1. The Executive Branch
The Presidency

2. The Executive Branch Responsible for carrying out the country’s laws
President of the U.S. heads the Executive Branch
Most powerful elected official in the country
1789- George Washington elected first president
Only 44 others since

3. Qualifications to become President
Native-Born Citizen
At least 35 years of age
Resident of the U.S. for 14 years
Over the course of U.S. history, economic, religious, racial, and (possibly) gender barriers have been broken

4. Term of Office, Benefits, & Salary
Serve 4 year terms
May be reelected to a second term (8 years)
U.S. Constitution did NOT originally state how many terms a president could serve
George Washington set the precedent for leaving after two terms
Refused to serve a third term even when urged to do so

5. Terms of Office, Benefits, & Salary
1940- FDR was elected to third term, and then a fourth in 1944
Served 12 years as president before dying in 1945
1951- the number of terms a president could serve was limited by passage of the 22nd Amendment
This amendment set a two-term limit for the presidency

6. Terms of Office, Benefits, & Salary
Congress can set presidential salary and benefits
Cannot change a president’s salary during their term of office (cannot punish or reward the president)
$400,000 salary plus $50,000 non- taxable allowance
Annual allowance for travel costs

7. Terms of Office, Benefits, & Salary
President lives in the White House
Home of all U.S. presidents since John Adams
Camp David
Air Force One

8. The Vice President
Constitution: if the president dies, resigns, or is removed, the vice president becomes president
Only other job given to vice president is to preside over the Senate
John Adams (1st VP, 2nd president) called the office “the most insignificant” ever invented

9. The Vice President Literally does whatever the president wants them to
Must stay informed/prepared in case they have to take office
Must meet same qualifications
$186,300 plus a $10,000 non- taxable allowance

10. The Vice President
Often chosen for their ability to help the presidential candidates win the election
Also chosen on their qualifications/merits to succeed to the presidency if necessary
Eight U.S. presidents have died, 1 has resigned
In ALL cases, the VP took office as president
Also assumes roles of the president if president is temporarily unable to perform them

11. The Rules of Succession
If president dies, and VP succeeds him, who becomes the VP then?
Until office of VP remained empty until next election
25th Amendment- the new president must nominate a new vice president
Nomination must be approved by Congress

12. The Twenty Fifth Amendment
1973- Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns
Replaced by Gerald Ford
1974- Nixon resigns
Ford then becomes president, nominated Nelson A. Rockefeller as VP
Ford is the only vice president AND president not elected by the people

13. The Twenty Fifth Amendment
Presidential Succession (1947)
President
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President pro tempore
Presidential cabinet members (in order of which the department was created)

14. ? Who is the head of the Executive Branch?
What are the qualifications to becoming president?
Who is the only president to serve more than two terms? How is this connected to the 22nd Amendment?
What are the main roles of the vice president?
List the order of presidential succession.