The Presidency What are the requirements to become the president of the United States?

Requirements At least 35 years of age Natural born citizen Lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years

Goals and Big Question To understand the responsibilities and powers of the president. Big Question: Which branch is most powerful – the legislative or the executive?

Jobs of the President What is the president responsible for in our government?

The Presidency Chief of State, Chief Executive, Chief Administrator, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Chief Legislator, Party Chief, and Chief Citizen

Chief of State Ceremonial head of state

Chief Executive Power to enforce and create policies that enforce laws

Chief Administrator Head of federal bureaucracy

Chief Diplomat Architect of foreign policy

Commander in Chief Head of national armed forces

Chief Legislator Architect of public policy

Chief of Party Leader of his/her political parties

Chief Citizen Represents public interests

Jobs of the President Find two articles involving President Obama Decide which of his eight jobs he is doing in each article. –Make sure he is doing different jobs in each article. –Make sure you can give a summary of the article as well as explain how the president is exhibiting that particular job. Grading Rubric: –50 = Great summary and description of job was done correctly. –25 = Knew what job it fit under, but did not give a satisfactory summary of the article. –0 = Did not give a summary or chose wrong job for your article.

Power of the President What power does the president have? What does the Constitution give him? What powers do the American people give him?

Powers of the President Executive Order Appointing Power Removal Power Treaty Power Executive Agreement Recognition Veto Power Judicial Powers –Reprieve –Pardon –Commutation –Amnesty

Executive Order Rules or regulations issued by the president or his/her office. Has the force of law, but cannot contradict the Constitution or laws passed by Congress

Appointing Power Power to appoint federal officials –Ambassadors, Judges, Cabinet officials Top appointments require Congressional approval (confirmation)

Removal Power Power to remove appointed officials for any reason. Can not remove judges - impeachment

Treaty Power Agreement between two heads of state – president usually acts through the Secretary of State The Senate must give its approval through 2/3 vote – then treaties become part of the Constitution

Executive Agreements A pact made by the president with the head of a foreign state Binding international agreement with the force of law Does not require consent of Senate

Recognition Presidential reception of the diplomatic representatives of another sovereign state. United States accepts that country as an equal.

Veto Power Power of the president to reject a law that was passed by Congress Can be overruled by Congress – 2/3 vote Line-Item Veto – power to eliminate certain parts of appropriation bills

Judicial Powers Reprieve –Postponement of the execution of a sentence Pardon –Legal forgiveness of a crime Commutation –Reduction of the length of a sentence or fine Amnesty –General pardon offered to a group of law violators

Limits on the President What are the limits on the power of the President?

Limits on the President Term of Office Limited Power

Term of Office Four-year Terms Limit of two terms or 10 years –set by the 22 nd Amendment Presidential Succession set by the 25 th Amendment

Limited Power Separation of Powers –President cannot make laws, just carry them out –Supreme Court decides if a law is Constitutional Checks and Balances –Congress must approve of many actions –Impeachment could result from improper actions –Supreme Court can declare actions unconstitutional

Wartime Powers Congress can give the president far- reaching powers during a war Rationing, control of prices and wages, ability to seize/control certain companies

War Powers Resolution Limits the ability of the president to wage war… –Notification of Congress –Time limit on mobilization of forces –Power of Congress to end the conflict

Bureaucracy How does the president exercise these powers?

Executive Office of the President White House Office –President’s personal & political staff National Security Council –Advises on domestic, foreign & military matters that affect the nation’s security Office of Management & Budget –Prepares the Federal Budget Office of National Drug Control Policy –Conducts the “War on Drugs” Others: Council of Economic Advisors, Office of Policy Development, Council on Environmental Quality, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Office of Science & Technology and Office of Administration

The Executive Departments They carry out the laws and run government programs

Department of State Carries out foreign policy Supervises ambassadors and other U.S. diplomats Represents the U.S. at the United Nations

Department of Treasury Collects taxes through the Internal Revenue Service Prints money and postage stamps; makes coins

Department of Defense Maintains the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force Conducts research on military weapons Builds and maintains military bases

Department of Interior Manages national parks and other federal lands Protects fish, wildlife and other natural resources

Department of Agriculture Provides assistance to farmers Inspects food-processing plants Runs the food stamp and school lunch programs Works to control animal and plant diseases

Department of Justice Investigates and prosecutes violation of federal laws Operates federal prisons Runs the Federal Bureau of Investigation Represents the federal government in lawsuits

Department of Commerce Provides assistance to American businesses Conducts the national census Issues patents and trademarks for inventions Maintains official weights and measures

Department of Labor Enforces laws on minimum wage, job discrimination and working conditions Helps run job training and unemployment programs Provides statistics on changes in prices and levels of employment

Department of Health and Human Services Directs Medicare Program Runs the Food and Drug Administration Runs the Public Health Service Runs the Family Support Administration

Department of Education Provides assistance to elementary, high school and college education programs Conducts research and provides statistics on education Promotes equal access to educational opportunities

Department of Housing and Urban Development Helps provide housing for low-income citizens Assists state and local governments in financing community development and housing projects

Department of Transportation Helps state and local governments maintain highways Enforces transportation safety standards

Department of Energy Conducts research on sources of energy Promotes the conservation of fuel and electricity and directs programs to deal with possible shortages

Department of Veteran’s Affairs Gives medical, educational and financial help to people who have served in the armed forces

Department of Homeland Security Runs the Federal Emergency Management Agency Runs Transportation Security Administration Protects the President and Vice President through the Secret Service Operates the United States Coast Guard and the U.S. Customs Service

Becoming President We have addressed the requirements, jobs and power of the president… now… HOW DO YOU BECOME PRESIDENT?

How do you become President? Nomination Campaign Vote

Nomination Candidate must secure party’s nomination Primary elections in some states, conventions in others helps decide the nominee The national convention announces the party’s decision

Campaign Candidates travel across the nation to gather votes Candidates engage in debates with opponents to help the public understand their ideas

Vote Presidents are chosen by the Electoral College Each state decides on Electors based on that state’s popular vote The winner of the popular vote in each state gets all that state’s Elector’s votes

Electoral College Under the winner-take-all system, the winner of the popular vote may not get enough electoral votes to become president. What’s wrong with this system? Why should we keep the Electoral College?

Let’s look at some electoral maps… Election of 2000 Gore = 266Bush = 271

Let’s look at some electoral maps… Election of 2004 Kerry = 251Bush = 286

Let’s look at some electoral maps… Election of 2008 Obama = 365McCain = 173

Let’s look at some electoral maps… Election of 2012 Obama = 332Romney = 206

Reapportionment New numbers… –Census DataCensus Data