1. The President and the Executive Branch Chapter 7

2. Section 1 The President and Vice President

3. Words to Know  Electoral College: A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president.  Elector: Person appointed to vote in presidential elections for the major candidates.

4. Qualifications for President  The President heads the Executive branch of the govt.  Presidency is top political job in the U.S.  The President of the U.S. is considered the most important job in the world:  Power and global influence of the world

5. Qualifications for President cont.  Constitutional requirements for presidency:  Must be at least 35 years old  Native born American Citizen  Resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years  Anyone who meets these requirements can become president

6. Electing a President  Presidential Elections happen every 4 years  Constitution does not provide for direct popular election of the President:  Electoral College  Each state appoints electors:  when you vote for a candidate, you are really voting for a list of presidential electors pledged to that candidate

7. Electing a President cont.  Each state has as many electoral votes as the total of its U.S. senators and representatives.  States with larger populations have more electoral votes  Electoral College includes 538 electors  Winner-take-all system  Winner could have less popular votes  Winner must receive 270 of possible 538 votes

8. Salary and Benefits  President = $400,000 per year:  Plus money for expenses and travel  Lives and works at the White House:  Movie theater  Gym  Bowling alley  Heated pool  Staff of 80 people to take care of president and family

9. Salary and Benefits cont.  Camp David:  Estate in the mountains of Maryland  Special cars  Helicopters  Airplanes:  Air Force One (specially equipped jet)

10. The Vice President  Elected with president through electoral college  Same qualifications for office as the president  Constitution gives little authority to the v.p.:  Article I of constitution: V.P. presides over the Senate and vote in case of a tie  The V.P. is next in line for the presidency if something were to happen to the president:  This has happened 9 times

11. Presidential Succession  8 presidents have died while in office.  1947- Presidential Succession Act:  Indicates the line of succession after the V.P.  Speaker of the House  President Pro Tempore of the Senate  Secretary of State  Other members

12. 25 th Amendment  If a president dies or leaves office the V.P. becomes president then chooses a new V.P.  Both Senate and House must approve selection.  Used 3 times

13. Homework  Chapter 7 Worksheets