Lesson 1 Unit 4 The Presidency Old Lesson 3 Unit 2

The Presidency: His Role Only one individual is President of the United States at any given time. He serves as, 1. Chief of state 2. Chief executive 3. Chief administrator 4. Chief diplomat 5. Commander in chief 6. Chief legislator 7. Party chief 8. Chief citizen

Chief of State He is the ceremonial head of the government. Thus, a symbol of all the people of the United States. In Great Britain the chief of states reigns but does not rule. This is because it is the king or queen.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE THESE ARE ALL THE POWERS GIVEN TO HIM BY THE CONSTITUTION                                                                                             

CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR THE PRESIDENT IS IN CHARGE OF ALL OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES THAT ARE A PART OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. THREE MILLION CIVILIANS ALONE ARE EMPLOYED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

CHIEF DIPLOMAT THE PRESIDENT IS THE MAIN ARCHITECT OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY AND AMERICA’S SPOKESPERSON TO THE WORLD PRESIDENT CLINTON SPEAKING BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS

COMMANDER IN CHIEF THE PRESIDENT IS ULTIMATELY IN CHARGE OF ALL OF THE NATION’S ARMED FORCES. THIS INCLUDED THE HIGHEST RANKING GENERAL AND THE LOWEST PRIVATE.

CHIEF LEGISLATOR THE PRESIDENT MOST OFTEN SETS THE SHAPE AND TONE FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA. PRESIDENT WILSON SPEAKING TO CONGRESS

CHIEF OF PARTY HE IS THE ACKNOWLEDGED LEADER OF HIS OWN POLITICAL PARTY. IN THE CASE OF PRESIDENT CLINTON IT WAS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. DWIGHT EISENHOWER WAS THE HEAD OF HIS PARTY, THE REPUBLICANS. PRESIDENT CLINTON AT A DEMOCRATIC-PARTY FUNDRAISER

CHIEF CITIZEN THE PRESIDENT IS EXPECTED TO BE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. THUS, HE MUST SET A MORAL EXAMPLE.

PRESIDENT NIXON RESIGNED DUE TO HIS ROLE IN COVERING UP THE WATERGATE BREAK IN. PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS IMPEACHED AS A RESULT OF LYING ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH MONICA LEWINSKY                                                                              

Who can be President: Qualifications 1. Natural-born citizen: There is still a question if this only means a citizen born in the United States or could it include a person born abroad to American parents, thus also a citizen. It will take a Supreme Court decision to work this out. 2. 35 or older John Kennedy was the youngest elected President (43); Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest President (42). 3. Lived in the United States for at least 14 years. 100 million + people currently meet these qualifications

Term of Office Congress passed the 22nd Amendment. The Constitution allows for a four-year term of office. Originally the President was not restricted to serving for a certain number of terms. Until Franklin Roosevelt, all Presidents had kept the tradition of serving no more than two terms. However, when Franklin Roosevelt was elected to four consecutive terms the Congress acted. Congress passed the 22nd Amendment. Now a President can only be elected to two terms. If he inherits the office and has more than two years in office, he can only be elected to one term. The max a person can be president is 10 years

Argument Against Limiting Presidential Terms Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Reagan, and Clinton have called for the repeal of the 22nd Amendment. These men and others believe that the 22nd Amendment is undemocratic. Why? They argue that is places an arbitrary limit on the right of the people to decide who should be President. Others say, that it undercuts the authority of a two-term President during the second half of his second term. Some people have argued that we should fallen the model of Mexico and have a single, six-year term. Note: Congress has not imposed on itself a similar restriction.

Pay and Benefits Congress determines the President’s salary. It was first set at 25K per year (1789). It is now $400,000 per year. The President is also given a $50,000 per year expense allowance, which may be spent in any way the President chooses. He is given a home: the White House, offices, and vacation home in Maryland. A fleet of automobiles A jet (Air Force One) Helicopters (Marine One) Finest medical and dental care. Retirement Generous travel and entertainment funds

Presidential Succession Recommended Activity Read Pages 359-363 Answer questions 1-4

Recommended Homework Read Page 364 Answer questions 1-3