordinance Power

Ordinance power authorizes the president to issue executive order—rules or laws which

do not require Congressional approval

Executive Powers

Commander in Chief (“war powers)

• Commands and directs military• Is responsible for military strategy

Key limitations:

• Congress declares war• Congress raises armies and navies

• Congress must approve funding• War Powers Resolution—Congress must authorize troop deployments of over 60 days

Architect of US foreign policy:

• Responsible for recognition and relations with foreign countries

• Negotiates treaties with other countries (Senate must approve)

Chief Executive:

• Appoints as many as 6,000 positions while taking office (ambassadors, Cabinet members, etc.)

Judicial Powers

Judicial Powers:

• POTUS has the power to nominate federal judges

• May grant pardons, reprieves, commutations, and amnesty

• Can declare executive privilege

• Pardon—legal forgiveness of a crime

• Reprieve—a delay in punishment

• Commutation—lessening the punishment of a crime

• Amnesty—a pardon given to a group

• Executive privilege—the right of secrecy on certain matters within the executive branch

Impeachment

What is impeachment?

It is a process, authorized by the Constitution, to bring charges against certain officials of the federal government for misconduct while in office.

For what can the President, Vice-President, or other civil officers of the law be impeached?

The Constitution specifies that high government officials may be impeached for "treason, bribery, or

other high crimes and misdemeanors”

The Stages and Roles of Impeachment

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States,

shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of,

Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. Article II, Section 4,

US Constitution

House of Representatives—has power to bring about charges against government officials

Senate—hold the trial in impeachment cases

Procedures

1. House Judiciary committee—examines evidence; majority vote is needed to send to the full House

2. House of Representatives—a majority vote is needed. If achieved, charges are sent to the Senate

3. Senate—holds the trial; a two-thirds vote is needed

How many presidents have been impeached?

Two