1. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
UNIT 16

2. Preview Constitutional Convention (1787)
Powers of the President: executive, judicial, legislative, foreign affairs, military
Checks and balances: limitations of presidential powers
Elections
Impeachment

3. Term of Office
He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected as follows:

4. 5. Requirements Set for the President
natural-born citizen of the US
the age of thirty-five years
resident of the US for 14 years

5. 6. Filling a Presidential Vacancy
In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President (…)

6. 8. Presidential Oath of Office
Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation: - „I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

7. POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT
Executive
Legislative
Judicial
Foreign Affairs
Military Powers

8. Executive Powers
The President enforces the Constitution and the laws passed by Congress; executive orders
Appoints all important government officials, including Cabinet officers and members of administrative agencies
The head of state, ceremonial head of the government and symbol of national unity

9. Executive order
A directive issued by the President or the Administration requiring certain acts to be carried out in domestic or foreign situations
In other countries, similar edicts are known as decrees.
Some orders - the force of law when made in pursuance of certain Acts of Congress, when those acts give the President discretionary powers.

10. Judicial powers
appoints judges of the Supreme Court and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for
power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment

11. Legislative Powers
Every bill passed by Congress must be signed by the President
The power of veto

12. Legislative powers
President cannot directly introduce legislative proposals for consideration in Congress.
He can take an indirect role in shaping legislation, esp. if the president's party has a majority in one or both houses of Congress.

13. Legislative powers
President or other officials of the executive branch may draft legislation and then ask senators or representatives to introduce them into Congress.
President can further influence the legislative branch through constitutionally mandated, periodic reports to Congress.
These reports may be either written or oral, but today are given as the State of the Union Address, which often outlines the president's legislative proposals for the coming year.

14. Military powers
The President shall be Commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States (…)

15. Foreign relations:
He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur;
and he shall nominate, with the advice and consent of the Senate (...) ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls

16. Judicial Powers
The President may grant pardons in cases involving federal crimes, except in cases of impeachment
Appoints all federal judges; however, it is impossible for the President to remove a justice from the Supreme Court – their tenure is guaranteed „during good behaviour”

17. Powers Over Foreign Affairs
Determines the foreign policy of the nation and is responsible for the conduct of foreign affairs
Appoints the Secretary of State, ambassadors, consuls and ministers; subject to the Senate’s approval
Directs diplomatic matters and negotiates treaties with other countries
Receives foreign ambassadors, may recognize or refuse to recognize foreign governments

18. Foreign affairs: Treaties
Treaties – considered as the supreme law of the land, together with the Constitution and federal statutes
Congress exerts control over the executive because it has to pass legislation to implement the terms of a treaty
Treaties are not „self-executing”

19. Military Powers Commander-in-chief of the armed forces
Appoints the top military commanders and may remove them from their commands
May order the armed forces into action within the U.S. and in other countries

20. LIMITATIONS ON PRESIDENTIAL POWERS: Executive Powers
Appointments of important government officials require approval by a majority of the Senate
Executive orders may be challenged in the courts and reviewed as to their constitutionality

21. Limitations of Legislative Powers
President’s requests for legislation need not be passed by Congress
His veto may be overriden by a two-thirds vote of each House of the Congress
His party members may refuse to back up his programs

22. Limitations on Judicial Powers
Appointments of federal judges require the approval of a majority of the Senate
Federal judges have life tenure and decide cases independently of Presidential wishes or judgement
Power to grant pardon does not extend to cases of impeachment

23. Foreign Affairs
Appointments of major foreign affairs officials require the approval of a majority of the Senate
Treaties with other countries go into effect only if ratified by two-thirds majority of the Senate
His foreign policies may be examined and criticized by Congress committees

24. Limitations on Military Powers
Presidential authority does not extend to declaring war, for that power resides exclusively in Congress
Management of the military depends upon Congressional legislation authorizing conscription and development of weapons
Funds for military expenditures require Congressional allocations of funds

25. Impeachment Power of Congress
An extreme check upon the President
Formal accusation made by a legislature against a public official charging crime or serious misconduct

26. Impeachment against the President
The House of Representatives by majority vote may bring impeachment charges against the President for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors”
The Senate, with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding, acts as the jury and hears the charges
The Senate requires a two-thirds vote to declare the President guilty and remove him from office

27. Summary Constitutional powers of the President: Head of state
Chief executive
Commander in chief
Chief diplomat
Legislative powers
Limitations of presidential powers: “checks and balances”
Elections
Impeachment

28. Legal terms A proposed or projected law: Bill
Accusation of a public official for misconduct, aiming at his removal from office
impeachment

29. Legal terms A written accusation that person has committed a crime
Indictment
A person who institutes an official prosecution before a court
Prosecutor
To examine or investigate judicially
Try
To find or declare guilty of an offence or crime
convict

30. Legal terms
A betraying, treachery, or breach of faith against the government:
Treason
The taking or giving money for the performance or non-performance of a public duty
bribery

31. Legal terms
A crime of a serious or aggravated nature; an offence which the U.S. Senate deems to constitute adequate grounds for removal of the president, vice president, or any civil officer as a person unfit to hold public office and deserving of impeachment
High crime

32. Legal terms
Misbehaviour or misconduct; otherwise, a less serious crime that is punishable by a fine or a prison sentence of short duration
Misdemeanor
Deliberate violation of a rule of law or standard of behavior, especially by a government official
misconduct

33. Fill in the missing words: appoints, chief Congress, enforces, Executive, government, orders ,
___powers. The President___ the Constitution and the laws passed by___. For these purposes, he may issue executive___. He___ all important government officials, including Cabinet officers and members of administrative agencies. He is the ___of state, or ceremonial head of the ____and symbol of national unity.

34. Key
Executive Powers. The President enforces the Constitution and the laws passed by Congress. For these purposes, he may issue executive orders. He appoints all important government officials, including Cabinet officers and members of administrative agencies. He is the chief of state, or ceremonial head of the government and symbol of national unity.

35. Put the verbs in brackets into appropriate forms
The legislative powers of the President ____(limit, passive). His requests for legislation need not __(pass, passive) by Congress either in regular of special sessions. His veto may ___(override, passive) by a two-thirds vote of each House of Congress. His party members may ___(refuse) to back his program

36. Key
The legislative powers of the President are limited. His requests for legislation need not be passed by Congress either in regular of special sessions. His veto may be overriden by a two-thirds vote of each House of Congress. His party members may refuse to back his program

37. appointments, impeachment, judicial, judgment, pardons, Senate, tenure
The ___powers of the President are limited. His___ of federal judges require the approval of a majority of the___. Federal judges have life___ and decide cases independently of Presidential wishes or___. His power to grant ___for federal offenses does not extend to cases of___.

38. Key:
The judicial powers of the President are limited. His appointments of federal judges require the approval of a majority of the Senate. Federal judges have life tenure and decide cases independently of Presidential wishes or judgment. His power to grant pardons for federal offenses does not extend to cases of impeachment.