The President: Qualifications & Roles Civics

Terms and Salary  Two, four-year terms: 22 nd Amendment  Pay: $400,000 + annually  Other perks: no expenses, security, speaking fees, memoirs, boards of directors

Introducing President Bill Clinton… (SNL)

Presidential Qualifications:  Constitutional Requirements: 1. Natural Born Citizen years old 3. Resident in U.S. for at least 14 years

Are there any “unsaid” qualifications?  NOT in Constitution  Governmental experience (few exceptions)  Access to raising money! (From $62 million in 2000 to $80 mill. In 2004)  Moderate  Shared characteristics: white, Protestant, male, middle-class, mid-age

The importance of Barak Obama’s election: Talking Stick: Five Passes (after writing down response to this question) “Did the election of Obama break the color boundary for good in the US? Why or why not?”

Roles of the President  Constitutional powers are both broad and vague  Other powers from tradition "His High Mightiness, the President of the United States and Protector of their Liberties"

What is a Chief Executive?

Chief Executive  Enforces laws, treaties, court decisions, appoints officials, issues executive orders  Checks:  Congress’ power of the purse (over b.)  Senate can reject appointments (inc. cabinet & EOP)  Impeachment  SC can strike down executive orders

Chief Legislator  Proposes legislation  Vetoes legislation  Calls special session of Congress  Checks:  Congress doesn’t have to pass it!  Congress can override veto! (2/3)

Commander in Chief  Head of Armed Forces  Checks:  Congress appropriates funds  Congress declares war

Chief of State  Ceremonial head of nation

Chief Jurist  Appoints federal judges  Issues pardons, reprieves, amnesty  Checks:  Rejection of judicial appointments  “holds” on appointments  Filibustering nominations

Chief Diplomat  Appoints and receives ambassadors  Sets overall foreign policy  Negotiates treaties  + Executive agreements!  Checks:  Congress appropriates funds for foreign policy  Senate can reject appts. and treaties!

Let’s review some of the checks:

Non-Constitutional Roles  Head of political party  (selects party’s chairman & VP)  Chief Economist  (responsible for overall economic health)  (proposes the federal budget)

Roles of the Vice President OOnly two Constitutional duties: 1. Preside over the Senate (in case of tie) 2. Take over if the President is disabled

Other Roles of the V. President  Standby work (depends on the Pres!)  More responsibility (Post Eisenhower, ex. NSC) “The most insignificant office ever conceived” -John Adams