Chapter 11 – Executive Branch The Presidency

Qualifications to be President 1. Natural Born Citizen You cannot be born in another country and run for president The Terminator The Arnold 2. Lived in U.S. for at least 14 years 3. President has to be at least 35 years old Theodore Roosevelt 42 John F. Kennedy 43

Being President has its perks! 400,000 dollar a year salary Air Force One Benefits such as a paid for travel expenses lifetime pension, many more. Did I mention you also get your own chef and doctor? But!.............. Two 4 year terms = 8 years 22nd amendment (FDR was president too long!)

Presidential Selection Our President is chosen through the Electoral College: people selected in each state who gather to formally cast their ballots for the President and Vice President of the United States These are called “electors” President is NOT chosen via popular vote Electoral votes are distributed via population Similar to House of Representatives You need a majority 270 electoral votes to win *538 total votes* The political parties select electors so they are loyal to party most usually

Criticism of the Electoral College Representation of electors based on population Unequal, large states have most electors If electoral college ties 269 vs. 269 the House of Reps gets to choose Senate gets to choose the Vice President Usually whoever wins a states popular vote wins all the electoral votes It is possible for a candidate to win national popular vote but still lose electoral college

Presidential Succession President can be vacated in four ways Death, Disability, Resignation, Impeachment 25th amendment: Sets up specific rules dealing with presidential and vice presidential succession. It also deals with procedure in case of presidential disability You need the 1. Majority of Cabinet 2. Majority of Congress & Vice President to Agree on a Presidential Succession Role of a Vice President Give President advice But Constitutional Duty is he presides over the senate

Presidential Powers Presidential powers have been stretched and interpreted very broadly due to the elastic clause in the constitution President is the commander and chief of the armed forces President has broad authority to use military Congress let LBJ take Vietnam too far they passed the War Powers Act which regulates a presidents power to pursue war

Diplomatic Powers President is chief representative of our country on the global stage Senate still has to ratify “treaties” by 2/3 vote Treaty: Formal agreement between two or more sovereign nation-states Executive Agreements: a presidential agreement NOT requiring Senate approval with another foreign head of state

Executive Powers Presidents can use executive orders to pass measures they like Does not require Congressional approval Executive Order: A presidential directive to an agency that defines new policies or carries out existing law President can also grant Reprieves: The postponement or setting aside of punishment Pardon: The exemption of a convicted person from penalties of a crime or offense

Legislative Powers State of the Union Address: Occurs every year when the President calls together both houses of congress, cabinet, and supreme court to listen to advocate his ideas This address is constitutionally mandated You Lie A more funny take Line Item Veto: An executives power to reject part of a bill while approving the rest Passed in 1996 but supreme court ruled it unconstitutional in 1998 Abused checks and balances they said

Executive Privilege Executive Privilege: The President’s right to withhold information or documents from or refuse to testify before congress Used by executive in cases of national security interests or areas where secrecy might be needed President gets private advice in oval office that if revealed would be damaging to certain people or groups Nixon did this during Watergate

Impoundment & Leak Impoundment: A president’s refusal to spend money Congress has given him Leak: Unofficial information that comes out of the Presidents office usually dealing with things he does not want to say publicly.