1. The Presidency

2. How do you become President?
Presidential Requirements
The Constitution requires that a candidate for the presidency must be a "natural-born" citizen of the United States, at least 35 years of age, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.

3. Natural-Born
An understanding of the nation is essential for the role of President. The framers of the Constitution strongly believed that a person must be born in the United States in order to fully understand the country.

4. 35 Years of Age
Personal experience was very important to the framers. They felt that unless a person had reached the age of thirty-five, it was highly unlikely for that person to have experienced enough to govern a nation.

5. 14 Year Residency
Part of being President involves dealing with both domestic and foreign problems. In order to face these problems, previous knowledge of the nation's history in these matters is necessary. The framers decided that fourteen years was an adequate time span to comprehend these issues

6. Could a person born abroad to parents who are U. S
Could a person born abroad to parents who are U.S. citizens eligible to be President?
Yes. A child born of U.S. citizens anywhere in the world is considered a natural born U.S. citizen and is eligible.

7. What exactly does "natural-born" mean?
Persons born citizens of the United States are considered natural-born. Therefore, a child born of illegal immigrants or born on U.S. soil yet lived his or her life out of the nation could still be President. A naturalized citizen could not.

8. Does a person need to be married to be President?
No. There have been several Presidents who were not married at the time of their election or during their term of office.

9. Powers of the President
Chief Executor
Enforces the Constitution and the laws passed by Congress
May issue executive orders
Executive orders may be declared unconstitutional in the courts
Appoints all government officials, including Cabinet officers, Supreme Court Justices, and others
Appointments must be approved by the Senate

10. Chief Legislator Recall Congress into a special session
Veto the bills passed by Congress
Use his influence on his colleagues in Congress to get a bill passed or proposed
All of his actions are limited by other branches of government:
Congressmen do not have to pass any laws during the special session
Congress can override the president's veto by a two-thirds majority
No one in Congress must succumb to the president's pressure.

11. Judicial Powers May grant pardons to most individuals
does not extend to cases of impeachment
Has indirect control of the courts, as he appoints all of the federal judges.
His appointments must be approved by the Senate
Federal judges receive lifetime tenure and thus do not react to presidential influences

12. Chief Ambassador Determines the foreign policy of the nation
Must be ratified by the Senate before they go into effect
Directs diplomatic talks and negotiates treaties
Foreign policies may be examined and criticized by House and Senate Committees
Appoints other ambassadors and diplomats
Must be cleared by Congress

13. Commander in Chief Maintaining civilian control over the military
Appoints the top military commanders
Gives them military advice and has the power to discharge officers
Order the armed forces into action in case of disturbances within the United States and foreign countries.
The President cannot commit US troops to international conflicts for more than 90 days without a formal declaration of war

14. How to become the President
Get Nominated
The presidential candidate for each party is nominated by a Nominating Convention.
The Convention convenes about three months before the election.
Delegates from all the states assemble and nominate a President/Vice-President ticket.
Often, the President and Vice-President will be two people who have different yet complimentary backgrounds.
They also decide on a party platform: the issues the president will represent in the election.
This is done to "balance the ticket," or appeal to the largest possible amount of people.

15. Go to the People
For eight to ten weeks between the Convention and Election Day, the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates "go to the people."
The candidates state their thoughts on the party platform and make promises on behalf of the government.
They also make speeches and appear at rallies to present their philosophies and views on current issues.
On the first Tuesday in November (or the Tuesday after the first Monday in leap years) the voters are invited to the polls. They vote for electors, which in turn vote for candidates.

16. Majority ? Plurality
A candidate must receive a majority of votes (over 50%) to become President.
If no one has a majority, the person with the most votes has a plurality, but is not President.
Article II, Section I states that "If the Electoral College does not give any candidate the necessary majority, the House of Representatives chooses the President from among the top three candidates in electoral votes.
The House votes by states, with each state having one vote.
To be elected president, a candidate must receive the votes from a majority of the states.”
This clause has been used twice in the history of the United States. In 1800, when Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied for the presidency with 69 electoral votes each. And in 1824, Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams

17. True or False
1) The President can declare war if America's national security is threatened?

18. (False. Only Congress can declare war.)

19. True or False?
2) The President has the right to withhold certain information from Congress if he thinks it would endanger America.

20. (True, Executive Privilege)

21. True or False
3) The power of the vice-presidency has been increasing since the early 1990s

22. True

23. The President: Some Facts
Elected to a four-year term by the people who elect electors.
The Slate of electors make up the Electoral College
The 22nd Amendment places a term limit on the Presidency.
Must be 35, 14 year resident and a natural born citizen.

24. The Two Term Precedent
FDR was the only president to win more than two terms.
He led the US through the Depression and WW II.
George Washington set the precedent for the limit of two terms until the 22nd Amendment made law in 1951
Franklin D. Roosevelt ( )

25. Role: Chief of State
Acts as example for and symbol of the United States
Represents America at special occasions and ceremonies.
Kings and Queens are heads of state.
Awarding medals and speechmaking are examples of this role.

26. Role: Chief Executive
Acts as boss of federal government workers in 14 executive departments.
These departments help the President carry out, enforce, or execute the law.
The president chooses cabinet members to advise and assist him.
Example: Holding cabinet meetings and appointing federal officials.

27. Role: Chief Diplomat
Conducts foreign policy by directing the actions of American ambassadors.
Signs treaties and trade agreements with leaders of other nations.

28. Role: Commander-In-Chief
In charge of US Armed Forces.
President decides where armed forces are to be stationed, weapons to be used.
Secretary of Defense under President.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is the top military commander under President.

29. Role: Chief Legislator
Congress has the power to make laws.
President can propose bills and must sign bills into law.
He often calls members of Congress to lobby for his agenda.
Presents his agenda to Congress in the annual State of the Union address.

30. Role: Chief of the Party
Presidents help members of their party get elected or appointed to office.
They make campaign speeches needed for re-election.
Head of fund-raising for the party.

31. Questions to think about…
Why do you think it is the most visible part of the American political system?
Does the President really serve the needs of the American people?
How does the office of the Presidency actually help the American people?

32. Presidential Succession
1967 – 25th Amendment ratified to clarify the succession of the presidency
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of Interior
Sec of Agriculture
Sec of Commerce
Sec of Labor
Sec of Health & Human Services
Sec of Housing & Urban Development
Line of Succession:
Sec of Transportation
Sec of Energy
Vice President
Sec of Education
Speaker of the House
Sec of Veterans Affairs
President pro tempore of the senate
Sec of Homeland Security
Secretary of State
Secretary of Treasury

33. Vice President’s Role
The Constitution gives the Vice President only two duties:
Presides over the the Senate and votes in that body in case of a tie
Helps decide whether the president is disabled and acts as president should that happen