1. “The President and the Executive Branch”

2. The President’s Job
The job of the President of the United States is often considered one of the most important jobs in the world.

3. Constitutional Qualifications
Must be at least 35 years old
Must be a natural born US citizen
Must be a U.S. resident for at least 14 years.

4. Presidential History
President Barrack Obama became our first African American president in Every other president before has been a white male.
All but one have also been Protestant Christians.

5. Presidential History
Most have also had a college degree, been lawyers, and have been from states with a large population.

6. Presidential “Firsts”
John F. Kennedy was our first Catholic president and our youngest elected president (1960) – (Teddy Roosevelt was the youngest to serve; he took over after McKinley was assassinated).
Geraldine Ferraro was our first female vice presidential candidate (1984).
Jesse Jackson was the first African American presidential candidate (1988) to narrowly miss his party’s nomination.

7. Presidential “Firsts”
Joseph Lieberman was our first Jewish vice presidential candidate (2000).
Barack Obama was the first African American President of the United States of America (2008).
Hilary Clinton was the first woman to run as the Presidential nominee of one of the two major parties.

8. Electing the President

9. Electing the President
Presidential elections take place every four (4) years.
These years are all divisible by the number four (4).
Ex. 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, etc.

10. Electing the President
Presidents are NOT elected directly by the people (popular vote)!
Instead, they are actually elected indirectly by the Electoral College.

11. Electing the President
Voters vote in the Presidential election, but this is just to indicate their preferences to the electors--- people appointed by state legislatures to vote in presidential elections.

12. Electing the President
The number of electors each state has is determined by the number of Representatives and Senators in each state. Each state gets the same number of electors as they have representatives in Congress.
Although NOT a state, Washington DC is also given three (3) electors (23rd Amendment).
There are a total of 538 electors who vote.
(435 Representatives Senators + 3 from D.C. = 538)

13. Electing the President
Most states have a “winner take all” system, where the candidate who wins the popular vote of that state wins all the electoral votes for the state, as well (exceptions – Nebraska and Maine).
Presidential Election of 2016 – Clinton led by 1.7 million popular votes but Trump won the electoral votes and the Presidency.

14. Electing the President
Candidates need to win at least 270 electoral votes (out of the 538) to win the Presidency.

15. Electing the President
The Electoral College system makes it difficult for third parties to win the presidency.

16. Electing the President
The results of the Electoral College are NOT official after the election in November.
The results become official in December after the Electors officially cast their votes and those votes have been confirmed by Congress.
This is one example of checks and balances.

17. Landmark Supreme Court Case
Bush v. Gore (2000)
Because the election was too close to call and there was controversy in several districts in Florida, a recount of the Florida popular votes was called for.
After a series of lawsuits, banter and media pressure, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to take over the case because of its national concern; the case was eventually sent back to Florida for action…. in the end – it was determined that there would not be a fair and equitable way to recount the votes (deemed the recount unequal and therefore, unconstitutional) and as a result, Bush won the 2000 Election even thought Gore won the national popular vote.
How did this impact voting in the U.S.?

18. Presidential Terms Presidents serve four (4) year terms.
Most early presidents followed George Washington’s example and served only two terms (8 years).

19. Presidential Terms
Only Franklin D. Roosevelt served more than two (2) terms ( ).
He was elected to four terms, mainly due to World War II.

20. Presidential Terms
Today, the 22nd Amendment limits the President to only two (2) terms in office and a maximum of ten (10) years total in office.

21. Presidential Salary
The President of the United States earns an annual salary of $400,000 per year (plus benefits and expenses).

22. Presidential Residences
The President lives and works in the White House in Washington DC (“1600 Pennsylvania Avenue”).

23. Presidential Residences
The President also has access to Camp David, a beautiful retreat in the mountains of Maryland.
It has been the site of many important meetings.

24. Presidential Transportation
The President travels on Air Force One (the Presidential plane)
They also have access to cars, helicopters, and other forms of transportation.

25. Role of the Vice President
The Constitutional qualifications for Vice President are identical to that of the President. However, the Constitution gives little power to the Vice President.
One constitutional role of the Vice President is to preside over the U.S. Senate (he/she can break a tie vote if necessary).
But the most important role of the vice president is to assume the job of President if necessary (this has happened 9 times in our history).

26. Presidential Succession
The first Vice President to assume the role of President through death or illness was John Tyler in 1841 (he took over for William H. Harrison after his death).

27. Presidential Succession
The “Presidential Succession Act” of 1947 established the official presidential succession (and the order of who takes over)….. But we still felt that we needed more direction………….

28. Presidential Succession
The 25th Amendment sets up Presidential Succession and states that the Vice President who assumes (becomes) the role of President may select their new Vice President.
This choice must be approved by Congress.
This amendment also gives the Vice President some authority to determine if the President is disabled or unable to do the job.
This amendment has only been used 3 times (1973, 1974, & 1985).

29. Presidential Succession
The Speaker of the House follows the Vice President, followed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and then the President’s Cabinet members.