American Government

Bellwork  “The presidency has made every man who occupied it, no matter how small, bigger than he was; and no matter how big, not big enough for its demands.”The presidency has made every man who occupied it, no matter how small, bigger than he was; and no matter how big, not big enough for its demands.  Lyndon Johnson

Qualifications  According to Article II Section 1 of the Constitution, the formal requirements to become President are  You must be a natural-born citizen of the U.S.  You must be at least 35 years old  You must have been a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years before taking office  These same requirements apply to the Vice President.

Informal Requirements  Here are some of the informal requirements to become President.  Governmental Experience  Previous Senator, Representative, Governor etc.  Access to large amount of money  A more moderate political disposition  Mostly middle class, protestant

Salary and Benefits  Salary: $400,000  Travel Allowance: $100,000 (for official duties only)  Salary can not be changed during a Presidents term.  Benefits  Air Force One, other planes, helicopters, and limos for transportation.

Salary and Benefits  Benefits:  The President receives free health care, lives in the White House, has a cooking staff and domestic staff, receives $148,000 a year for retirement, is given free office space, free mailing services, and up to $96,000 a year for office help

Duties  The President is the Commander in Chief of the military  This means that the President is in supreme command of a country’s armed forces  The President is in charge of war and peacetime strategies of the armed forces  Presidents also:  Appoint heads of executive departments, federal court judges, and other top officials, conduct foreign policy, makes treaties, meets with heads of state, appoints ambassadors, and hosts foreign officials

Presidential Succession  This was established by the 25 th amendment.  President  Vice President  Speaker of the House  President pro tempore  Secretary of State  Secretary of Treasury  Secretary of Defense  Attorney General  Secretary of the Interior  Secretary of Agriculture

Vice President  The Vice President is the President of the Senate.  Vice Presidents have very little if no authority at all.  Other than Senate duties, Vice Presidents are only involved as much as the President wants them to be involved.

Could you be President?  Students will be doing worksheet based of what information was just covered, and the Constitutional qualifications of the presidency.