1. The Presidency

2. Introduction to the Presidency
Article II of Constitution gives President broad powers.
Heads Executive Branch, is commander-in-chief, conducts foreign policy, has judicial powers, and serves as a symbol of our nation
Presidents have added to their powers over time.

3.
-1600 Pen
-Executive Branch
1. Describe the structure of the Executive Branch.
2. Identify the primary powers /duties of the POTUS.
3. List the Constitutional qualifications to be POTUS.
4. Discuss the presidential term of office.
-History & Grounds
5. State several facts about Air Force one that you find interesting.
-Inside the White House
6. Explore the White House and West Wing with interactive tours

4. President Lyndon B. Johnson
"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."
36th President,

5. Structure of the Executive Branch:
President & Vice President
Main Function: Lead
Executive Branch
Cabinet &
EOP
Main Function:
Advisors to the President
***Page 229 for info on the Cabinet—Cabinet consists of individuals who head various executive departments which assist the president in decision making. Cabinet members are appointed by the President and approved by Senate.
***Look to page 235 to find a description of the executive office agencies. Executive office of the President (EOP) created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Consists of individuals and agencies whose responsibilities are geared towards assisting the President. For example, the largest agency in the EOP is the Office of Management and Budget is responsible for preparing the national budget the President proposes to Congress each year. Other important agencies include the National Security Council (advises the president on military and foreign policy) and the Council of Economic Advisers (assists the president in directing the nation’s economic policies).
***Distribute and complete charts on purposes of executive departments.
Departments & Regulatory Agencies
Main Function: Enforce laws
and regulations, and carry out policy

6. The President: Qualifications
Article II of the Constitution: the president must be
A natural born citizen of US
At least 35 years old
A resident of the US for 14 years before office
Informal Requirements: government experience, education, money, character
Most consecutive years that a President may serve is 10.

7. Demographic Characteristics of Presidents
Male—100%
Caucasian—98%
Protestant—98%
British ancestry—82%
College Education—78%
Politicians—70%
Lawyers—63%
Top 3% wealth/social class—At least 50%
Elected from large states—70%

8. Presidents’ Term and Compensation
22nd Amendment (1951) limits Presidents to two terms.
A Presidential term is four years.
Current annual Presidential salary (set by Congress) is $400,000.
Benefits include pension, travel expenses, medical/dental care, security, and room & board in the White House.

9. Presidential Power

10. President Harry S Truman
"I sit here all day trying to persuade people to do the things they ought to have the sense to do without my persuading them. That's all the powers of the President amount to."
33rd President,

11. Discussion Questions
Why do you think the founders gave the president broad but vaguely described powers? What problems could that cause?
Why have presidents wanted to add to their powers? Why is it sometimes necessary?
Does the President have too much power?

12. The President: Head of State, Party Leader, Chief Diplomat
Represents the nation at ceremonial functions. (Kings, dignitaries, etc.)
A symbol of the United States
Most democratic countries have a king/queen to do this job. Prime minister is chief executive
“Bill Clinton Problem”

13. Discussion Question
Should the President be seen as Head of State and Head of Government?
Should they be separated?
Should how the President acts in his personal life effect his job?
What is the role of public opinion?

14. The President: Head of State, Party Leader, Chief Diplomat
helps raise party funds and plan campaign strategies
Patronage- appoint Party leaders/supporters to government jobs
People want bipartisan leaders, but political parties want the President to push their ideas
“An inquiry by the center's investigative team (Center for Public Integrity) found that more than two years into Obama's administration, "nearly 200 of his biggest donors have landed plum government jobs and advisory posts, won federal contracts worth millions of dollars for their business interests or attended numerous elite White House meetings and social events.” -LA Times, 2011

15. Discussion Question
Does the president’s job as party leader clash with other duties?

16. The President: Head of State, Party Leader, Chief Diplomat
Directs foreign policy and oversees information agencies
Has power to make treaties: 2/3 Senate approval
Can make (without Congressional approval) executive agreements that have the force of treaties with other nations
Has the sole power to “recognize” foreign nations

17. Discussion Question
Do you think executive agreements, like treaties, should have Senate approval?

18. The President: Chief Executive
As Chief Executive:
Activity:
Heads the 2+ million person executive branch
Primary duty is to execute law
Issues Executive orders: Presidential directives that have the force of law. (Constitutional?)
Type in “executive order white house.gov” into a search engine on your iPad. Look at examples of recently made executive orders on whitehouse.gov

19. The President: Chief Executive
Chief Executive Part 2
Examples of Pardons/Amnesty:
Presidential Appointment, and removal of appointed officials
*Impoundment: refusal to let federal departments use money that Congress has given it
*Pardons: complete forgiveness for a crime
*Reprieves: postponement of a punishment
*Amnesty: pardon of a group of people.
-Gerald Ford granted amnesty to Vietnam War draft dodgers
-Ronald Reagan pardoned NASCAR driver Junior Johnson for making moonshine
-Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother of his record of cocaine distribution,1 of 140 issued on his last day of office

20. Discussion Questions When would an executive order be necessary?
Should there be more regulation on executive orders?
What is your opinion on pardons, reprieves, and amnesty? Support your answer

21. The President: Chief Legislator
As Chief Legislator:
Proposes legislation to Congress (as in State of the Union Address)
Must work harder for Congressional support when congress is controlled by opposing party
May use political favors or pressure to gain congressional support
Has the threat of the veto to influence Congress

22. The President: Commander in Chief
Shares with Congress the power to wage war
Makes key military policy decisions (doesn’t have to have military background)
Supports war effort on the home front during wartime
May use the armed forces to end disturbances or give aid in natural disasters
“President Eisenhower Sends Troops to Little Rock, Federalizes Arkansas National Guard; Tells Nation He Acted to Avoid An Anarchy” Special to The New York Times
Pres. James K. Polk

23. Commander in Chief
Lincoln called military glory "that attractive rainbow, that rises in showers of blood -- that serpent's eye, that charms to destroy…” in the House of Rep in He opposed the war against Mexico.
Notable Presidents with little/no military experience: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Bill Clinton..
Abe Lincoln was in a militia during the Black Hawk War but saw no military action.

24. War Powers Act (1973)
The War Powers Resolution requires POTUS to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action, and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days (with a further 30 day withdrawal period) without a Congressional authorization for use of military force or a declaration of war. The resolution was passed by two-thirds of Congress, overriding a presidential veto.

25. Discussion Question
Based on the history of Presidents and war powers, do you think other more capable people should make military decisions? Support your answer.
Think, Pair, and Share!

26. Review: The President’s Powers and Tools of Influence
Article II control of armed forces, approves legislation, appoints executive officials, and appoints judges
Executive Order rules w/ force of law
Executive Agreement pact btw. President and foreign head of state
Executive Privilege refusal to provide info to Congress or a court
Reprieve postponement of legal punishment
Pardon release from legal punishment
Amnesty group pardon to people for an offense against the government

27. Limits on Presidential Power
Congressional override of veto
Senate confirmation power
Congressional “power of the purse”
Impeachment
War Powers Act
Supreme Court
Public Opinion
Bureaucracy