1. The Presidency
And Executive Branch

2. Hail to the Chief The President of the United States
(POTUS) simultaneously fulfills many different roles.

3. Chief of State
The President is the ceremonial head of the government – a symbol of all the nation’s people

4. Chief Executive
The office is vested by the Constitution with “The executive Power” of the United States. This power is broad, in both foreign and domestic affairs.
Chief Administrator
Director of the federal Government, the President directs over 2.7 million civilians and oversees a federal budget of over $2 trillion a year.

5. Chief Legislator
Helps shape public policy on domestic issues; initiates, suggests, requests, insists, and demands that Congress enact on these policies.

6. Chief of their Party
Leader of their political party

7. Chief Citizen
The President represents all the people’s interest vs. private interests.

8. Chief Diplomat
Shapes the country’s foreign policy and the spokesperson to the world

9. Chief Diplomat

10. Commander in Chief
Head of the nation’s military

11. The Office of the President
Term
22nd Amendment
Elected to no more than 2 four year terms
Can serve up to 10 years
Qualifications
Natural-born citizen
Lived in the US for at least 14 years
Must be at least 35 years old

12. The Office of the Presidency
Pay and Benefits
Congress determines the salary
President: $400,000; $50,000 expense account; $100,000 nontaxable for travel; $19,000 official entertainment account; free housing, Air Force One, helicopters, Camp David, etc….
Retired president: $150,000 pension; plus $150,000 to maintain staff
Vice president: $230,700; $10,000 expense account; free housing

13. Naval Observatory

14. Presidential Succession
If a President dies, resigns, or is removed from the office by impeachment, the Vice President succeeds to the office.
25th Amendment
Precedent was started in 1841 – John Tyler for William Henry Harrison

15. President Succession
Part of the Constitution in 1967 in the 25th Amendment
Congress sets the order of succession after the VP, current order was established in 1947

16. Presidential Succession Order
#1: THE VICE PRESIDENT

17. Number 2 – the Second Runner up
The Speaker of the House

18. #3 – President pro tempore
Born Daniel Ken Inouye

19. #4 – The Secretary of State

20. And so on and so forth…. Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security

21. Chief Executive/Advising the President
The Vice President
The Cabinet: heads of the executive departments
The Executive Office
The (NSC) National Security Council
The (CEA) Council of Economic Advisors
The (OMB) Office of Management and Budget
The White House Staff---The West Wing

22. The President’s Executive Powers
Executing the Law
The Ordinance Power: the power to issue executive orders (a directive, rule, or regulation that has the effect of law)
comes from Congress and the Constitution

23. The President’s Executive Powers
The Appointment Power – with Senate consent, the President names most of the top-ranking officers of the Federal government:
Ambassadors and other diplomats
Cabinet and their top aides
Heads of independent agencies (EPA, NASA)
Federal judges, U.S. marshals, U.S. attorneys
All officers in the military

24. The President’s Executive Powers
The Removal Power: challenged even as far as the Supreme Court, as a general rule, the President may remove those whom the President appoints. Often what was in fact a dismissal is called a “resignation.”

25. The President’s Diplomatic Powers
The Power to make Treaties
The Power of Recognition
Executive Agreements: deals made between heads of state – these don’t need Senate approval

26. The President’s Military Power’s Commander In Chief
Undeclared war
The War Powers Resolution
48 hours notice
End within 60 days
Congress may end at any time

27. Legislative Powers Legislative Powers Recommending Legislation
The Veto Power/Pocket Veto
Can call Congress into a special session

28. Judicial Powers Judicial Powers Reprieve – postponement of the
execution of a sentence
Pardon – legal forgiveness of a crime
THESE ARE ABSOLUTE, except in the case of impeachment, where they may never be granted….

29. Judicial Powers
Clemency – mercy, or leniency may be used only in cases involving federal offenses
Commutation – reduce the length of a sentence or fine already imposed by a court
Amnesty – blanket pardon given to a large group