ARTICLE II
Executive Depts. & Bureaucracy THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH The President The Vice President The Cabinet Executive Depts. & Bureaucracy
Qualifications for Pres. & V.P. Must be 35 years old Must be a natural born citizen Must have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years
Term of office: The President and V-P. are elected to four year terms The 22nd amendment limits the president to two terms or no more than 10 years
Compensation Salary $400,000 $50,000 for expenses $100,000 for travel White House 132 rooms and office Camp David Resort Medical & Dental Care Secret service protection-life Pension Transportation
Presidential Succession Act 1. Vice-President of the U.S. 2. Speaker of the House 3. President pro Tempore 4. Cabinet secretaries in order of department origin (State, Treasury, Defense)
25th Amendment 1967 If President cannot complete his term, the V.P. becomes President If V.P. office is vacant, the President appoints one w/ Senate approval.
RICHARD NIXON & 25th Nixon elected 1968 & 1972 1ST V. P. Spiro Agnew resigned b/c of income tax evasion Nixon appointed Gerald Ford VP Nixon Resigned b/c of Watergate scandal Ford is President Ford appoints Nelson Rockefeller VP
Richard Nixon
Watergate http://watergate.info/
Rise of Political Parties No Parties in Constitution 1796 J. Adams-Federalist T. Jefferson-Republican Adams Pres- won most Elector votes Jefferson-VP- 2nd most
Thomas Jefferson-- Aaron Burr
Election of 1800 Adams vs. Jefferson Chose V.P. candidates to run with them Adams---Thomas Pinkney Jefferson—Aaron Burr Electors voted twice. Jefferson and Burr tied. Who is President?
Tie Goes to the House House votes 35 times. Hamilton convinces them to vote for Jefferson. Jefferson becomes 3rd President Aaron Burr is V.P. Side note: Later Burr will kill Hamilton in a duel.
Changes in Pres. Elections Candidates select running mates. 12th Amendment added—Electors designate their vote as Pres. or V.P.
The Electoral college Each state will have electors = to the number of senators + representatives given to that state Electors will be appointed by state legislature Electors will determine the pres. And vice-pres. Article about Wisconsin’s electors We will come back to this
2000 Census
Amendment 23rd Amendment gave the District of Columbia 3 electors Total 435+100+3=538 Elector votes
PRESIDENTIAL POWERS Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Grant reprieves & pardons for federal offenses Call special session of Congress Receive ambassadors Execute laws Appoint officials to lesser offices
Powers Shared w/ Senate Make Treaties Appoint Ambassadors, Judges, & high officials
Powers shared w/ Congress Approve legislation Crash Course- A President’s Constitutional Powers Crash Course- A President’s Non-Constitutional Powers
Secretary of Homeland Security
White House Office “West Wing” Office of the President #1 person is Chief of Staff who sets the President’s schedule and controls access to the President Press Secretary
Removal of President The president and vice president may be removed from office upon conviction of impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanors. - House- Impeaches (simple majority) - Senate- Removes (2/3 required)
Power of the Presidency President’s Power HAS grown over time Questions to ponder… - Is the President an elected temporary King? - Has the power of the President grown to large? - Should the President wield more power so things get done faster? Crash Course- How Presidents Govern