1. The American Presidency: Roles & Responsibilities
US Government & Politics
Mrs. Lacks

2. Executive Latin verb, to follow
follows the lead of the legislature or board of directors
CEO carries out the will of the Board of Directors
President carries out the will of Congress

3. Presidential vs Parliamentary
Most republics have a parliamentary system US has the longest lasting presidential system Why did the Framers want a presidential system? with no check, the legislature could become too powerful

4. Creating an American Executive
Framers decided on four ingredients used to create the executive
(1) Unity: pulls the country together; is characterized by the single individual (“I am the decider,” President Bush)
(2) Duration: ensures stability (instability in administration would be ruinous); allows for expertise

5. Creating an American Executive
Framers decided on four ingredients used to create the executive cont…
(3) Competent Powers: all powers granted to the president (discussed later in PPT)
(4) Support: from Congress

6. Creating an American Executive
Good government requires stability, continuity, and energy Founders’ executive themes: Fitness of Character Political Considerations Duty to consult

7. Fitness of Character
Family background, education, honor, esteem Above all, reputation and integrity Guardian of Liberty: The people, according to Adams, were the worst keepers of liberty Needed trustworthy administrators (Congress and Executive) who would preserve liberty

8. Political Considerations
Military preference (experience, thoughts) Geographic balance (no state/region gets too powerful) Senate Input

9. Duty to Consult
Washington listened to his cabinet He required “opinions in writing” He did not debate. He listened to their opinions and then made a decision. Top-level administrators (Cabinet, military commanders/advisors) They were assistants They were not substitutes or rivals to the President They gave opinions, and then carried out the decisions made by the President

10. Constitutional requirements
Formal Requirements:
Must be 35 years old
Must be a natural-born citizen
Must have resided in U.S. for 14 years
Informal “Requirements”:
White, Male, Protestant (except two)
All manner of professions
Most common winners are former state governors

11. Constitutional requirements
Must be elected Electoral College is in place to refine the opinion of the masses born from NJ Plan (NJ was scared all presidents would be from VA or other big states) Founding Fathers did not trust the electorate

12. Constitutional requirements
The normal road to the White House: Candidate runs in a primary to gain nomination of his party; then runs in the general election for president Once elected, a candidate gets a term of four years In 1952, the 22nd Amendment limited the number of terms to two Most Presidents have been elected to office

14. Constitutional requirements
Succession and Impeachment VP succeeds if President leaves office due to death, resignation, or removal Impeachment is investigated by the House, and if impeached, tried by the Senate with the Chief Justice presiding. Only two presidents have been impeached: A. Johnson & Clinton - neither was convicted The 25th Amendment clarifies what happens if the president becomes disabled (POTUS can sign a letter invoking the 25th and then return to power when ready) – Reagan (1985); Bush II (2002, 2007) – both for anesthesia

15. Constitutional Requirements
Constitutional Line of Succession: (first five) Vice President Speaker of the House President Pro-Tempore of the Senate Secretary of State Secretary of Defense

16. Constitutional Powers: Formal
Commander in Chief
Wage (not declare) War
Structural characteristics of the executive: unity, secrecy, decision, dispatch, and superior sources of information
Congressional check on the Commander in Chief Clause
Appropriation Power
Power to declare war
Presidents may only issue orders in a framework given by Congress

17. Constitutional Powers: Formal
Chief Foreign Policy Maker (aka Chief Diplomat)
Treaties
Use of secrecy and information enable the president to make deals with foreign countries
Congressional Role in Checking this Power
Treaties must be passed by the Senate
President is not the sole voice in declaring the state’s policy related to foreign policy

18. Constitutional Powers: Formal
Chief Legislator (aka Chief Lawmaker) Executive Order Veto State of the Union Formal Judicial Powers Appointment Power Pardoning Power Solicitor General Signing Statements

19. Constitutional Powers: Informal
Executive: Article II, Section 1
“The executive power shall be vested in a President”
Why significant?
The phrase “herein granted” is omitted
Does this mean the president has powers that are not enumerated?
Some say yes, some no

20. Constitutional Powers: Informal
Basic Assumptions – Powers are implied, but not stated Allows executives to deal with states of emergencies, crisis situations, etc. Why’d the Framers think to do this?

21. Constitutional Powers: Informal
The Framer’s chose not to include a provision in the Constitution that would allow the President to suspend the Constitution. Was this a mistake?

22. Other Powers
Head of Party (or Party Leader) Chief Citizen Head of State (ceremonial duties) Head of National Security

23. The president & National Security
Crisis Manager A crisis is a sudden, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous event. The role the president plays can help or hurt the presidential image. With current technology, the president can act much faster than Congress to resolve a crisis. Working with Congress President has lead role in foreign affairs. Presidents still have to work with Congress for support and funding of foreign policies

24. The Chief Executive
The Vice President Most important job is to assume the role of POTUS should something happen Head (or President) of Senate Recent presidents have given their VPs important jobs/issues to tackle The Cabinet Presidential advisors, not in Constitution Is made up of the top executives of the Federal Departments, confirmed by the Senate

26. Great Expectations
Americans want a president who is powerful and who can do good: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan But at the same time, they don’t want the president to get too powerful since we are individualistic and skeptical of authority.