key dates: mon 11/30: the presidency hw: powers of pres. weds 12/2: the electoral college fri 12/4:...
TRANSCRIPT
Key Dates:
Mon 11/30: The Presidency HW: Powers of Pres.Weds 12/2: The Electoral College
Fri 12/4: Ch 13 & 14 Test The Judicial Branch HW: Guided Reading Questions Ch 19 Civil Liberties Video Assignment Study for Constitution Test on Tues.
Key Dates:
Tues 12/8 – Constitution Test -Ch 19: 1st Amendment -Work on Video projectHW: Ch 19/20 Guided Reading questions -Video project assignment
Thurs 12/10: Make videos (Room 404) -Ch 19/20 GR questions due
Mon 12/14 – Quiz Ch 19 & 20 -2nd -8th Am & Videos
HW: Semester Exam Study guide due Thurs.
Turkey Pardon Tradition
1. TOTUS ?
2. Which turkey was pardoned?
3. What role does the losing turkey play?
4. Can Turkeys fly?
Does the President have the Constitutional power to pardon a turkey?
What is President Obama referring to re: question 3?
Did the Bears beat the Packers this past weekend?
THE PRESIDENCY
Chapter 13 & 14
Requirements of the Office
Set up by the Constitution Article II
Same requirements apply to the Vice President
Constitutional Requirements
Presidential Qualification #1 Constitution says
in Article 2, Section 1, “No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution…”
You must be a natural born citizen
What does “natural born” mean?
Do you think that we shouldn’t have any foreign born presidents?
Eight presidents were born British subjects, so how did they become president?
Presidential Qualification #2 Constitution says
in Article 2, Section 1, “…neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years…”
You must be at least 35 years old Why did the
Framers put this qualification in the Constitution?
Who was the youngest President?
Who was the oldest President?
Youngest/ Oldest Presidents
JFK- 43 (Elected) Ronald Reagan – 69 (elected)
Teddy Roosevelt- 42 (Inaugurated)
Presidential Qualification #3 Constitution
says in Article 2, Section 1, “…and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.”
You must live in the U.S. for 14 years Why would the
Framers put this qualification in the Constitution?
Informal (Unwritten) Requirements
Presidential Term
*Constitution= Term of 4 years
*George Washington established the tradition of only serving two terms.
•22nd Amendment (1951) limits the President to having a maximum of two 4-year terms or a maximum of 10 years.
•20th Am= Takes office on Jan 20th.
Presidential Salary
Constitution leaves salary to Congress to decide May NOT adjust pay
during a President’s term
Money is NOT the reason why individuals seek the job.
$400,000/yearCurrent Salary
Presidential “Perks”
Presidents enjoy many benefits while in office.
Official Expense Account ($50k) Travel Account ($100k) Lux Transportation
Air Force One, Limos, Helicopters Entertainment Account ($19k) Free Medical, Dental, & Health Care Secret Service Protection Free Rent
White House Lifelong Pension (Spouses Too) Free Office Space & Mail Services in
Retirement
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
“The People’s House”
The White House
Inside the White House
132 Rooms Swimming Pool Bowling Alley Private Movie
Theater Tennis & Basketball
Courts West Wing Private Living
Quarters
Domestic Staff Chefs Maids Assistants Personal
Shoppers Concierge
The Framers’ Vision
Weren’t clear on role of President when drafting the Constitution
Established broad powers Balanced by
Congress & the Courts
Had 1 man in mind for job…
George Washington’s Legacy
Set many precedents
Wanted to be called “Mr. President” Opposed “His
Excellency” & “His Mightiness”
Started tradition of serving 2 terms
George Washington’s Legacy
Only President to be elected unanimously by the Electoral College TWICE!
Set the precedent of assembling a Cabinet of Advisors Selected best minds
of the day
The President’s Right Hand Man
The Vice Presidency
Constitutional Role of the V.P.
Presidential Disability
Many Presidents have become “disabled” during their terms Highly stressful job
25th Amendment sets forth rules… V.P. assumes duties
if Congress is informed President is unable to perform duties
Shot in 1881, lingered between life & death for 80 days—no one assumed Presidential duties
James Garfield
Suffered a stroke in 1919—Mrs. Wilson performed his duties
Woodrow Wilson
Had a heart attack in 1955, was only able to perform limited duties for 20 weeks—Assistants & V.P. took care of his responsibilities
Dwight Eisenhower
The Vice President’s Role
Constitution only gives the Vice President 2 duties
The remaining responsibilities (if any) are granted by the President
Evolution of the Vice Presidency Since Eisenhower’s
term, responsibilities have increased V.P.s were largely
ignored before 1953
V.P.s are usually experienced politicians Presidents today
utilize their expertise
Modern Role of the V.P.
Represent President overseas
Attend state funerals Carry out ceremonial
functions Diplomatic role Visit Heads of State Serve as important
Advisor to the President
Presidential Succession
Set up by the Succession Act of 1947
Added to the Constitution by the 25th Amendment (1967) Set up order to
assume Presidency
8 Presidents have died in office
Those Who Died in Office…
Presidential Succession
Roles of the President
The President’s Job Description
Formal & Informal
Informal-
•*Leader of the free world
•*Chief of State
•*Election mandates
•*Head of party
Formal= Constitutional Powers1. Commander in Chief
2. Grant pardons & Reprieves
3. Make treaties
4. Appointment
5. Recommend / veto legislation
6. Special sessions of Congress or adjournment
7. Receive Ambassadors
8. Ensure that the “laws be faithfully executed”
Chief/Head of State
Represent nation to the world
Symbol of the people of the USA
Perform ceremonial duties
Xfederalism-Governors represent “state”
Chief Executive
Enforces federal laws, treaties, court decisions.
