The Federal Government The Executive Branch ~~~~~ The Presidency Chapter Six The Federal Government The Executive Branch ~~~~~ The Presidency

The Executive Branch Article II of the Constitution executive branch of the federal government constitutional responsibility carrying out the country's laws (enforcing, executing, administering, implementing) President of the United States head of executive branch country's most powerful elected official 1789 - George Washington became the first U.S. president only 43 others have served as president

Qualifications President common characteristics title be a native-born U.S. citizen be at least 35 years of age have been a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years common characteristics until 2009 all had been white men all have been Christian only one Catholic most presidents have attended college many have been lawyers most have held other political offices at the state or national level before becoming president many served in the military title Mr. President (informal) The Honorable (formal) His Excellency (diplomatic outside U.S.)

Term, Salary and Benefits four years 2 terms or 10 years maximum (part of another president’s term) set by George Washington broken by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 Twenty-second Amendment - 1951 set a two-term limit to the presidency salary set by Congress cannot change the salary during a president's term of office prevents Congress from punishing or rewarding a president $400,000 a year plus a $50,000 non-taxable allowance additional annual allowance for travel costs benefits family lives in the White House home of all U.S. presidents since John Adams site of the president's office and the offices of his closest assistants Camp David retreat for special meetings and for relaxation time part of a military base located in the hills of nearby Maryland transportation large fleet of cars, helicopters, and planes limo – “The Beast”, special jet - Air Force One, helicopter – Marine One

Vice President constitutional responsibilities more responsibilities vice president becomes president if the president dies, resigns, or is removed from office eight U.S. presidents have died while in office one president resigned preside over the Senate more responsibilities presidents have given their vice presidents more things to do must be fully informed and prepared to take over the important job that could become theirs constitutional requirements must meet the same qualifications as the president term four years no limit salary $186,300 a year plus a $10,000 taxable expense allowance residence Number One Observatory Circle selection often chosen to help the presidential candidates win the election

Succession Twenty-fifth Amendment - 1967 fills vice-presidential vacancy the new president nominates a new vice president nomination of the vice president must then be approved by a majority vote of both houses of Congress Gerald Ford only vice president and president whom the people did not elect vice president will serve as acting president until the president is able to perform his duties if VP and cabinet don’t believe the president is fit for duty Congress must decide by a two-thirds vote who will serve as president Presidential Succession Act of 1947 and the Twentieth Amendment if both the president and the vice president died or left office Speaker of the House of Representatives becomes president if the Speaker dies or is removed from office president pro tempore of the Senate becomes president if the president pro tempore dies or is removed from office members of the president's cabinet, in the order in which their departments were created become president Secretary of State, Treasury, Defense, Attorney General, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security