The Executive Branch Unit 4 Chapter 13 Unit 4 Chapter 13

The Presidential Seal

The President’s Job Description Section 1

The President’s Roles  Chief of State –Symbol of all the people –Ceremonial head of the government –The symbol of all of the people of the nation  Chief of State –Symbol of all the people –Ceremonial head of the government –The symbol of all of the people of the nation

The President’s Roles  Chief Executive –Vested by the Constitution with Executive Power –The American president is often described as the most powerful office in the world  Chief Executive –Vested by the Constitution with Executive Power –The American president is often described as the most powerful office in the world

The President’s Roles  Chief Administrator –Director of the federal government –The president directs an administration that employs 2.7 million civilians  Chief Administrator –Director of the federal government –The president directs an administration that employs 2.7 million civilians

The President’s Roles  Chief Diplomat –Main author of American foreign policy –The nation’s chief spokesperson to the rest of the world  Chief Diplomat –Main author of American foreign policy –The nation’s chief spokesperson to the rest of the world

The President’s Roles  Commander in Chief –The entire military is under the control of the president  Commander in Chief –The entire military is under the control of the president

The President’s Roles  Chief Legislator –Shapes public policy –May suggest, request, and insist Congress enact laws –Major part of the president’s time  Chief Legislator –Shapes public policy –May suggest, request, and insist Congress enact laws –Major part of the president’s time

The President’s Roles  Chief of Party –The president is the leader of his political party –Not in the Constitution  Chief of Party –The president is the leader of his political party –Not in the Constitution

The President’s Roles  Chief Citizen –The president is expected to the represent of all the people –Citizens expect the president to work for their interests and provide moral leadership  Chief Citizen –The president is expected to the represent of all the people –Citizens expect the president to work for their interests and provide moral leadership

Formal Qualifications  Natural Born Citizen  35 years old  Lived in the United States for at least 14 years  Natural Born Citizen  35 years old  Lived in the United States for at least 14 years

President’s Term  The president is elected to a four year term  George Washington began a tradition where presidents step down after 2 terms in office  The president is elected to a four year term  George Washington began a tradition where presidents step down after 2 terms in office

President’s Term cont’d  Franklin Roosevelt was elected to for a 4 th term  The 22 nd Amendment limits the president to 2 terms  Would change be better? –Two 4 year terms –One 6 or 7 year term –Unlimited Terms  Franklin Roosevelt was elected to for a 4 th term  The 22 nd Amendment limits the president to 2 terms  Would change be better? –Two 4 year terms –One 6 or 7 year term –Unlimited Terms

Pay and Benefits  Congress determines the president’s salary president’s salary  In 1789 the president earned $25,000  Today the president earns $400,000  Congress also provides the president with $50,000 expense allowance  Congress determines the president’s salary president’s salary  In 1789 the president earned $25,000  Today the president earns $400,000  Congress also provides the president with $50,000 expense allowance

Non-Salary Benefits  Lives in the Whitehouse Whitehouse  Lives in the Whitehouse Whitehouse

Non-Salary Benefits cont’d  Offices and staff

Non-Salary Benefits cont’d  Fleet of automobiles Fleet of automobiles  Fleet of automobiles Fleet of automobiles

Non-Salary Benefits cont’d  Air Force One and Marine One Air Force One Marine One  Air Force One and Marine One Air Force One Marine One

Non-Salary Benefits cont’d  Camp David Camp David  Camp David Camp David

Presidential Succession and the Vice Presidency Section 2

The Constitution and Succession  Presidential Succession –Plan to fill a vacancy in the presidency –Death, resignation, conviction of impeachment  Constitution did not originally have a plan –“Powers and duties” not the office were to be transferred to the VP – John Tyler succeeded William Henry Harrison after he died  This became tradition until the ratification of the 25th Amendment in 1967  Presidential Succession –Plan to fill a vacancy in the presidency –Death, resignation, conviction of impeachment  Constitution did not originally have a plan –“Powers and duties” not the office were to be transferred to the VP – John Tyler succeeded William Henry Harrison after he died  This became tradition until the ratification of the 25th Amendment in 1967

