1. Chapter Thirteen:
The Presidency

2. Learning Objectives
Explain the formal qualifications for office and detail the ways that the informal qualifications have changed over time.
Identify and explain the roles of the President (including head of state, chief executive, commander in chief, chief diplomat, chief legislator, and chief of party).

3. Learning Objectives
Identify and explain the types of presidential powers:
Constitutional powers;
Statutory powers;
Express powers; and
Inherent powers.
Explain impeachment, differentiate it from conviction, and give historical examples of the process.

4. Learning Objectives Describe the organization of the executive branch:
The Cabinet;
The Executive Office of the President;
The White House Office;
The Office of Management and Budget; and
The National Security Council.

5. Learning Objectives
Discuss the evolving role for the vice president as an adviser and successor to the president.
Describe the Twenty-fifth Amendment and discuss potential problems associated with it.

6. Who Can Become President?
Must be a natural born citizen
Must be at least 35 years old
Must be a resident within the United States for at least 14 years

7. Who Can Become President?
Process of Becoming President
Nominated by party
Win a majority of electoral votes

8. The Many Roles of the President
Head of State
Chief Executive
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
Chief Diplomat
Chief Legislator

9. The Many Roles of the President
Head of State—As head of state, the president engages in many activities that are largely symbolic or ceremonial, such as:
Decorating war heroes.
Throwing out the first pitch to open the baseball season.
Dedicating parks and post offices.
Receiving visiting heads of state at the White House.

10. The Many Roles of the President
Chief Executive—As chief executive, the president is constitutionally bound to enforce the acts of Congress, the judgments of federal courts, and treaties signed by the United States.
Has powers of appointment and removal
Has power to grant reprieves and pardons

11. The Many Roles of the President
Commander in Chief—The President is the civilian commander of the U.S. armed forces.
Wartime Powers
War Powers Resolution

12. The Many Roles of the President
Chief Diplomat—As chief diplomat, the president dominates American foreign policy:
Recognizes foreign governments
Makes treaties
Executive agreements

13. The Many Roles of the President
Chief Legislator—Presidents must recommend to Congress legislation that they judge necessary and expedient.
State of the Union message
Getting legislation passed
Vetoing legislation

14. The Many Roles of the President

15. The President as Party Chief and Superpolitician
The President as Chief of Party
Constituencies and Public Approval
Presidential constituencies
Public approval
“Going Public” for support

16. The President as Party Chief and Superpolitician

17. Special Uses of Presidential Power
Emergency Powers
Executive Orders
Executive Privilege

18. Abuses of Executive Power and Impeachment
Articles I and II of the Constitution authorize the House and Senate to remove the president, vice president or other civil offices for committing “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”
House impeaches (accuses)
Senate conducts trial

19. The Executive Organization
Cabinet
Executive Office of the President
White House Office
Office of Management and Budget
National Security Council

20. The Vice Presidency The Vice President’s Job Strengthening the Ticket
Supporting the President
Presidential Succession
The Twenty-fifth Amendment
When the Vice Presidency Becomes Vacant

21. The Vice Presidency

22. Web Links
The White House: extensive information on the White House and the presidency:
Bartleby.com: Internet publisher of literature, reference, and verse providing unlimited access to books and information on American presidents:

23. What If…There Were No Executive Privilege?
When a U.S. president wishes to keep information secret, he or she can invoke executive privilege.
If there were no executive privilege, a president would have to be aware that all of his or her words, documents, and actions could be made public.
There would probably be fewer records of administration’s activities.

24. What If…There Were No Executive Privilege?
Without executive privilege, the president might experience problems in waging a war on terrorism.
The White House would have a difficult time regulating the flow of past presidential records into the public forum.

25. You Can Make a Difference: Watching the White House
Citizens should monitor the president’s performance and policies.
You can maintain a connection to the White House and keep informed on the president's initiatives by logging onto
You can sign up for from the White House or the President's political campaign to receive constant updates on policy initiatives or appointments.