BELL RINGER  List 5 specific things a President does as part of his (and, eventually, her) job.

 Pick and write these words on your bingo sheet. Make sure to leave room in the box because you will be asked to summarize what Obama says about these topics.  Health Care  Immigration  Minimum Wage  Job Training  Student Loans  Budget  Tax Codes  Unemployment  Insurance  NSA  Iran  Syria  Affordable Care Act  Gas Prices  Congress  Legislation  Education  Gun Control  Equality  Trade  Military  Family  Defense  War  Debt Extra Points for tally marks on how many time there is a standing ovation!

EXIT TICKET  What is one topic Obama talked about that is important to you? Explain.

BELL RINGER  List 5 qualities you believe a President should have. Why are these qualities important to you? Explain.

The President’s Job Description

 Chief of State  The President is chief of state. This means he is the symbol of all the people of the nation.  Duties:  Ceremonial head of the nation  Bestows honors on citizens, addresses the nation in time of crisis, etc.

 Chief Executive  The Constitution gives the President the executive power of the United States.  Duties:  Enforces laws, treaties, court decisions, etc.  Issues executive orders  Power check!  Power of impeachment

 Chief Administrator  The President is the chief administrator, or director, of the United States government.  Duties:  Directs entire executive branch (“CEO” of law enforcement)  Hires heads of bureaucracy  Power Check!  Congress doesn’t have to agree to fund agencies  Senate can reject presidential appointments

 Chief Diplomat  As the nation’s chief diplomat, the President is the main architect of American foreign policy and chief spokesperson to the rest of the world.  Duties:  Oversees all foreign policy  Appoints and receives ambassadors  Negotiates treaties  Executive agreements  Gives diplomatic recognition  Power check!  Power of the purse  Senate may reject ambassadors or treaties

Chief Legislator  The President is the chief legislator, the main architect of the nation’s public policies.  Duties:  Initiates legislation  Uses power of the media  State of the Union  Signs bills into law  Power check!  Congress doesn’t have to pass legislation  Congress can override veto (2/3 majority)

Commander in Chief  The Constitution makes the President the commander in chief, giving him or her complete control of the nation’s armed forces.  Duties:  Leader/head of the armed forces  Power check!  Congress can choose not to declare war or defund wars  War Powers Act (1974)

Chief of Party  The President acts as the chief of party, the leader of the political party that controls the executive branch.  Duties  Influences and leads political party  Helps members of his party get elected to office

Chief Citizen  The President is expected to be “the representative of all the people.”  Duties:  Leads by example  Gains and keeps the public trust  Puts nation’s interests above himself

Qualifications, terms, pay and benefits

 Until 1951, the Constitution placed no limit on the number of terms a President could serve.  Traditionally, Presidents limited the number of terms served to two.  Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected for a 3 rd term in 1940—then a 4 th in 1944!  The 22nd Amendment placed limits on presidential terms—limited to two terms of office.

 Pay: $400,000/year  Expense Allowance: $50,000  A 132-room mansion (the White House)  Air Force One  Offices and staffing  Other fringe benefits: Presidential Pension, secret service protection, etc.

 Presidential succession is the plan by which a presidential vacancy is filled.  25th Amendment (1967): Clarified that VP will become President if President is removed from office.  Presidential Succession Act of 1947: Set succession order (post-VP).

 Sections 3 and 4 of the 25th Amendment provide procedures to follow when the President is disabled.  The Vice President is to become acting President if (1) the President informs Congress, in writing, “that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,” or (2) the Vice President and a majority of the members of the Cabinet inform Congress, in writing, that the President is thus incapacitated.

 The Constitution only gives the Vice President two duties besides becoming President if the President is removed from office: 1) to preside over the Senate, and 2) to help decide the question of presidential disability.  If the office of Vice President becomes vacant, the President nominates a new Vice President subject to the approval of Congress.  Today, the Vice President often performs diplomatic and political chores for the President.

EXIT TICKET  List all 8 roles that the President has. Which one do you think is the most important, why?