Presidential Succession Act of 1947  Sets the order of successionorder of succession 1.Vice President 2.Speaker of the House 3.President pro tempore of the Senate 4.Secretary of State 5.Secretary of the Treasury  Sets the order of successionorder of succession 1.Vice President 2.Speaker of the House 3.President pro tempore of the Senate 4.Secretary of State 5.Secretary of the Treasury

Presidential Disability  Vice President may become acting president if: 1.President informs Congress that he cannot carry out duties of the office 2.The VP and a majority of the Cabinet inform Congress that the president is disabled  Vice President may become acting president if: 1.President informs Congress that he cannot carry out duties of the office 2.The VP and a majority of the Cabinet inform Congress that the president is disabled

The Vice Presidency  2 Official duties –Preside over the Senate –Help decide the question of presidential disability  Unofficial Duty –Wait on the president to die  2 Official duties –Preside over the Senate –Help decide the question of presidential disability  Unofficial Duty –Wait on the president to die

The Vice President: Balancing the Ticket  Usually the presidential candidate chooses a running mate that will strengthen his chance of being elected

Vice Presidency Today  VP’s are taking a more active role  Not an assistant to the president –VP’s cannot be fired from office by the president  VP’s are taking a more active role  Not an assistant to the president –VP’s cannot be fired from office by the president

Presidential Selection: The Framers’ Plan Section 3

Original Provisions  The Framers did not trust the “common man” with such a decision and they did not want congress to choose the president either  They agreed on a plan where presidential electors (the most educated citizens) would have two electoral votes –1 st place = president –2 nd place = vice president  The Framers did not trust the “common man” with such a decision and they did not want congress to choose the president either  They agreed on a plan where presidential electors (the most educated citizens) would have two electoral votes –1 st place = president –2 nd place = vice president

The Rise of Parties  Electoral College – group of people (electors) chosen from each state to formally select the president and vice president –1796 – John Adams (Federalist) defeated Thomas Jefferson (Democratic- Republican) by three votes  Electoral College – group of people (electors) chosen from each state to formally select the president and vice president –1796 – John Adams (Federalist) defeated Thomas Jefferson (Democratic- Republican) by three votes

The Rise of Parties cont’d  The Election of 1800 –There was a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, both from the same party  The 12 th Amendment –Separated presidential and vice presidential elections  The Election of 1800 –There was a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, both from the same party  The 12 th Amendment –Separated presidential and vice presidential elections

Presidential Nominations Section 4

The Role of Conventions  No mention of presidential nomination process in the Constitution  Parties organize conventions where candidates are chosen  No mention of presidential nomination process in the Constitution  Parties organize conventions where candidates are chosen

The Role of Conventions cont’d  Each state is given delegates to the convention whose job is to nominate a presidential candidate  How delegates are chose is left up to states and parties  Each state is given delegates to the convention whose job is to nominate a presidential candidate  How delegates are chose is left up to states and parties

Presidential Primaries  A primary is an election where voters –Choose delegates to the national convention –Express a preference for their party’s presidential nomination  A primary is an election where voters –Choose delegates to the national convention –Express a preference for their party’s presidential nomination

Presidential Primaries cont’d  Winner-Take-All – The winner of the primary gets all of that party’s delegates at the convention (Republican Party)  Proportional Representation – Any candidate that gets over 15% of the vote gets the percentage of delegates that candidate received (Democratic Party)  Winner-Take-All – The winner of the primary gets all of that party’s delegates at the convention (Republican Party)  Proportional Representation – Any candidate that gets over 15% of the vote gets the percentage of delegates that candidate received (Democratic Party)

The Caucus-Convention Process  States that do not use primaries use caucuses  Voters meet in local caucuses and choose delegates to the convention  Do caucuses discriminate? –No secret ballot –Active military –Late shift employees –Child care  States that do not use primaries use caucuses  Voters meet in local caucuses and choose delegates to the convention  Do caucuses discriminate? –No secret ballot –Active military –Late shift employees –Child care

The National Convention  Goals of the convention 1.Officially Nominate candidates –States vote one by one for the candidate –Today this occurs on the first ballot –1968 Democratic Convention, Part Democratic Convention,Part 2 2.Party pep rally 3.Adopt the parties platform (formal statement of basic principles)  Goals of the convention 1.Officially Nominate candidates –States vote one by one for the candidate –Today this occurs on the first ballot –1968 Democratic Convention, Part Democratic Convention,Part 2 2.Party pep rally 3.Adopt the parties platform (formal statement of basic principles)

