1. The President of the United States of America THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

2. Presidential Qualifications That MUST be Met Age – at least 35 years old Presidential Trivia Youngest ever to hold office – Theodore Roosevelt Youngest ever to be elected – John F. Kennedy Oldest ever to be elected – Ronald Reagan Citizenship Natural-born Jus Soli - Law of the Soil – born on U.S. soil Jus Sanguinas – Law of the Blood – at leas one parent is a U.S. citizen Residency Must have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years (prior to the election)

3. UNWRITTEN, but Understood Qualifications Good record in public office Most presidents have been Governors Senators Protestant or Christian-based Affiliation Come from larger states Pleasant and healthy-looking Happily married & family oriented Good public speaker

4. The Path to the Presidency Most candidates simply announce they want to run Then they try to win their party’s nomination A candidate who does not want to represent one of the political parties must run as a third party candidate In MOST states, third party candidates don’t have the money or number of party members in each state to qualify to get their name on the ballot so they have to… Petition to get their name on the ballot They have to get a certain number of registered voter signatures on a petition to have their name placed on the ballot

5. On the Campaign Trail The use of money, a needed campaign resource that poses a variety of problems, is regulated in today’s elections. Political Campaign Money contributions public subsidies State Treasuries Federal treasury private individuals families Candidates themselves PACs Federal Election Commission Regulates federal elections Does not regulate soft money Does regulate hard money Campaign money comes from both public and private sources and is regulated by the Federal Election Commission

6. Once a candidate from one of the two main parties announces their intention to try to win their party’s nomination, they have toannounces Campaign from state to state to try to win that nomination via Direct Primaries This is held between the end of January through April or May in Presidential election years. A specified day in that state where registered voters Go to the polls Request the ballot from their chosen party Then vote for their favorite candidate OR…STATES THAT DON’T HAVE PRIMARIES, HOLD… Caucuses These are also held between the end of January through April or May in Presidential election years. A specified day in that state where voters go the local meeting of the political party they are a member of They listen to speeches about each candidate who wants to represent their party After the speeches, they cast their vote for the candidate they like the most

7. After the Primaries and Caucuses have tallied their results… Each party in the state sends delegates with their state’s results to the National Convention The National Conventions These are held by each political party in the late summer or early fall of Presidential Election years Each state casts their votesvotes The candidate with the most votes overall receives his/her party’s nomination

8. Elections The detailed procedures that govern the casting of votes for elected officials help ensure a democratic way of life. Election Procedures The Basics of Election Procedure Elections are largely governed by State law Aspects of national elections such as dates are governed by federal law Voting takes place in voting districts called precincts Within the precincts, voters cast their votes at polling places A ballot is used to register a person’s votes Most States use a form of the Australian ballot – either an office-group ballot or a party-column ballot Election procedures are clearly established by State law and, in some regards, federal law as well.

9. Presidential Election The candidates for each party campaign up until the election in November. Once the popular vote is counted, it is time for the Electoral College to get into gear. The Electoral College has electors from each state who are sent to vote by their political party The number of electoral votes a state has is determined by adding the number of representatives for that state to the number of senators.

10. In all but two states (ME and NE) the winning political party sends all of their electors to the capitol building in their state to cast their votes That is because the Electoral College is a winner-take-all system Once the Electoral votes are cast in the month of December after the election, these votes are sealed and sent to the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. where they will be opened and counted on January 6th.January 6th.

11. Our Founding Fathers set up the Electoral college because most people in the late 1700s were illiterate With the winner-take-all system, it is possible for the winner of the popular vote to lose the election in the Electoral College. Therefore, some reforms of the Electoral College have been suggested Direct Popular Election – would totally abolish the Electoral College Proportional Plan – gives each candidate the proportion of electoral votes they earned in each state District Plan – would allow the candidate to obtain electoral votes based on each district he/she wins. The overall winning candidate would receive the two votes representing the senate. National Bonus Plan – gives the popular vote winner 100 bonus points just for winning the popular vote.

12. Roles of the President Commander in Chief – leader of the U.S. Armed Forces Chief of State – sets and negotiates U.S. foreign policy Chief Executive – sees that all laws are enforced Chief Administrator – is the head of the Federal Employees Chief Diplomat – negotiates peace or agreements between other countries Chief Legislator – signs or vetoes bills and can introduce legislation Chief of Party – the leader of his political party Chief Citizen – the representative of all the citizens in the U.S.

13. The President’s Executive Powers The Executive Powers come from The Constitution The Oath of Office The Ordinance Power He can issue executive orders which are directives, rules, or regulations that have the effect of lawexecutive orders The Constitution doesn’t expressly give this power to the president but Congress backs up this implied power

14. Appointment power The president can appoint Ambassadors and other diplomats Cabinet members and their top aids Heads of independent agencies All federal judges, U.S. marshals, and attorneys All officers in the armed forces These appointments must be approved by the Senate The president can fire only those he has appointed He cannot fire the federal judges he has appointed

15. Diplomatic and Military Powers The President is in charge of foreign affairs for the U.S. He can make treaties which must be approved by the Senatemake treaties To avoid Senate approval, the President can make an executive agreement The President has the power to recognize countries by receiving their ambassadors and/or diplomats To show disapproval of a country the President can send ambassadors and diplomat home. Doing this labels these people as persona non grata, or unwelcomed

16. The President can wage war even though he cannot declare war The Vietnam War brought on the War Powers Resolution of 1973 which the President must meet the following requirements if he sends troops into combat: The President must notify Congress within 48 hours of sending troops into combat The President must notify Congress He must withdraw the troops within 60 days He can ask for a 30 day extension to withdraw the troops safely

17. Legislative and Judicial Powers Legislative Powers The president can propose laws In the annual State of the Union Address In the annual Budget Plan In the economic report Once Congress passes a bill, the President has 10 days to act on it. He can Sign it into law Veto it and kill it Pocket Veto it and kill it if there are less than 10 days left in the Congressional session Ignore it and let it become law without his signature if there are more than 10 days left in the Congressional session

18. Judicial Powers The President has the power of clemency which means he can grant certain things to those accused of federal crimesclemency Pardon is a formal forgiveness of the crime Pardon Reprieve is a postponement of the criminal’s sentence Commutation is a reduction of a criminal’s sentence Amnesty is formally forgiving a group of people of a crime

19. What happens if the President dies or is disabled? The 25th Amendment lists the order of succession as follows: Vice President Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore of the Senate Secretary of State The rest of the Cabinet members in the order that their position was created by Congress Last one in line is Secretary of Homeland Security

20. Departments and Agencies of the Federal Bureaucracy EXTENSIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

21. The Federal Bureaucracy The federal bureaucracy, part of the executive branch, carries out most of the day-to-day work of the Federal Government The Executive branch is composed of three groups of agencies: The Executive Office of the President The 15 Cabinet Departments Many Independent Agencies

22. White House Office Department of State Securities & Exchange Commission U.S. Postal Service CIA

23. The Executive Office of the President The Executive Office of the President includes both advisors and agencies that work closely with the President The Executive Office of the President is an umbrella agency, some of the units are shown here. White House Office Council of Economic Advisors Office of National Drug Control Policy Office of Management and Budget National Security Council

24. Executive Departments

27. Independent Agencies A number of independent agencies work outside the framework of the executive branch There are three types of independent agencies that carry out specific duties

29. Foreign Affairs and National Security Both the State Department and the Defense Department assist the President in carrying out foreign policy In the U.S., the President makes and carries out foreign policy with the help of key departments

30. Other Foreign & Defense Agencies Several government agencies are closely involved with foreign and defense policy

31. Foreign & Defense Alliances