1. The Executive Branch

2. A. Electing the President
1. The Electoral College
Each state is given 1 Vote per house of rep member and 1 for each senator
Washington D.C. is given 3 votes but have no representatives in congress
Electors give their votes based on the majority decision of their state
Although uncommon electors sometimes deviate from the way their states suggest to vote (faithless elector)

3. A. Electing the President
1. The Electoral College
Each state chooses their own method of selecting electors
Electors meet in state capitol to vote for president and vice president
The sitting V.P. in the presence of Congress opens the ballots of the Electoral College on January 6th
If no majority, House of Rep. decides
A total of 538 Electoral College votes are cast so a majority is 270 (magic number)

4. B. The Evolution of the Presidency

5. A. Election of the President
2. Term of Office
George Washington set the precedent by only serving two terms
A term is 4 years in length
The 22 Amendment in 1951 limits two terms (4-10 years)
Only 16 of the 44 Presidents have served two terms

6. B. Requirements for the Job
Must be 35 years of age
Must be a natural born citizen of the United States
Must have lived in the country for at least 14 years

7. C. Salary and Benefits
$400,000 per year plus $50,000 in expenses - is fixed by Congress and cannot be increased or decreased during that President's term.
President receive many fringe benefits, including use of the White House and Camp David, cars and airplanes.

8. D. Powers of the President
1. Powers found in Article II
Not a large number of explicit powers
Veto of Legislations
Veto is an override of a Congressional Bill
Veto is often used as a message to Congress
Pocket Veto (before congress adjourns)
Congress rarely overrides vetos (because of the need of 2/3 supermajority of both houses)

9. D. Powers of the President
2. Informal Powers
Potential for power found in the ambiguous clauses of the Constitution
Ex. Power as commander in chief; duty to “take care that laws be faithfully executed”
Executive Order

10. D. Presidential Power 2. Popularity and Influence
Presidents try to transform popularity into support from the congress for Presidential programs
When the President has a high approval rating, congress is more willing to work
Members of Congress believe it is politically risky to challenge a popular president

11. D. Presidential Power 3. Popularity and Influence
Popularity is the highest right after election
Usually Declines by Midterm
Crises, can have both negative and positive effect on Popularity
Bush and Katrina – Decline due to slow response and non-decisive
Obama and Sandy – Increase due to quick response and ability to work bi-partisian

12. E. Office of the President
1. White House Office

13. E. Office of the President
2. The Cabinet
Not something explicitly mentioned in the Constitution
These are the top advisors, friends and trusted appointed officials

14. E. Office of the President
1. Cabinet
Three Ways of Structuring
Pyramid
President on Top and everyone answers to him
Circular
Everyone is equal and ideas are freely given (think King Arthur style)
Ad Hoc
For a particular purpose or reason

15. F. Presidential Succession
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN????????? OR

16. F. Presidential Succession
What if a President falls ill?
Ex. Garfield, Wilson, Eisenhower, Reagan

17. F. Presidential Succession
1. Impeachment
Indictment by the House
Conviction/Trial by the Senate
3 Presidents have been Impeached
Andrew Johnson – found not guilty
Richard Nixon – resigned before trial
Bill Clinton – found not guilty

18. F. Presidential Succession
The Succession Act (1886) and Twenty-fifth Amendment (1967)
a. Succession Act of 1886-
Designated the Secretary of State for next V.P.
Amended in 1947 and designates the Speaker of the House as new V.P.
b. Twenty-fifth Amendment - Allows V.P. to serve as acting Pres. during Presidents time in recovery
First example is Reagan’s surgery
Decided by Pres, V.P. and Cabinet or by 2/3 vote of Congress.

19. F. Presidential Succession
3. Order of Succession
VICE PRESIDENT
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
PRES PROTEMPORE OF THE SENATE
SEC OF STATE
SEC OF TREASURY
SEC OF DEFENSE

20. F. Presidential Succession
4. The Vice President
8 V.P. have succeeded to the office on presidents death
Rarely are V.P.’s elected president
Unless they first took over for a president who died
Only 5 times other wise Adams, Jefferson, Van Buren, Nixon, Bush (Sr.)

21. G. Foreign Policy 1. What is it and Who Decides?
Def: This country’s actions, words, and beliefs towards other countries
The President along with the Executive Branch are mainly responsible for setting the tone of Foreign Policy
Ex. Cold War – Throughout the Cold War (end of WWII until 1980’s) many different presidents were in-charge and had to deal with handling USSR in their own unique way.

22. G. Foreign Policy 2. Foreign Policy a. Main Goal b. Key Players
Protect America and Americans
Support economic growth and human rights around the world
Increase support for American values like democracy and freedom.
b. Key Players
President and Exec Branch create Policy
Legislative Branch Carries out policy

23. G. Foreign Policy A.Foreign Aid:
2. Forms of Foreign Policy
A.Foreign Aid:
Def:helping or assisting of other countries
Main Goal: To create friends and allies
Ex. Economic (money); Military (soldiers helping after a disaster); Advice)

24. G. Foreign Policy B. Military
3. Forms of Foreign Policy
B. Military
Def: The use of armed forces
Main goal is to prevent war and protect the U.S.
Led by the Commander in Chief and D.O.D
Department of Defense:
Army; Navy; Air Force; Marines

25. G. Foreign Policy
3. Forms of Foreign Policy
c. Treaties: a formal agreement between countries that, like laws, must be followed
The President is responsible for negotiating and signing treates
All Treaties must be approved by 2/3rds of the Senate