Job Description and Succession Ch. 13 Sec 1 and 2

Job Description Chief of State Chief Executive Chief Administrator Chief Diplomat Commander and Chief Chief Legislator Party Chief Chief Citizen

Who can be President? Terms Natural born citizen of the United States. At least 35 yrs old. Resident of the US for at least 14yrs. Terms ◦ Serves 4 year terms  Maximum of 2 terms  Was tradition established by Washington.  Broken by FDR.  22 nd Amendment made it law  Maximum of 10 years.

Pay and Benefits President gets 400,000 a year. ◦ 50,000 a year expense account  Can be spent however. White House (132 Room Mansion) Limo, bullet proof Air Force One, Marine One Camp David Medical, dentist, first class everything. Does President pay for his own groceries.

There have been 4 Presidents died in office because of natural causes. ◦ Harrison, Taylor, Harding, FDR 4 Presidents have been assassinated in office. ◦ Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy In 1967 the 25 th Amendment was ratified ◦ This outlined the order of succession to the office of the president.

Electing a President Electoral College ◦ Each state would choose electors according to a method similar to appointing state representatives.  Each state would have as many electors as it has senators and representatives in Congress. Voters are not actually voting directly for President and Vice-President. ◦ Voting for all of their parties electors in that state. ◦ A vote for a Democratic candidate is actually a vote for the Democratic electors and vice versa.

Election The Electoral College includes 538 electors as of The party whose candidate receives the largest popular vote in any state wins all the electoral votes, even if it is by one vote. This is called WINNER TAKES ALL. ◦ it is possible for a person to win the electoral vote and lose the popular vote. The winner is usually announced on the same evening as the election. ◦ This has created problem in the past. (BUSH/GORE) The Monday following the second Wednesday in December. ◦ Electors met at the state capital and vote. ◦ They are not required to vote for winner. (faithless elector)

Election The Electoral College includes 538 electors as of The party whose candidate receives the largest popular vote in any state wins all the electoral votes, even if it is by one vote. This is called WINNER TAKES ALL. ◦ it is possible for a person to win the electoral vote and lose the popular vote. The winner is usually announced on the same evening as the election. ◦ This has created problem in the past. (BUSH/GORE) The Monday following the second Wednesday in December. ◦ Electors met at the state capital and vote.

Changes to Election Process Reforms to the Electoral College ◦ Each state would have 2 electoral votes plus 1 in each congressional district. (District Plan)  Whoever wins the congressional districts get the other two. ◦ Candidates would receive a percentage of votes based on the percentage of the popular vote won. ( Proportional Plan)

Appointments The Cabinet Positions One of the first things the president does before he talks the office is to pick his cabinet. Today’s president has to choose 14 cabinet positions, all must be approved by the senate. Cabinet positions are more than secretaries but are advisors and administrators of large bureaucracies. ◦ They can be removed with by the president. He also appoints diplomats, ambassadors, federal judges, and officers in armed forces. ◦ Not during his first days in office.

Factors in appointing Cabinet positions Must have background compatible with the dept they will lead. ◦ It is largely a political process. ◦ Ex.  Sec. Of Interior someone from the west  H.U.D From a large town  Sec. Of Labor accepted by the unions  Sec. Of Commerce---- Respected by Business  Sec. Of Treasury ties to financial

Senate rarely refuses an appointment ◦ Been over 500 cabinet position filled only 5 have been rejected. ◦ Usually leak out who is being thought of at this position to get a response from interested parties. Not all cabinet have power like you would guess ◦ It depends on the president  Most president rely on advisors  EX. Kitchen Cabinet----Andrew Johnson  Brain Trust FDR

Judicial Powers Reprieve – Postponement of the execution of a sentence. Pardon – Legal forgiveness of a crime. President can issue to anyone, except in case of impeachment. ◦ Ford pardoned Nixon.