Chapter 13: The Presidency Section 1

Starter Think of three things a President does as part of the job of leading the nation. {E.g., “sign bills into law”}

Objectives Students will be able to: Describe the eight roles of the President; and List the formal qualifications necessary to become President.

Key Terms chief of state: the ceremonial head of government chief executive: the leader of the executive branch and holder of executive power under the Constitution chief administrator: the director of the executive branch chief diplomat: the main architect of the nation’s foreign policy and its chief spokesperson to the world

Key Terms, cont. commander in chief: the leader of the nation’s armed forces chief legislator: the main author of the nation’s public policies chief of party: the leader of the political party controlling the executive branch chief citizen: the representative of all the people and the champion of public interest

Introduction What are the roles and qualifications of the office of the President? The President’s roles include: Chief of state Chief executive Chief administrator Chief diplomat Commander in chief Chief legislator Chief of party Chief citizen Qualifications for President include being 35 years old, a natural born U.S. citizen, and having lived in the United States for 14 years.

Presidential Roles The President acts as chief of state (i.e. head of state), the ceremonial head of the U.S. government and represents the US to the world and nation. The President is the chief executive, holding the nation’s executive power in domestic and foreign affairs. Makes sure that the government carries out the laws and that federal court decisions are put into effect. The President is the chief administrator, directing the more than 2.7 million civilian employees of the executive branch.

Presidential Roles, cont. The President is the nation’s chief diplomat, the main architect of American foreign policy and the nation’s chief spokesperson to the rest of the world. The Constitution gives the President the power to make treaties with other nations. The President also has the sole power to recognize/accept the legal existence of other nations.

Presidential Roles, cont. The President is the commander in chief of the 1.4 million men and women of the nation’s armed forces. The President decides when and if the nation should go to war. Congress has the power to declare war.

Presidential Roles, cont. The President is the chief legislator, proposing laws that set the congressional legislative agenda (e.g., President proposes the annual budget). The President is the unofficial head of the political party that controls the executive branch. He/she will appear at fundraisers and will campaign for others. The President is the unofficial chief citizen, expected to champion the public interest and be the representative of all the people.

Formal Qualifications Checkpoint: What are the three requirements a potential President must meet to be eligible for office? The President must be a natural born citizen of the United States (by law, a person born to an American-citizen parent becomes an American citizen at birth). The President must be at least 35 years of age. The President must have been a U.S. resident for at least 14 years (14 years in a person’s life, not consecutive). Checkpoint Answer: The President must be a natural born US citizen, a US resident for at least 14 years, and be at least 35 years of age. 11

Question Would you support a constitutional amendment that would allow an immigrant who has been a naturalized citizen for 20 years to run for President (like Arnold Schwarzenegger)? Why/Why not?

Terms in Office **Prior to the 22nd Amendment, the Constitution did not set term limits for the presidency.** George Washington set the custom of serving two terms. FDR broke this custom by being elected to four terms from 1932 to 1944.

Terms in Office, cont. **The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1944, limits Presidents to no more than two full elected terms (8 years) in office. If a President succeeds to the office after the middle of a term, he or she can still seek two full terms. No President can serve more than 10 years in office. Question: Is the 22nd Amendment democratic?

1) The cartoon portrays Coolidge as what historical figure 1) The cartoon portrays Coolidge as what historical figure? (Julius Cesar) 2) Why do you think the cartoonist chose this portrayal? (possibly to show respect for Coolidge as a leader) 3) What is Coolidge doing? (refusing the offer of a third term) 4) What is the significance of the crown? (it suggests that a third term would turn the President into a king) 5) Based on the cartoon, why do you think Americans approved the 22nd Amendment (from the earliest days, Americans feared the President might turn into a monarch; the 22md amendment eliminated that fear)

Views on Term Limits Many people, including some Presidents (Truman, Eisenhower, and Reagan), have argued that the two-term rule unfairly limits the right of the people to choose their President. Some say it also weakens a President’s influence at the end of the second term in office. Supporters say the amendment protects against abuse of executive power. Some have argued for a single six-year term, which would free the President from worrying about reelection.

Pay and Benefits Congress decides the President’s annual salary. This salary cannot be changed while a President is in office. The current salary, set in 2001, is $400,000 a year plus $100k for travel allowance and $50k for expenses. The Constitution forbids the President from receiving any other pay from the government or the States while in office. 17

Pay and Benefits, cont. The President also receives many benefits, including the White House, Air Force One, Camp David, a fleet of cars, a large staff, a suite of offices, excellent healthcare, and many other fringe benefits.

Question Benjamin Franklin argued at the Convention that, as money and power might corrupt a man, the President ought to receive nothing beyond expenses. Does Franklin have a point?