1. The President’s Job Description
Chapter 13
Section 1

2. What are the presidential roles?
Chief of state – head of the government and rules over government
Chief executive – broad executive powers – power is used domestically (at home) and for foreign affairs
Chief administrator – in charge of executive branch – employs more than 2.7 million people

3. Roles continued
Chief diplomat – main author of American foreign policy
Commander in chief – direct and immediate control of the military
Chief legislator – shapes public policy – may suggest, request, and insist that Congress enact legislation
Working with Congress takes up a major part of President’s time

4. Roles continued Following 2 roles are NOT written in the Constitution
Chief of party – leader of political party that controls the executive branch
Chief citizen – should represent all of the people
Citizens expect president to be working for them

5. What are the formal qualifications?
Be a natural born American citizen
Be at least 35 years old
Have been a resident of the United States for at least 14 years
Kennedy was the youngest elected president
Teddy Roosevelt youngest ever to serve – because McKinley was assassinated

6. How long can a President serve?
Decided on a four-year
Initially there was no limit on the amount of terms a president can serve
Not until FDR was elected for a fourth term did they decide to change it
22nd Amendment was passed – limits the president to two full terms in office
Many criticize this amendment

7. Arguments for and against the 22nd Amendment
Pro – claims it prevents one person from having too much power
Con – Should be left to the people to decide
Diminishes the power of the president at the end of his second term

8. What are the pay and benefits?
Congress sets the president’s salary and it cannot be changed during his term
Since $400,000/year
$50,000 expense account
Benefit of living in White House
Use of fleet of cars, Air Force One, and several other planes and helicopters
Use of Camp David – country estate in Maryland