The Executive Branch

Qualifications Natural Born Citizen of the U.S. 35 Years old Resident for 14 years Informal Qualifications – things generally brought out during campaign; such as intelligence and character

The Constitution & Succession Presidential Succession is the plan by which a presidential vacancy is filled. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 set the order of succession following the Vice President. If the Vice President dies, resigns or is impeached the President appoints a new V.P. with Senate consent

The President’s Term 4 year term Only Federal office with Term Limits The 22nd Amendment placed limits on Presidential terms. Presidents may be elected only 2 times (8 years) If the VP => Prez for whatever reason With less than 2 years of that term remaining => run 2 more times for a total of up to 10 years With more than 2 years of that term remaining => run 1 more time

Pay and Benefits Congress determines the President’s salary, and this salary cannot be changed during a presidential term. The President’s pay was first set at $25,000 a year. Currently, the President is paid $400,000 a year. Congress has also approved an expense allowance for the President, which is currently $50,000 a year.

Political Parties Political party is a group of people with similar views on political policy. Party Platform – the position that the party takes on various political/social/legal issues, as well as general approach to economic and constitutional interpretation

Presidential Election Process

Terms Electorate – people eligible to vote Political Party– group of people who have similar views on issues Partisan – having to do with one party Bipartisan – having to do with two parties Incumbent – current office holder – seeking reelection Majority – 1 more than ½ Plurality –the most votes

Presidential Selection According to the Constitution, the President and Vice President are chosen by a special body of Presidential Electors.

Presidential Election Process Choosing Candidates – in modern times this is a very lengthy and long process (specifically with the 2 major political parties) which we will now examine. Much of the process is not outlined in the Constitution with the exception of the electoral college aspect.

Presidential Election Process Presidential Elections are “indirect elections” people don’t vote directly for the President. The Constitution sets up an electoral college to elect the President. Each state has the same number of electoral votes as Congressmen (Reps + Senators)

The Road to the Presidency A person that desires to run for U.S. President must follow a long series of events if they hope to be successful. We will pick up the process at the point which a person declares their intention to seek a place on the National Presidential ballot (specifically for the 2 major parties)

Presidential Electoral Process Primaries Primary Elections – preliminary contests which are designed to determine which member of each party will be the candidate for that party. Depending on the State, a Presidential Primary is an election in which voters (1) Use a private ballot – just called a primary election Or (2) Have an open meeting – called a caucus

Presidential Electoral Process The Caucus A Caucus is an open meeting, where people gather in groups to show support, people try to convince each other to support their candidate, can be a long process. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLdYtfRKiiM 2nd Caucus Primary Elections (primaries & caucus) Determine which candidate is likely to win Establish Platform

Types Primaries/Caucuses Closed Primary Only declared party members can vote. Open Primary Any qualified voter can take part. have to choose which party

Open & Closed Primaries Closed Primary Pro Can NOT be manipulated by opposition Gain Party Faithful opinion Con Only registered party members may participate => do not get an idea of independent voters Open Primary Pro All registered voters may participate => do get an idea of independent voters Con Can be manipulated by opposition Do Not get “Party Faithful” opinion

Nominations – Each State is designated so many delegates to the national convention by each party. Both Parties Candidates win pledged delegates from each state proportionately to the % of vote won by each candidate. Super delegates from each state are not required to vote w/ popular vote in state. Republicans The same ~ no Super Delegates and some winner take all states

Primaries ~ January to June National Conventions are late August or 1st week of September.

The Role of Conventions Convention Arrangements The convention system has been mainly built by the two major parties in American politics. The national committees for each party arrange the time and place for their party’s nominating convention. The Apportionment and Selection of Delegates Parties apportion the number of delegates each State will receive based on electoral votes and other factors. Delegates are selected through both presidential primaries and the caucus’.

National Conventions in Late August or Early September State delegates officially vote for the candidate for their party Party Nominations official and Party Candidates Selected

The General Election Typically the actual General Election begins after the party conventions. The National Election is always the Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November. The candidate achieving a majority of the Electoral College will become the President http://www.270towin.com/

Electoral College/General Election Majority – one more than half Plurality – more than the other candidates Each state has the same number of electoral votes as Congressmen (Reps + Senators) 435 + 100 + 3 = 538 ÷ 2 = 269 =>270 wins All States, except two (Maine and Nebraska), select electors based on the winner of the popular vote in that State (winner take all). Electors then meet in the State capitals on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December and cast their votes for President and Vice President.

Michigan Elector Policy Michigan Policy Electors that have crossed Electors Crossing Over

Electoral College On January 6, the electoral votes cast are counted by the president of the Senate, and the President and Vice President are formally elected. If no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes (270), the election goes to the House of Representatives. Each state has one vote President and V.P. “elect” = winners of election that have not yet taken office Inauguration – January 20th @ Noon

Electoral College Issues (1) It is possible to win the popular vote in the presidential election, but lose the electoral college vote. This has happened four times in U.S. history (1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000). (2) Nothing in the Constitution, nor in any federal statute, requires the electors to vote for the candidate favored by the popular vote in their State. a) Although each party carefully selects party loyalists to this position who often are elected officials themselves (3) If no candidate gains a majority in the electoral college, the election goes to the House, a situation that has happened twice (1800 and 1824). In this process, each State is given one vote, meaning that States with smaller populations wield the same power as those with larger populations.

Electoral College Proposals Link the electors vote to the outcome of the district popular vote – similar to Democratic Party Primary Process Eliminate the Electoral College and utilize popular vote Requires a Constitutional Amendment Majority or Plurality?

Roles of the President Chief of State. This means he is the ceremonial head of the government of the United States, the symbol of all the people of the nation. Chief Executive/Administrator. The President is the leader of the executive branch Make sure laws are enforced. In charge of all the Executive branch departments

Roles of the President Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, the President is the main architect of American foreign policy and chief spokesperson to the rest of the world. Commander in Chief, giving him or her complete control of the nation’s armed forces. Chief Legislator, the main architect of the nation’s public policies.

Roles of the President Chief of the Party, Chief Citizen – The acknowledged leader of the political party that controls the executive branch. Chief Citizen – The President is expected to be “the representative of all the people.” The model American citizen.

Presidential Powers Pardons & Reprieves Pardon – forgiveness of crime/punishment Reprieve – postpone punishment Treaties - w/ Senate approval Appoint Ambassadors & Supreme Court Justices- w/ Senate approval Veto – cancel a bill Call Special Session of Congress

Presidential Disability Sections 3 and 4 of the 25th Amendment provide procedures to follow when the President is disabled. The Vice President is to become acting President if (1) the President informs Congress, in writing, “that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,” or (2) the Vice President and a majority of the members of the Cabinet inform Congress, in writing, that the President is thus incapacitated.