Ch. 8: The Presidency

April 17, 2009U.S./VA Government

The President

• Term and Salary– 2 term limit (22nd Amendment, FDR)– Congress decides presidential salary ($400,000/yr)– Other compensation includes non-taxable travel

allowance, of Air Force One, medical, dental, and health care, White House, and retirement pension

• Qualifications– Constitutional: Natural-born citizen, 35 years old,

U.S. resident for 14 years (same for VP)– Government Experience: unwritten, but important;

usually senators or governors; why? Alliances, track record

The President

• Qualifications– Government Experience: important, usually senators or

governors … why? Alliances and track record– Money: federal government provides some, but not much

• Campaigns are expensive• Hard vs. Soft money and McCain/Feingold Act of 2002

– Political Beliefs: moderate candidates are more electable• Hoteling Model

– Personal Characteristics: white, middle-class, Protestant, male

• Changing!– Willing to give up personal comforts for the sake of the

office

Presidential Succession• Order of Succession

– 25th Amendment: 1967, establishes order of succession = VP becomes president, then nominates a VP, approved by Congress

– VP -> Speaker -> President pro tem -> Secretary of State• Presidential Disability

– Examples: Garfield shot in 1881, lingered for 80 days; Wilson disabled in 1919 and his wife took over

– 25th Amendment also sets rules in this case. VP becomes acting president IF the president informs Congress of his inability to perform in office OR if the VP and a majority of the cabinet or another body authorized by law informs Congress of disability

– Congress reassumes authority by saying disability no longer exists, but if there is disagreement with VP or other authoritative body, Congress has 21 days to settle dispute with a 2/3 vote

Vice President

• Constitution gives two duties– Presides over the Senate and votes if there is a tie– Helps decide if president is disabled, acts as

president in that case

• Modern Responsibilities– President can assign responsibilities– Policy discussions and special assignments like

speeches, representing the president overseas– Members of the National Security Council

Cabinet

• Not in Constitution; Congress created Depts. Of State, War, Treasury, and Attorney General’s office soon after Washington’s election; 14 present departments in Cabinet

• Purpose? Advisory, lead bureaucratic departments

• Selection: Factors in making appointments– Background should match the department– Satisfy interest groups– High-level administrative skills and experience– Race, gender, ethnicity is increasingly important– Who is most likely to take it? Short term, low pay, life

in Washington not attractive

Cabinet• Tend to be college graduates with advanced degrees• Process: List of potentials -> staffers meet with individuals ->

leak names to media for public reaction -> Senate holds confirmation hearings on each nominee (most routine)

• Role– Strength depends on each president (Jackson, Lincoln)– Many head departments that are concerned with national issues– “Inner Cabinet” = Secretaries of State, Defense,

Treasury, Attorney General; four Cabinet members who work most closely with the president for policy on key national issues

– Other department secretaries aren’t as influential• Limiting Factors: conflicting loyalties (career officials, members

of Congress, special interest groups), disagreements and competition within Cabinet, secrecy and trust

The Executive Office

• All individuals/agencies that directly assist the president

• Agencies: created by FDR to handle many new programs created during the New Deal; ex: Office of Management and Budget, National Security Council (“Real Cabinet” includes Pres, VP, State, Defense, Joint Chiefs, CIA, Chiefs of State, Treasury, Attorney General), Homeland Security Council (created after 9/11), Council of Economic Advisers (economic policy, key to reelection)

• The White House Office: president appoints staff without Congressional confirmation; includes chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, White House counsel, press secretary; duties include handling relationships with the press and deciding who and what gets through to the president

Obama Inauguration Speech

1. Divide your paper in half.2. Left side: It’s January 19, 2009. What did you expect

Obama to address in his inauguration speech? What would you have wanted him to address in his speech?

3. Right side: We’re going to watch the speech. Keep track of the topics that come up in each segment.

4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/obama_inauguration/7840646.stm

5. Circle any similar topics. What does this tell you about how a president meets, or does not meet, popular expectations? What does this tell you about popular expectations of the president? Are they fair?

Just for fun …

Jon Stewart’s take on the Obama speech:

• http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=34874

Search for “Hope Day One Jon Stewart” on Google if you want to see it again