Political Convention

Political Convention

Political Convention

Political Convention

Political Convention

Political Convention

Political Convention

Political Convention

Political Convention

Who is Nominated?  Parties try to nominate candidates who are “electable”  Most are men who have been elected to office before (governor, senator, vice-president) and are well known  Other Characteristics –Most have been Protestant –Many come from large states –“Pleasant and Healthy” appearance, married, with an attractive family –Good speaker  Parties try to nominate candidates who are “electable”  Most are men who have been elected to office before (governor, senator, vice-president) and are well known  Other Characteristics –Most have been Protestant –Many come from large states –“Pleasant and Healthy” appearance, married, with an attractive family –Good speaker

The Presidential Election Section 5

Presidential Campaign  TV, radio, internet, newspapers, magazines, appearances, etc used to persuade voters  Swing Voters –Approximately 1/3 of voters who do not know who they will vote for  Battleground States Battleground States  TV, radio, internet, newspapers, magazines, appearances, etc used to persuade voters  Swing Voters –Approximately 1/3 of voters who do not know who they will vote for  Battleground States Battleground States

Choosing Electors  Electors are chosen by popular vote in every state on the same day (Election Day)  In all but 2 states the electors are chosen at large in winner-take-all elections –Maine and Nebraska  Electors are distributed proportionally  Electors are chosen by popular vote in every state on the same day (Election Day)  In all but 2 states the electors are chosen at large in winner-take-all elections –Maine and Nebraska  Electors are distributed proportionally

Counting Electoral Votes  The formal election of the president and vice president occurs in January –This is when the president of the Senate counts the votes –A candidate must win a majority of the electoral votes  270 out of 538 electoral votes are needed to win 270 out of 538 electoral votes are needed to win  The formal election of the president and vice president occurs in January –This is when the president of the Senate counts the votes –A candidate must win a majority of the electoral votes  270 out of 538 electoral votes are needed to win 270 out of 538 electoral votes are needed to win

Flaws in the Electoral College  The winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed the presidency –This has happened four times (1824, 1876, 1888, 2000) –Al Gore received 537,179 more votes than George W. Bush but lost the election  The winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed the presidency –This has happened four times (1824, 1876, 1888, 2000) –Al Gore received 537,179 more votes than George W. Bush but lost the election

Flaws in the Electoral College cont’d  Electors are not required to vote in accord with the popular vote –“Faithless electors” break their pledge and vote for another parties nominee  Some states have passed laws to avoid this  Electors are not required to vote in accord with the popular vote –“Faithless electors” break their pledge and vote for another parties nominee  Some states have passed laws to avoid this

Flaws in the Electoral College cont’d  Election may have to be decided in the House of Representatives  3 problems –Voting is done by state not by individual members  A state with a small population has as much weight as a state with a large population –If there is a tie a state receives no vote –If no candidate gets a majority (26 states) we may not have a president by inauguration day  Election may have to be decided in the House of Representatives  3 problems –Voting is done by state not by individual members  A state with a small population has as much weight as a state with a large population –If there is a tie a state receives no vote –If no candidate gets a majority (26 states) we may not have a president by inauguration day

Proposed Reforms: District Plan  Electors are chosen in congressional districts –Eliminates winner take all system –A candidate could win the popular vote and lose the election  Electors are chosen in congressional districts –Eliminates winner take all system –A candidate could win the popular vote and lose the election

Proposed Reforms: Proportional Plan  A candidate would receive the percentage of electoral votes that reflects the popular vote –Cures the problem of the winner take all system –A candidate could win the popular vote and lose the election –Members of major parties oppose this system because it gives a great deal of power to minor parties  A candidate would receive the percentage of electoral votes that reflects the popular vote –Cures the problem of the winner take all system –A candidate could win the popular vote and lose the election –Members of major parties oppose this system because it gives a great deal of power to minor parties

Proposed Reforms: Direct Popular Election Plan  The person with the most votes wins  It would require a federal amendment which would be difficult because small states oppose this plan  The person with the most votes wins  It would require a federal amendment which would be difficult because small states oppose this plan