The American Presidency Unit 8

The Presidency… interesting facts Salary: $400,000 per year Expense account: $50,000 per year Free: Housing Food Transportation Vacation home Security

The Presidency and the Constitution Article II: – requirements; selection; term; removal; powers Amendment 12: – Electoral College will select Pres. & V.P. Amendment 22: – 2 (4-yr) terms or 10 years Amendment 25: – Presidential succession

The Presidency and the Constitution Article II Qualifications: Natural born citizen 35 years old Lived in the U.S. for 14 years Term: 4 year term – (no more than 2 consecutive terms or 10 years)

The Presidency and the Constitution Article II Selection: Electoral college – Each state sends members = Congressional Rep. – Majority wins (No majority? House decides) Removal: House issues impeachment Senate removes

Presidential succession created by the presidential succession act 1947 and 25 th amendment 1.The Vice President 2.Speaker of the House 3.President pro tempore of the Senate 4.Secretary of State 5.Secretary of the Treasury 6.Secretary of Defense 7.Attorney General 8.Secretary of Homeland Security 9.Secretary of the Interior 10.Secretary of Agriculture 11.Secretary of Commerce 12.Secretary of Labor 13.Secretary of Health and Human Services 14.Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 15.Secretary of Transportation 16.Secretary of Energy 17.Secretary of Education 18.Secretary of Veterans Affairs

The leadership roles of the presidency Chief of State = The ceremonial head of the government Chief Executive = Has the power to execute the laws Chief Diplomat = Establishes U.S. foreign policy Commander in Chief = Head of the military Chief Legislator = Shapes public policy Chief of Party = Head of the political party that controls the White House Chief Citizen = Represents all citizens of the U.S.

Powers of the Presidency Appointment powers: Appointment powers: – Ambassadors – Cabinet members – Officers of the military – Federal Judges All with advice & consent of Congress Diplomatic powers: Diplomatic powers: – Can create and sign treaties Must be approved by the Senate – Can sign executive agreements Does not need Congressional approval – Can recognize & not recognize countries Legislative powers: Legislative powers: – Recommend bills – Call Congress into session – Veto

Powers of the Presidency Judicial powers: Reprieve (Postponement of a sentence) – Usually given for the death penalty Pardon (Forgive a crime) – Presidents grant hundreds of pardons every term Commutation (Reduce a sentence) Amnesty (Pardoning a whole group) – Carter pardoned all Vietnam war draft dodgers

Powers of the Presidency Military powers: Military powers: (in times of peace) Create and train a military military action Can deploy troops for use of force (military action) with Congressional authorization The military action must end within a set number of days unless Congress re-authorizes Congress can end a military action at any time with a concurrent resolution

Powers of the Presidency Military powers: Military powers: (in times of war) Deploy troops Ration food, water, and gas Control wages and prices Take control of industries Declare martial law

Powers of the Presidency Shaping policy Since FDR: Presidents set the national legislative agenda Presidents determine how best to interpret, execute and enforce laws Presidents use the following to influence Congress: – Patronage; leadership; media; campaign events; and public support Control the budget…impact on Policy? Issue executive orders

Powers of the Presidency Limitations Examples: Federal Budget Party polarization & extremism Judicial Implementation Lame Duck period What other limitations to presidential power prevent the president from exerting influence?

Progression of Presidential Power Lessons from Washington: National government is supreme Meet with advisors President sets foreign policy as given by the inherent powers

Progression of Presidential Power Adams to FDR Congress was the dominant branch Most people never came in contact with the President Most acted only on the expressed powers Few presidents expanded power: – Jackson – Lincoln

Increased the size of the budget and employees in the Executive branch – 2008 budget: $2.9 trillion – 2008 employees: approx 3 million Began dictating domestic policy Often claimed Executive privilege (Nixon & Clinton) Frequently exercised the use of inherent or implied powers (Bush and the wiretaps) Progression of Presidential Power The Modern Presidency

Judicial challenges to Presidential Power Worcester vs. Georgia (1832)…Supreme Court ruled that Native Americans could not be removed from their land – Jackson never enforced the ruling Prize Cases (1863) Korematsu vs. US (1944) War Powers Act (1973)…established powers of president in a time of peace U.S. vs. Nixon (1974)…limited power of executive privilege