1. United States Government
Tuesday, October 24, 2017

2. Warm-Up: Build a Better President
Describe your ideal President of the United States.
In your description, be sure to include the President’s:
Political Party (if any)
Views on Issues that are important to you
Experience in Government
Other work experience
Educational background
Geographical background
Age
Gender
Race/Ethnicity
Any other characteristics that would be important for your ideal U.S. President

3. The presidency: qualifications and powers

4. Formal (Constitutional) Qualifications

5. 1) Must be at least 35 years old

6. 2) Must be a natural born citizen

7. 3) Must have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years

8. That’s it!

9. Informal Qualifications

10. 1) Money
In 2012 the Obama campaign spent 1.2 BILLION DOLLARS to re-elect the President. A candidate will need a vast fortune before declaring his candidacy and also the ability to raise large sums of money during a campaign

11. 2) Political Experience
Every President in the last 125 years (with TWO exceptions) was either a Senator, Governor, or Vice-President prior to entering the White House

12. What other INFORMAL characteristics do most presidential candidates usually have?

13. Good
Speaker
Tall/Good Looking
Political Party
Christian
Hair!
Family

14. Constitutional Powers

15. 1) Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces

16. 2) Veto Power

17. 3) Foreign Policy Power
Appoints ambassadors (with Senate approval) and receives ambassadors from foreign countries
Negotiates treaties and other agreements (but needs Senate approval for treaties to become law)

18. 4) Appointment Power Federal Judges Heads of Executive Departments
Other officers designated by Congress as Presidential appointees

19. 5) Pardon Power
May grant reprieves and pardons to those convicted of federal crimes

20. Presidential Terms in Office
Two-term tradition:
George Washington left office after two terms;
The next 31 presidents followed that precedent
In 1940 Franklin Roosevelt became the first president elected to a third term. In 1944, he was elected to his fourth term.
22nd Amendment (1951):
Places a two-term limit on Presidents

21. Exit Ticket: Practice MCQ
Which of the following is an informal, but NOT a formal, qualification for U.S. presidents?
A. Presidents must be at least 35 years of age.
B. Presidents must be married with children.
C. Presidents must be natural born citizens of the United States.
D. Presidents must have lived in the U.S. for at least fourteen years.

22. Homework
Presidential Power Mini-Scavenger Hunt