Chapter 13 Section 1 A day in the Life……

13.2 President is the nation’s chief executive Top elected official in charge of enforcing laws and carrying out government policy

State Government Also has a chief executive Governor Local level Mayor

Formal Qualifications “Anyone can become president”…… Almost 35 Natural born citizen Lived in the country for at least 14 years

22nd Amendment 1951 Term Limit 2 terms of 4 years But… Can serve 10 years total if taking over the remainder of a term of the previous president

2 term President GW = 2 terms Stepped down All others had 2 terms Until…. FDR In 4th term when he died

Informal Qualifications Page 223 Historically Male White (until Barack Obama) Middle to upper class

Women & Minorities State and local government seats Governors Mayors

Religion Most Protestant Kennedy = Catholic

Election Governors & Mayors are elected by popular vote President is elected by Electoral College (this is based on the popular vote count of each state)

Runoff Election If no candidate receives a majority of the votes there will be a runoff election between the top two candidates to determine the winner Goal = clear winner

Succession Should the President be unable to complete a 4 year term because of death, disability, resignation or removal from office, the law provides clear guidelines for replacement

Line of Succession President Vice President Speaker of the House President pro tempore Secretary of State Other Cabinet members in order of when the position was created Last in line Secretary of Homeland Security (created in 2001) 19 total

Vice president The “C” gives almost no formal powers Take over if something happens VP = not a very sought after job But… 14 VP have gone on to the Presidency

Lately VP has taken on more responsibilities National security etc…. State government Lieutenant Governor is like the “VP”

Impeachment President, VP or other officials may be impeached and removed from office Teason Bribery High Crimes & Misdemeanors

How? Begins in the House Judiciary Committee looks at evidence Entire House must vote to impeach (formally accuse) the official of wrongdoing Trial is held in the Senate 2/3 of the Senate must find the official guilty to remove the person from office

2 Presidents have been impeached Remember : Impeachment means to bring charges…..not removal. Needs to be found guilty Andrew Johnson Bill Clinton Richard Nixon was NOT impeached….he was the only President to resign

Unhappy with the President? No provision for removal based on job performance But….many states have procedures where the voters can order a recall of elected officials

Really? CA = 2003 Replaced Grey David with Arnold Schwarzenegger Scott Walker removal failed

Term Limits Many chief executives have term limits President = 2 Most governors = 2 consecutive terms

Re-election When votes are not happy with the government they will blame the chief executive Since WWII : 3 presidents have lost their re-election bids Ford, Carter and George H.W. Bush

Check?? What are the formal qualifications for president? Who are the next 3 in the line of succession? How many terms can the President serve? What term is used to bring charges against the President?