The Executive Branch The Presidency

The President’s Job Description Chief of State: President is head of government, symbol of the country. Chief Executive: President’s job to execute and enforce laws. Chief Administrator: President head’s federal bureaucracy. Chief Diplomat: President is spokesperson to other countries; architect of foreign policy. Commander & Chief: President is leader of the armed forces. Chief Legislator: President sets congressional agenda & creates public policy. Chief of Party: Leader of political party. Chief Citizen: President is suppose to be model/ideal citizen.

Formal Qualifications for President Article II of Constitution states qualifications for presidency. – Natural born citizen. – At least 35 years of age. – Lived in country for at least 14 years.

The President’s Term President is elected to a four year term. Twenty-second Amendment – Are term limits democratic? Suggested revisions to term limit? – Single six year term: advantages? – Unlimited number of four year terms: advantages?

Pay & Benefits Congress sets President’s annual salary. – Article II, Section 1: – Annual salary of $400,000. – $50,000 annual expense account. Fringe Benefits: – Examples?

Presidential Succession & Vice Presidency If President dies, resigns, or is removed from office, who then becomes President? – Vice President – Speaker of the House – President Pro Tempore – Secretary of State – Other Cabinet members in order of precedence. – Supreme Court Justices – Governors Twenty-fifth Amendment/Presidential Succession Act.

Presidential Disability If president is disabled, who takes leadership responsibility? When the president resumes his duty, can his ability be challenged?

The Vice Presidency Constitutional duties: – Preside over the Senate – Help decide the issue of presidential disability. Often, office of vice president is seen as unimportant. – What do you think? – Often, political parties choose a vice-presidential candidate who will “help balance the ticket”. What does this mean?

The Vice Presidency Must be ready to assume the presidency at a moments notice. What if the office of the vice president is vacant? – Vice President cannot be removed from office by the President.

Presidential Selection: Framers Plan Original Constitutional Provisions: – Electoral College (state by states, casting vote for TWO candidates) – The candidate with the most vote became President, second place became Vice President. – In case of tie House elect a President. Impact of Parties on Politics: – Election of 1800 – 12th Amendment

Electoral College Today Electors are chosen by popular vote and make up the electoral college. – Group is chosen in each state & D.C. (23rd Am) every four years. – Job: make a formal selection of President. The number of votes that a state has in the electoral college is equal to the number of members in BOTH houses of Congress. (NE=5, CA=55) – Party that wins the majority of the popular vote in each state gets all that states electoral votes. – Popular votes do count! Electoral votes are counted on January 6th, in D.C. – What happens in case of a tie?

Flaws in Electoral College Votes are note distributed proportionally, so the winner of the popular vote may not win the electoral vote. Electors are not bound to vote for the candidate favored in popular vote. Elections may be thrown into the House, when voting is state by state.

Proposed Reforms: District Plan: – Allow electors to be elected in each congressional district. Proportional Plan: – Gives each candidate the share of the electoral vote that he/she earned in popular vote. Direct Popular Plan: – Electoral college would be abolished.

Presidential Executive Power Executing the Law: – President is responsible for carrying out the nations laws. Ordinance Power: – In charge of federal bureaucracy, issues executive orders. Appointing Power: – Ambassadors, judges, cabinet members. – Must be approved by the Senate. Removal Power: – Controversial

Diplomatic & Military Powers Foreign Affairs: – Usually acts through secretary of state. – Negotiate treaties, Senate must approve. Executive Agreements: – Pact between President and leaders of foreign countries; DO NOT require Senate ratification. Recognition: – Exclusive power of the President to acknowledge the legal existence of a country and establish formal diplomatic relations.

Military Powers Share military power with Congress – no limits on his/her role as commander in chief. Delegate much of their authority to military personnel. Only CONGRESS can declare war. – War Powers Resolution Act

Legislative Powers Gives State of the Union. Recommends specific legislation. Veto power. Call special sessions and adjourn Congress.

Judicial Powers Grant reprieves and pardons. – Federal law. – Reprieve: official postponement of sentence. – Pardon: Release from punishment or legal consequences. Commute sentences. – Reduce length of a sentence or fines imposed. – Amnesty: general pardon offered to individual or group o law violaters.

Executive Offices of President White House Staff – President’s closet advisors National Security Council – Advises president on issues of foreign and domestic national security OMB – Helps president coordinate legislative and budgetary proposals. Office of National Drug Control Policy – Prepares annual drug control policy; includes 50+ agencies. Cabinet – Executive departments (education, treasury, state, etc.)