1. Article II of the Constitution
The Executive Branch
Article II of the Constitution

2. The Executive Branch
Most everything you need to know about the presidency may be located in Article 2 of the Constitution.

3. The Executive Branch Qualifications: Must be 35 Birth by Land or Blood
Must have lived in the Country for 14 consecutive years

4. The Executive Branch
Martin Van Buren was the first president to be born in what was actually the United States at the time.
The youngest to be president was Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt.
The youngest to be elected was John F. Kennedy
The oldest was Ronald Reagan.

5. The Executive Branch The Vice President
Requirements for Vice-President are the same as President.
In the 1790’s, the runner-up in the Presidential election became the Vice-President.
There was no separate election until the 12th Amendment.
This caused problems.
Example: John Adams was Federalist – Thomas Jefferson was Vice-President and a Democratic-Republican.

6. The Executive Branch A term for President is 4 years.
Washington established precedent of serving two terms
Today: 2 terms or 10 years (22nd Amendment)
F.D.R. broke tradition and ran for 4 terms –reasons—Depression and WWII
He died in fourth term

7. The Executive Branch
One winning in November but is waiting inauguration is called the President Elect.
One finishing out a term is called a Lame Duck.
20th Amendment moved inauguration date to Jan. 20th.
Inauguration—swearing in of President Elect. 
Incumbent—one running for re-election

8. The Executive Branch Who officially elects the President?
Electoral college
The President is the one receiving a majority of electoral votes.
(270) a majority of for Washington D.C. (23rd Amendment)
How does a state know how many electoral college votes it is entitles to?
Add the number of Representatives + Senators. (minimum 3) Texas has 38 Votes.

9. Hey, you’re too stupid to vote for President!
The Executive Branch
Why do we have an electoral college?
The founding fathers did not believe that the average citizen was intelligent enough to make such an important decision.
Hey, you’re too stupid to vote for President!

10. The Executive Branch
The electoral college votes are cast on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. Mailed to the Senate. Counted on January 6th unless it falls on a Sunday.
Electoral college electors are NOT required to vote the people’s will.
Electoral college electors are chosen differently state to state.
In Texas chosen by the winning party

11. The Executive Branch
One who receives a Plurality of popular votes receives all of that state’s electoral college votes.
A Plurality means the “most”.

12. The Executive Branch
Who chooses a President if no one receives a majority of electoral votes?
House of Representatives (choose from top three candidates and each states is only allowed one vote)
Who chooses the Vice-President if no one receives a majority of electoral votes?
Senate (choose from top two candidates)

13. The Executive Branch
Presidential Elections — held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every fourth year beginning in 1788.
Primaries/Caucuses – Elections used to eliminate party candidates.
Iowa holds first caucus.
First Primary was held in Wisconsin.
National Conventions - Where candidates in November are selected.
3rd Party Candidates – Often split votes. A sure way to kill a party. (Clinton 43 million Bush 38 million Perot 19 million.)

14. The Executive Branch
It is possible to be the people’s choice and still lose the election?
This has occurred 4 times out of the 44 presidents that we have had.
1824—Andrew Jackson lost to John Quincy Adams
1876—Rutherford B Hayes beat Samuel J Tilden
1888—Cleveland lost to Harrison
2000 – George W. Bush beat Al Gore

15. The Executive Branch
2 times the election went to the House of Representatives.
Thomas Jefferson
John Quincy Adams
14 times the election went to the person with a plurality.
9 times the college voted for someone other than their party’s nominee.

16. The Executive Branch
Some suggested ways of reforming the electoral college system:
Direct Popular Election (most popular)
Proportional Plan (electoral vote is proportional to election); no winner takes all

17. The Executive Branch
Only 4 sitting presidents (incumbents) did not receive their party’s nomination
Tyler, Fillmore, Pierce and Arthur

18. The Executive Branch
Most have substantial background in public office.
Largest numbers of Presidential candidates come from Governorships of large states.
Senators are second largest.
Most are Protestants - (JFK and Alfred Smith were Catholics)
No Women so far (Technically)
Must have good speaking ability
Ronald Reagan was the only one to be divorced.

19. Major reason most people don’t vote
The Executive Branch
Major reason most people don’t vote
APATHY

20. The Executive Branch
Presidential Succession Act of 1947 legalized Presidential Succession
Vice-President Speaker  President Pro-Tem  Secretary of State
Not legal but done by tradition set by Tyler
1840 Harrison (pneumonia) to Tyler
1865 Lincoln (shot) to Johnson
1881 Garfield to Arthur
1900 McKinnley toT.R.
1923 Harding to Coolidge
1945 FDR to Truman
Legal
1962 JFK to LBJ
1974 Nixon (resigned) to Ford

21. The Executive Branch 25th Amendment
Presidential Succession Act of 1947
Vice-Presidential vacancy
Presidential disability
- Incapable and knows it: Vice-President will act as President
- Incapable and doesn’t know it: The Vice-President and a majority of the cabinet members may decide whether or not the
President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office
First time it was used Agnew resigned and Ford replaced him. Nixon resigned under the pressure of Watergate and threatened impeachment. Ford became president without ever being elected to either office.

22. The Executive Branch
Salary: $400,000 + $50,000 a year expense account, 100,000 travel account and 19,000 entertainment
132 room mansion on 18.3 acres
office—staff—yacht—fleet of automobiles
2 customized Boeing 707s—other planes
helicopter—resort hideaway (Camp David)
medical—dental
pension—$97,500
Gross Income—$30 million

23. The Executive Branch Roles of the President:
Chief of State—ceremonial head of the United States
Chief Executive—head of branch, enforces law
Chief Administration—directs nearly 3 million civilian authorities
Chief Diplomat—directs American Foreign Policy
Commander in Chief—head of Armed Forces
Chief Legislator—suggests, initiates, requests, supports, insists, demands Congress enact legislation.
Chief of Party—top party member
Chief Citizen—represents all the people