1. Roles of the President
Government in Action

2. How They Got There Electoral Process
guaranteed four-year term by Constitution
Twenty-Second Amendment limits to maximum of two terms or ten years
vice presidency: some “accidental” presidents have assumed the White House when presidents have died (Lincoln) or resigned (Nixon)

3. Presidential Succession
Twenty-Fifth Amendment
If the president is disabled, the vice president assumes duties until the president can reclaim the office.
This amendment also has a provision for selecting a new VP if the office becomes vacant (the president nominates someone, and both chambers of Congress approve).
The specific order of succession is president, vice president, Speaker of the House, president pro tempore of the Senate, and down through the cabinet in the order of when the department was created.

4. Vice President
They are usually chosen to symbolically reward an important constituency.
Their main job is to wait for better political opportunities.
Serves as Head of the Senate—breaks tie vote.
Vice President
Mike Pence

5. How Presidents Get Removed impeachment refers to formal accusation, NOT to conviction

6. The House of Representatives may impeach for “Treason, Bribery, or High Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
It requires a simple majority of votes in the House to impeach. If the House votes for impeachment, the accused president will be tried by the Senate with the chief justice of the Supreme Court presiding over the trial.
The Senate can CONVICT AND REMOVE an impeached president with a two-thirds vote.
Nixon escaped impeachment by resigning. Only two presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998.
Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives for perjury and witness tampering; however, the Senate failed to convict him with majority votes.

7. What powers does the Constitution say that the president has
What powers does the Constitution say that the president has? (Hint: Article II, Section 2 and 3)
Enumerated Powers
“The Executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.”
It only lists a few powers and says little about presidential authority.
Powers have been expanded as the president’s responsibilities and political resources have grown.

8. Enumerated Powers Derived from Constitution
National Security Powers
be commander in chief
make treaties with other nations (approval of two-thirds Senate)
nominate ambassadors (approval of majority of Senate)
receive ambassadors from other countries

9. Executive Orders
E.g.: Truman Executive Order 9981 (July 26, 1948): desegregation of military
FDR Executive Order 9066 (February 19, 1942): relocation and internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans

10. Enumerated Powers Derived from Constitution
Administrative Powers
grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses (except impeachment)
appoint federal judges (with the confirmation of the Senate)

11. Derived from Constitution
Enumerated Powers
Derived from Constitution
Legislative Powers (1)
present information on the state of the union
recommend legislation to Congress
convene both chambers of Congress on extraordinary occasions
adjourn Congress if House and Senate cannot agree on adjournment

12. Legislative Powers (2)
The Constitution empowers the president to object to bills and send them back to Congress through VETOING or SIGNING IT INTO LAW.
A veto BY THE PRESIDENT CAN BE overridden by a two-thirds Congressional vote. THIS IS LEGISLATIVE VETO.
If the president takes no action and Congress is still in session, after ten working days, the bill becomes a law without a signature.
If Congress is NOT in session and the president takes no action, the bill dies (pocket veto).
Vetoes are usually effective (only 4% have been overridden).
Even the threat of a veto can persuade a compromise with Congress.

13. Derived from Constitution
Enumerated Powers
Derived from Constitution
Administrative Powers
“Take care that the laws be faithfully executed”
appoint officials as provided for by Congress
request written opinions of administrative officials
fill administrative vacancies during congressional recess

14. Running the Government
The most important role is “presiding over the administration of government.”
Presidential power controls the federal bureaucracy.
The president recommends budgets to Congress.
Each president runs the government differently. Presidents Kennedy and Clinton stood out because they immersed themselves in the details of policy and ran an open White House soliciting advice from large number of aides.

15. Cabinet
There are fifteen “executive departments”: state, justice, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, treasury, defense, interior, commerce, transportation, labor, veterans affairs, energy, education, and homeland security.
The cabinet secretary wears the “hat” of the office.
Inner cabinet positions include state, treasury, justice, homeland security (the oldest are state and treasury; the attorney general heads the Department of Justice.)
Outer cabinet positions include commerce and transportation.

16. THE CABINET DEPARTMENTS
DEPARTMENTS YEAR ESTABLISHED
Defense
State
Treasury
Interior
Justice
Agriculture
Commerce
Labor
Housing/Urban Development 1965
Transportation
Energy
Health and Human Services 1979
Education
Veterans Affairs
Homeland Security
THE CABINET DEPARTMENTS

17. Executive Office of the President (EOP)
The institution is larger than the White House staff.
The Executive Office of the President includes policy-making bodies.
The EOP is more formal (advise and consent).
These people do not have formal executive authority to administer laws, but their functions, relating to the president, are vital.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)
National Security Council (NSC)

18. President’s Advisors (White House Staff)
Each president shapes their staff.
White House staff (serve at pleasure
of the president)
chief of staff
national security advisor
press secretary
These people are trusted advisors, old friends, and key confidants trusted by the president and picked based on loyalty, with no advice and consent.

19. Public Presidency
The biggest challenge is to obtain and maintain the public’s support.
Public-relations techniques are used to gain popular support (TV speeches, web pages, etc.).
The public is not always receptive to the message or may misunderstand it.
Presidents can use the “bully pulpit” to persuade public support for policies if they are good orators.

20. Presidents who have the backing of the public have an easier time influencing Congress, which weakens resistance to presidential policies.

21. Approval in the polls are higher at the beginning of a president’s term than at the end.

22. Public Support and Presidential Approval
Standing in polls is monitored closely. Political party identification provides basic underpinnings of approval or disapproval. Personal characteristics play a role in approval or disapproval. The public focuses more on effort and stands on issue rather than how policies affect them. Voters supporting the president and cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the president’s party refers to those who ride the president’s “coattails.”