2. The Presidency in Action Unit 3

3. Article II of the Constitution “the executive power shall be vested in the President of the United States of America”

4. 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.

5. 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 (1933-1945)

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

7. Chief Executive n Acts as boss of federal government workers in 15 executive departments. n These departments help the President carry out, enforce, or execute the law. n The president chooses cabinet members to advise and assist him. n Example: Holding cabinet meetings and appointing federal officials.

8. CHIEF DIPLOMAT CHIEF DIPLOMAT n Conducts foreign policy by directing the actions of American ambassadors. n Signs treaties and trade agreements with leaders of other nations.

9. n In charge of US Armed Forces. n President decides where armed forces are to be stationed, weapons to be used. n Secretary of Defense under President. n Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is the top military commander under President. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

10. CHIEF LEGISLATOR n Congress has the power to make laws. n President can propose bills and must sign bills into law. n He often calls members of Congress to lobby for his agenda. n Presents his agenda to Congress in the annual State of the Union address.

11. CHIEF OF THE PARTY n Presidents help members of their party get elected or appointed to office. n They make campaign speeches needed for re- election. n Head of fund-raising for the party.

12. Roles v. Powers n Commander-in-Chief n Chief Executive n Chief Legislator n Head of State n Chief Diplomat n Head of Political Party n Judicial Powers n Legislative Powers n Executive Powers n Diplomatic Powers n Military Powers

13. Presidential Power Stewardship Theory: The president has the right to do anything necessary to meet the demands of the people….unless the Constitution forbid that action – Theodore Roosevelt

14. “My judgment is that the view of Mr. Roosevelt, ascribing an undefined residuum of power to the President, is an unsafe doctrine” - William Howard Taft Presidential Power

15. The president’s executive powers Thomas Jefferson stated “The execution of the laws is more important than the making of them.” What do you think?

16. Executes, enforces, administers, and carries out the provisions of federal law The president’s executive powers

17. Covers all federal laws such as… Armed forces Social security Civil rights Housing Taxes Environmental pollution Public Health Immigration The president’s executive powers

18. Executive order: a rule or regulation that has the effect of law. example = Abraham Lincoln’s 1862 Emancipation Proclamation The president’s executive powers

19. Appointing Power President appoints only a handful of the 3 million federal civilian employees

20. These include…top ranking officials such as: Ambassadors Diplomats Cabinet members Heads of agencies (NASA/EPA) *MUST be approved by the Senate for confirmation The president’s executive powers

21. Executive privilege: The power of the president and the executive branch to resist certain search warrants and other encroachments. George W. Bush invoked this regarding Dick Cheney’s involvement with energy executives (Former CEO of Halliburton) The president’s executive powers

22. The president’s foreign policy powers “I could not realize-nor could any man who does not bear the burdens of this office-how heavy and constant would be those burdens” (of the presidency) - JFK

23. The power to make treaties: The President negotiates international agreements that must be approved by a 2/3 Senate vote before the treaty can become effective. The president’s foreign policy powers

24. Executive agreements: pacts between the President and the heads of foreign nations. - Do not require Senate approval like treaties do.

25. Recognition: the President’s acknowledgement of the legal existence of a country and its government. The president’s foreign policy powers

26. Examples of Recognition: Republic of Panama in 1903 (Roosevelt) -recognized Panama as an independent nation in exchange for control of the Panama Canal Area. Israel in 1948 (Truman) -Currently Iran’s President (Ahmadinejad) does not recognize Israel as an independent nation.

27. The president’s judicial powers Reprieve: postponement of the execution of a sentence Commutation: power to reduce the length of a sentence or a fine imposed by a court

28. The president’s judicial powers Pardon: legal forgiveness of a crime Amnesty: a general pardon offered to a group of law violators -example-Bush proposed to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants

29. The president’s judicial powers The president can appoint federal judges and supreme court judges

30. The president’s legislative powers The Constitution states that the President.. “shall, from time to time, give to the Congress information of the stat of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary”

31. The president’s legislative powers Recommending Legislation: president is given the “message power” by the constitution 1.State of the Union 2.Budget 3.Economic Report

32. Veto power: The power of the president to reject a bill -From 1981-1997 only 12 out of 106 vetoes (11 %) were overridden by a 2/3 vote of Congress Line item veto: the power to cancel specific dollar amounts (line items) in spending bills enacted by Congress The president’s legislative powers

33. VICE-PRESIDENT John Adams once said, “I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything”. What did he mean by this?

34. VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES Has two formal duties: 1. Preside over the Senate and votes in case of a tie. 2. Help decide if whether the president is disabled and acts as president if that happens.

35. Overview of the Vice Presidency: The First 150 Years Minimal Constitutional authority Marginalized by the Senate Often perceived by Presidents as rivals

36. Analyzing the VP’s Role VP’s engagement brings prestige Preparation for the Presidency VP may not have necessary staff VP may not have time Can establish a VP’s reputation, but can also harm it

37. VP OF THE U.S. Of the thirteen presidential elections from 1956 to 2004, nine featured the incumbent president; the other four (1960, 1968, 1988, 2000) all featured the incumbent Vice President. The first presidential election to include neither the incumbent president nor the incumbent Vice President on a major party ticket since 1952 came in 2008 when President George W. Bush had already served two terms and Vice President Cheney chose not to run.

38. PERKS VP makes a salary of $227,300 per year. The Vice President does not automatically receive a pension based on that office, but instead receives the same pension as other members of Congress based on his position as president of the Senate. The Vice President must serve a minimum of five years to qualify for a pension. Lives at Number One Observatory Circle on U.S. Naval Observatory in D.C.

39. VP VACANCY Before the Twenty-fifth Amendment in 1967, no provision existed for filling a vacancy in the office of Vice President. so the Vice Presidency was left vacant 16 times, sometimes for nearly four years. After 25 th, only one VP resigned (Agnew – 1973)