1. Chapter 13 The Presidency
American Citizenship
Chapter 13
The Presidency

2. Section 1
The President’s Description

3. The President’s Roles Chief of State Chief Executive
Ceremonial head of the government of the United States
Chief Executive
Vested with “Executive Power,” given by the constitution
Chief Administrator
Director of the Federal Government
Employs nearly 2.7 million civilians
Chief Diplomat
Main architect of American foreign policy and the nation’s chief spokesperson to the rest of the world
Commander in Chief
Controls the nation’s 1.4 million men and women in uniform

4. The President’s Roles Chief legislator Not Stated in the Constitution
Main architect of its public policies
Helps to initiate, request, demand certain actions by the Congress
Not Stated in the Constitution
Chief of Party
acknowledged leader of the political party
Chief Citizen
Representative of all the people
“A place of moral leadership” FDR
President plays all these roles simultaneously, and can not isolate themselves to one role over another

5. Formal Qualifications
Constitution puts some requirements into becoming a president
Must be a “natural born citizen”
Be at least 35 years of age
youngest ever elected was JFK at the age of 43 and Ronald Reagan elected at the age of 69
Must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years
Nearly 100 million people in the United States meet these requirements, thus leading to informal qualifications

6. The President’s Term
Ultimately at the Constitutional Convention, a term limit of 4-years
Until the 1951 amendment, there was no limit to the number of terms a president could serve
Still fights today over the legitimacy of the 2-term limit
Lame-duck president, or safeguard against “executive tyranny?”

7. Pay and Benefits
Initially it was $25,000, however today it is $400,000
Also provided a $50,000 expense allowance
Other benefits
132-room mansion set on an 18acre estate
Suite of offices and a large staff
Fleet of automobiles
lavish Air Force One plane, including other planes and helicopters
Camp David resort getaway in the Mountains in Maryland

8. Section 2
Presidential Succession and the Vice Presidency

9. The Constitution Succession
Presidential Succession
Scheme by which a presidential vacancy is filled
Originally not provided by the Constitution
However signed into the Constitution with the 15th amendment
Presidential Succession Act of 1947
the order of succession following the Vice President

10. Presidential Disability
Previously no provision for dealing with a disabled President
Check and Balance between Executive and Legislative, in order to with a disabled President

11. The Vice Presidency Importance of the Office Given two duties:
Preside over the Senate
Help decide the question of Presidential disability
little or no major duties
Balance the Ticket

12. The Vice Presidency (con’t)
The Vice President Today
no matter what the circumstances, the President cannot fire the Vice President

13. Section 3
Presidential Selection: The Framers’ Plan

14. Original Provisions Presidential Electors
A person elected by the voters to represent them in making a formal selection of the Vice President and President

15. The Rise of Parties Electoral college The Election of 1800
The group of people (electors) chosen from each State and the District of Columbia, to formally select the President and Vice President
The Election of 1800
Electoral college tie, ultimately leading to Congress selecting the President
Created new elements
Party nominations for the Presidency and Vice Presidency

16. Section 4
Presidential Nominations

17. The Role of Conventions
Used extensively since the 1832 election
Convention Arrangements
Built almost entirely by the political parties

18. The Role of Conventions (Con’t)
Apportionment of Delegates
The State party’s delegates is generally based on the State’s electoral votes
However, complex formulas eventually decide the delegate count
Selection of Delegates
Two campaigns… for nomination and presidential candidate races
Generally political parties allow state parties to decide delegates

19. Presidential Primaries
Primaries Today
“Super Tuesday”
Proportional representation
Winner-take-all
Proportional Representation

20. The National Convention
Meetings at which delegates vote to pick their presidential and vice-presidential candidates
Meets three different goals
Name the party’s presidential and vice- presidential candidates
Bring the various factions and the leading personalities in the party together in one place
Adopt the party’s platform
formal statement of basic principles, stands on major policy matters, and objectives for the campaign and beyond

21. The National Convention (con’t)
The First Two Days
Keynote address is given on first day
delivered by one of the party’s most accomplished orators
Second day the platform is adopted
The Last Two Days
Third day is spent to nominating the presidential candidate
Fourth day is devoted to nominating the vice- presidential candidate
leading to the president candidates acceptance speech

22. Who is Nominated Political Experience Other Characteristics
Generally the most electable candidate is nominated
Other Characteristics
Generally Protestants, from larger states, pleasant and healthy appearance, an attractive family, etc.

23. Section 5
The Election

24. The Electoral College Today
People do not vote directly for a Presidential candidate, they vote to elect presidential electors
Choosing Electors
Electors choose by popular vote in every state
Chosen on a winner-take-all manner
Some states have the names of the electors on the ballot

25. The Electoral College Today (con’t)
Counting Electoral Votes
Electors meet in each of their respective state capitals
Formal election takes place on January 6th
However, most people know the next President by the November election
Must win at least 270 electoral votes
If there is a tie, the election is sent to the House of Representatives

26. Flaws in the Electoral College
First Major Defect
That the winner of the popular vote will not win the presidency

27. Flaws in the Electoral College (Con’t)
The Second Major Defect
No requirement for electors to vote for the candidate that carried their state
The Third Major Defect
Presidential election being decided by the House of Representatives, due to the majority of electoral votes not being met (270 votes)