1. Chapter 13
The Presidency

2. The President’s Job Description

3. The President’s Roles Chief of State Chief Executive
Ceremonial head of the government
Symbol of all Americans
Chief Executive
Head of the executive branch
Chief Administrator
Manager of the federal government
Chief Diplomat
Nation’s spokesperson to the rest of the world

4. The President’s Roles Commander in Chief Chief Legislator
Head of the armed forces
Chief Legislator
Shapes Congressional agenda
Makes sure Congress passes major legislation
Chief of Party
Leader of his political party
Chief Citizen
Representative of all the people
Represent the public interest

5. Formal Qualifications
Natural born citizen of the U.S.
At least 35 years old
Lived in the United States for 14 years

6. The President’s Term 4 years Maximum of two terms
Precedent set by George Washington
Franklin D. Roosevelt served four terms
22nd amendment sets term limits

7. Pay and Benefits $400,000 a year $50,000 a year expense allowance
Lives in the White House
Air Force One
Camp David

8. Presidential Succession and the Vice Presidency

9. The Constitution and Succession
Presidential Succession-order in which the office of the presidency is filled if there is a vacancy
Constitution did not originally outline presidential succession
25th amendment called for the Vice President to fill the vacancy

10. The Constitution and Succession
Presidential Succession Act of 1947-sets the order of succession
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President pro tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
Secretary of Treasury

11. Presidential Disability
Power is given to the Vice President
President must submit his request in writing to Congress
Congress must approve the president’s return to office

12. Presidential Selection
The Framers’ Plan

13. Original Provisions
Against selecting the President by Congress or by direct vote of the people
By Congress would give the legislative branch too much power
By popular vote would be difficult due to communications difficult during this time

14. Original Provisions Plan created by Alexander Hamilton
President and Vice President were chosen by electors
Each elector would cast two electoral votes for different candidates
Candidate with the most votes would become President
Candidate with the second most votes would become Vice President

15. The Rise of Parties Created flaws in the electoral system
The Election of 1800
Federalists nominated John Adams
Democratic-Republicans nominated Thomas Jefferson
First election in which electors were told who to vote for
Set a new standard for electing a president

16. The 12th Amendment
Separated presidential and vice presidential elections

17. Presidential Nominations

18. Role of Conventions How a party nominates its candidate for president
Usually held in July of an election year

19. Presidential Primaries
Members of a party select their state’s preference for the party nomination
Pick delegates for the national convention

20. The Caucus-Convention Process
States that do not hold primaries
Party members meet and decide their choice for candidates
Oldest method

21. The National Convention
Official announcement of each party’s candidate
Adopting the party’s platform
Major policies , basic principles, stands on issues

22. Who is nominated?
If the president is seeking reelection, he is almost certain to get the nomination
Candidate who is the most electable
Political experience
Congressmen
Governors

23. The Election

24. The Electoral College Today
Electors are chosen by a popular vote in each state
Electors vote for their party’s nominees
Candidate must win a majority
270 of the 538

25. Electors by State

28. Flaws in the Electoral College
Winner of the popular vote does not always win the presidency
Electors do not have to vote with the popular vote
Any election may be decided by the House of Representatives

29. Proposed Reforms
District Plan- Electors would be chosen the same way Representatives are and would be forced to cast their vote based on the popular vote
Proportional Plan-Candidate would receive the same portion of electoral votes as popular votes
Direct Population Election-total number of votes

30. Proposed Reforms
The National Bonus Plan-The winner of the popular vote would receive and additional 102 electoral votes

31. Electoral College Supporters
It is a known process
Winner is identified quickly and certainly