The Executive Branch

A. Electing the President 1. The Electoral College Each state is given 1 Vote per house of rep member and 1 for each senator Washington D.C. is given 3 votes but have no representatives in congress Electors give their votes based on the majority decision of their state Although uncommon electors sometimes deviate from the way their states suggest to vote (faithless elector)

A. Electing the President 1. The Electoral College Each state chooses their own method of selecting electors Electors meet in state capitol to vote for president and vice president The sitting V.P. in the presence of Congress opens the ballots of the Electoral College on January 6th If no majority, House of Rep. decides A total of 538 Electoral College votes are cast so a majority is 270 (magic number)

B. The Evolution of the Presidency

A. Election of the President 2. Term of Office George Washington set the precedent by only serving two terms A term is 4 years in length The 22 Amendment in 1951 limits two terms (4-10 years) Only 16 of the 44 Presidents have served two terms

B. Requirements for the Job Must be 35 years of age Must be a natural born citizen of the United States Must have lived in the country for at least 14 years

C. Salary and Benefits $400,000 per year plus $50,000 in expenses - is fixed by Congress and cannot be increased or decreased during that President's term. President receive many fringe benefits, including use of the White House and Camp David, cars and airplanes.

D. Powers of the President 1. Powers found in Article II Not a large number of explicit powers Veto of Legislations Veto is an override of a Congressional Bill Veto is often used as a message to Congress Pocket Veto (before congress adjourns) Congress rarely overrides vetos (because of the need of 2/3 supermajority of both houses)

D. Powers of the President 2. Informal Powers Potential for power found in the ambiguous clauses of the Constitution Ex. Power as commander in chief; duty to “take care that laws be faithfully executed” Executive Order

D. Presidential Power 2. Popularity and Influence Presidents try to transform popularity into support from the congress for Presidential programs When the President has a high approval rating, congress is more willing to work Members of Congress believe it is politically risky to challenge a popular president

D. Presidential Power 3. Popularity and Influence Popularity is the highest right after election Usually Declines by Midterm Crises, can have both negative and positive effect on Popularity Bush and Katrina – Decline due to slow response and non-decisive Obama and Sandy – Increase due to quick response and ability to work bi-partisian

E. Office of the President 1. White House Office

E. Office of the President 2. The Cabinet Not something explicitly mentioned in the Constitution These are the top advisors, friends and trusted appointed officials

E. Office of the President 1. Cabinet Three Ways of Structuring Pyramid President on Top and everyone answers to him Circular Everyone is equal and ideas are freely given (think King Arthur style) Ad Hoc For a particular purpose or reason

F. Presidential Succession WHAT HAPPENS WHEN????????? OR

F. Presidential Succession What if a President falls ill? Ex. Garfield, Wilson, Eisenhower, Reagan

F. Presidential Succession 1. Impeachment Indictment by the House Conviction/Trial by the Senate 3 Presidents have been Impeached Andrew Johnson – found not guilty Richard Nixon – resigned before trial Bill Clinton – found not guilty

F. Presidential Succession The Succession Act (1886) and Twenty-fifth Amendment (1967) a. Succession Act of 1886- Designated the Secretary of State for next V.P. Amended in 1947 and designates the Speaker of the House as new V.P. b. Twenty-fifth Amendment - Allows V.P. to serve as acting Pres. during Presidents time in recovery First example is Reagan’s surgery Decided by Pres, V.P. and Cabinet or by 2/3 vote of Congress.

F. Presidential Succession 3. Order of Succession VICE PRESIDENT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRES PROTEMPORE OF THE SENATE SEC OF STATE SEC OF TREASURY SEC OF DEFENSE

F. Presidential Succession 4. The Vice President 8 V.P. have succeeded to the office on presidents death Rarely are V.P.’s elected president Unless they first took over for a president who died Only 5 times other wise Adams, Jefferson, Van Buren, Nixon, Bush (Sr.)

G. Foreign Policy 1. What is it and Who Decides? Def: This country’s actions, words, and beliefs towards other countries The President along with the Executive Branch are mainly responsible for setting the tone of Foreign Policy Ex. Cold War – Throughout the Cold War (end of WWII until 1980’s) many different presidents were in-charge and had to deal with handling USSR in their own unique way.

G. Foreign Policy 2. Foreign Policy a. Main Goal b. Key Players Protect America and Americans Support economic growth and human rights around the world Increase support for American values like democracy and freedom. b. Key Players President and Exec Branch create Policy Legislative Branch Carries out policy

G. Foreign Policy A.Foreign Aid: 2. Forms of Foreign Policy A.Foreign Aid: Def:helping or assisting of other countries Main Goal: To create friends and allies Ex. Economic (money); Military (soldiers helping after a disaster); Advice)

G. Foreign Policy B. Military 3. Forms of Foreign Policy B. Military Def: The use of armed forces Main goal is to prevent war and protect the U.S. Led by the Commander in Chief and D.O.D Department of Defense: Army; Navy; Air Force; Marines

G. Foreign Policy 3. Forms of Foreign Policy c. Treaties: a formal agreement between countries that, like laws, must be followed The President is responsible for negotiating and signing treates All Treaties must be approved by 2/3rds of the Senate