The Presidency: Head of the Executive Branch November 5, 2015

Formal Qualifications for the Presidency What are the three formal qualifications to be President of the United States? U.S. Constitution: Article II Section 1 No person except a natural born citizen…shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall nay person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

Informal Qualifications For President Military service Government experience Television presence – name recognition, photogenic and articulate College education Married with kids Money (inherited, by marriage, personal fortune) Religious faith Character A “story” – war hero, peanut farmer, actor, etc. So far, male Perceived as being in the political mainstream JFK and his son John in the Oval Office

Demographic Characteristics of U. S. Presidents Male - 100% Male - 100% Caucasian - 98% Caucasian - 98% Protestant - 98% Protestant - 98% British ancestry - 82% British ancestry - 82% College education - 77% College education - 77% Politicians - 69% Politicians - 69% Lawyers - 62% Lawyers - 62% Top 3% wealth & social class - At least 50% Top 3% wealth & social class - At least 50% Elected from large states - 70% Elected from large states - 70% What does this tell you about who can actually become president?

Salary and Benefits: Perks of the Job $400,000 salary (tax free). $400,000 salary (tax free). $50,000/year expense account. Spend as President chooses. $50,000/year expense account. Spend as President chooses. $100,000/year travel expenses. Campaign, speeches…What do you think he would spend his money on? $100,000/year travel expenses. Campaign, speeches…What do you think he would spend his money on? A nice house (White House)…i.e. Room and Board paid for. 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 18.3 acres, fleet of automobiles. A nice house (White House)…i.e. Room and Board paid for. 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 18.3 acres, fleet of automobiles. Secret Service protection for life Secret Service protection for life Country home (Camp David) Country home (Camp David) Personal airplane (Air Force One). Personal airplane (Air Force One). Staff of full-time employees Staff of full-time employees

Constitutional Roles – Chief Legislator Powers Powers Proposes legislation Proposes legislation Vetoes legislation Vetoes legislation Makes a State of the Union Address to Congress Makes a State of the Union Address to Congress Checks Checks Congress does not have to pass suggested legislation Congress does not have to pass suggested legislation Congress can override veto with 2/3 majority in both houses Congress can override veto with 2/3 majority in both houses

Constitutional Roles – Chief Executive Powers Powers Enforces laws, treaties, and court decisions Enforces laws, treaties, and court decisions Appoints officials to office, and can fire them Appoints officials to office, and can fire them Issue Executive Orders Issue Executive Orders Checks Checks Congress passes the laws and has the "power of the purse” Congress passes the laws and has the "power of the purse” Senate can reject appointments and treaties Senate can reject appointments and treaties Impeachment (by House) and removal (by Senate) Impeachment (by House) and removal (by Senate) Supreme Court can strike down executive orders Supreme Court can strike down executive orders

Constitutional Roles – Commander in Chief Powers Powers Head of the armed forces Head of the armed forces Checks Checks Congress determines funds for the military Congress determines funds for the military Congress declares war Congress declares war

Constitutional Roles – Chief Diplomat Powers Powers Sets overall foreign policy Sets overall foreign policy Appoints ambassadors Appoints ambassadors Negotiates both treaties and executive agreements Negotiates both treaties and executive agreements Checks Checks Congress must approve funds for foreign affairs Congress must approve funds for foreign affairs Senate can reject ambassadors and treaties Senate can reject ambassadors and treaties

Constitutional Roles – Chief of State The ceremonial head of our nation The ceremonial head of our nation Tosses out the first pitch of the baseball season Tosses out the first pitch of the baseball season Bestows the medal of honor Bestows the medal of honor Visits areas struck by natural disaster Visits areas struck by natural disaster

Constitutional Roles – Chief Jurist Powers Powers Appoints federal judges, including Supreme Court Appoints federal judges, including Supreme Court Checks Checks Senate can reject judicial appointments Senate can reject judicial appointments

Non-constitutional Roles Head of Political Party Head of Political Party Selects the party's chairman of the national committee and v.p. nominee Selects the party's chairman of the national committee and v.p. nominee Political patronage Political patronage Chief Economist Chief Economist Responsible for the overall health of the economy Responsible for the overall health of the economy Proposes the federal budget (though Congress can alter it) Proposes the federal budget (though Congress can alter it)