1. The Presidency
                            

2. Duties of the President
Commander-in-Chief
Appoint heads of departments (with consent of Senate) and ambassadors
Negotiates treaties with other countries (with “advice and consent” of Senate)
Represents the United States
Serves as Head of State

3. Duties of the President
May pardon or reduce sentences of people convicted of federal crimes.
Serve as head of the bureaucracy
Make speeches to Congress
Propose policy changes
and

4. Duties of the President
Faithfully execute the laws of the
United States.
Perhaps most important . . .

5. Constitutional Qualifications
Article II, Section 1 of Constitution:
Born in the U.S.
At least 35 years old
Resident of U.S. for
at least 14 years before
taking office.

6. Other Qualifications Usually need government experience.
Usually have a political career.
Must have access to large amounts of money.
Usually are moderates.

7. Personal Characteristics
Usually male and white (northern European) (only exception: Obama)
Usually affluent and middle class
Usually protestant in religion
(only exception: John F. Kennedy)
Usually successful financially
(exceptions: Abraham Lincoln & Harry Truman)

8. Personal Characteristics
Usually married (exception: Grover Cleveland) (he was 48, she was the 21 year-old daughter of his dead law partner)
Usually likeable personality (exception: Nixon)

9. Personal Characteristics
In modern times, must be TV-friendly
320 pounds
Abraham Lincoln
William Howard Taft

10. President’s Term Max 8 years Constitution sets term at 4 years
22nd Amendment (1951) limits President to only two terms.
Max 8 years

11. Salary and Benefits $$$ Current: $400,000 per year
$100,000 per year in travel expenses
$50,000 per year for expenses
$$$

12. Salary and Benefits Planes, helicopters and limousines
Free medical, dental, and other health care
Live in White House (pool, tennis, etc.)
Servants (cooks, maintenance, maids, etc.)
Guards/Security

13. Retirement Benefits Pension – currently $151,800 per year
Free office space
Free mailing service
$150,000 per year for office staff
When President dies, spouse
gets $20,000 per year pension

14. But Remember:
Nobody runs for the Presidency for the salary and benefits.
And a few want to help the world.
They want POWER

15. Vice-President All the same qualifications apply to the V.P.
Role is flexible.
Serve as President of Senate
More recent V.P.’s have been important advisors to the Presidents.
                       

16. Vice-President Salary and Benefits
$208,100 per year
$10,000 per year in expenses
Benefits
Mansion
Servants
Travel
Medical, dental and other health care
Pension
Actually better than White House

17. What happens if the President dies?
The Constitution gives us the answer.

18. Presidential Succession
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President Pro-Tempore of the Senate
Joe Biden
ELECTED
Paul Ryan
Orin Hatch

19. Presidential Succession
Then cabinet officers in order in which their office was created:
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
John Kerry
Jacob Lew
APPOINTED
Ashton Carter

20. Presidential Succession

21. Presidential Succession
Since your book was published, one additional department has been added to the Cabinet:
Secretary of Homeland Security

22. But what happens if the President is disabled but does not die?

23. Presidential Disability
James Garfield
Shot but survived
for 80 days

24. Presidential Disability
Woodrow Wilson
Stroke
Paralyzed and partially
blind for 1½ years

25. Presidential Disability
Dwight D.
Eisenhower
Heart Attack
Incapacitated for
about one month

26. Presidential Disability
Abraham Lincoln
Extreme Depression
Didn’t get out of bed for days.

27. Presidential Disability
What do you do ?
If the President becomes disabled?
If the President cannot fulfill his/her duties?

28. Presidential Disability
Danger !
What if an enemy attacks while President is disabled?
What if some other crisis occurs while President is unable to take “forceful” control?

29. Presidential Disability
25th Amendment
If President informs Congress of disability
If President is unable (or unwilling) to inform Congress of disability, then V.P. and Cabinet could inform Congress
V.P. becomes “acting” President. or
Then . . .

30. Presidential Disability
V.P. remains Acting President until
The President recovers and Congress restores power to the “real” President.
The next election. or