“…laws be faithfully executed”
Tools… Executive Order Executive
Agreements Appoint/Remove
Officials
X= Congress approves appts. -X=Treaties can override Ex Agreements. X=Congress funds laws/ programs.
Chief Administrator
Oversees a huge bureaucracies in the world.
Employs 2.7 Million civilians & spends over 3 trillion $
Ex: State Dept. Dept. of
Defensealso Independent Agencies: IRS,
FEC, NASA*Senate Approves
appointments & budgets.
Chief Diplomat
Makes key decisions about U.S. foreign relations.
Has access to top secret intelligence FBI, CIA, State Dept.
Appoints ambassadors
Power to make treaties & executive agreements
Recognizes foreign govts.
X= Senate approves appointments.X- Senate ratifies treaties
Commander in Chief
Head of armed forces (Civilian authority) Backs up foreign policy
with military force
Power to make warX=War Powers ResolutionCongress declares war
Responsible for key military decisions & strategies
Chief Legislator
Outlines legislative proposals.
First 100 Days= Honeymoon period – “Mandate”
2nd yr= mid-term elections
2nd term= lame duck State of the Union
Address
Suggest annual reports & shape public policies
Can call Congress into special sessions
*Veto Power
X -2/3 Congress overrides vetoX- Congress does not have to pass President’s proposals.X- Congress can limit law through funding.
Chief of Party
Expected to be leader of their political party
Political patronage22nd Am= Only President for two terms.
Party structure is de-centralized(county- state – national levels)
Chief Jurist
Grants pardons, reprieves, commutations.
Appoints all Federal Judges
X= Senate approves all judicial appointments
Chief Economist
Role has grown rapidly since F.D.R.’s “New Deal”
Prepares federal budget each year
Congress must allocate $$$
President canImpound the funds!
(Impoundment = refuse to issue ex order to spend the funds)
The Path to the Presidency (p. 382)
1. Announce Candidacy-”test the waters” 2. Raise A LOT of $$$$$$$$ 3. Win party primary elections or Caucuses in each state. (to secure the party nomination) 4. Formal nomination at Party Convention. 5. General election= win electors!
6. Win 270 votes in the Electoral College
How do we elect the President?The Electoral College Nov: Each state chooses electors. # of electors = # of H/Rep + 2 Senate= min of 3 (23rd Am- gave Washington D.C. 3 electors) Dec: Electors cast 1 vote for Pres & 1 vote for VP (12Th Am.- separated the votes.) Jan 6th : Electoral votes are counted.
Winner= first candidate to win a majority of votes. If no candidate wins the majority – - House of Rep ----President (Each state= I vote) - Senate -------------VP Jan 20th – President is inaugurated.
Step 1: Choosing Electors
The General ElectionWhen? =First Tuesday, following the first
Monday in November……..How? Each State holds a popular election to
choose electors. How many electors per state? = # House of Rep. + 2 Senate = Min. of 3 Total # of electors= 538
(435 House + 100 Senate + 3 D.C. ( 23rd Am)
How are electors chosen?
48 states & D.C. = “winner take all” system
1. Each party has a “slate of electors”2. Winner of the plurality of the vote wins
100% of the electoral votes. Their slate of electors are chosen! **************
Nebraska & Maine= elector chosen by
districts. (1 elector per district)
Step 2: Electors cast their votes.
Step 2 Electors meet in the State capitals on “the first Monday following the
second Weds in December.”
Certificates from each elector are sent to Washington, DC
Step 3: When are the electoral votes officially counted? January 6th
Electoral votes are formally counted in a joint session of congress.
The VP conducts the session. If no candidate wins the majority of
electoral votes (270) = H/Rep – chooses the president Senate – chooses the VP
Does your vote count?http://ed.ted.com/lessons/does-your-vote-count-the-electoral-college-explained-christina-greer#digdeeper
1. Art I Sec 1 Clause 2 :2. Why 538?3. Census:4. 270:5. 39 v 11:6. Small States :7. Safe states8. Swing states
Problems……
3Defects of the
electoral college system
The Electoral College
1. Winner of popular vote can loose the electoral vote.
2. “faithless elector”
3. Election decided by the House of Representatives.
1. District Plan2. Proportional Plan3. Direct popular
election4. National popular
vote plan
Flaws Proposed Reforms
Proposals for change
1.Which defect would it fix?2. Who would oppose it? large states? Or small states? 3. Would it require a constitutional amendment to go into effect? If so, who would oppose it?4. Any other concerns or objections to this idea/
#1-Winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed the presidency. “Winner take all” is designed to give 1
candidate a clear win. Each electoral vote does not represent the
same total of popular votes. (1 vote Ca= 615,848 1 vote Wyoming=
164,594) Popular vote winner has lost electoral
college vote 4 times (1824,1876,1888, 2000)
Gives a distorted view of the outcome. (15 elected without a majority of the
popular vote)
#2- Electors are not required to vote in accord with the popular vote. There is no legal requirement for
electors to live up to their pledge.
“faithless elector” has occurred 9 times.
(Most recently in 2000)
#3- Any election might have to be decided in the House of Representatives Has only happened twice- 1800 & 1824 Concern today - Rise of 3rd party candidates increases the
possibility that 1 candidate will not receive a majority of the electoral college vote.
Problems with election in the House?1. Each State has only 1 vote. States with small population will have
as much influence as States with large population.
2. If a majority of representatives from a State cannot agree on who to vote for, the state looses their vote.
3. To win a candidate would have to receive 26 votes- a majority of the States. A strong 3rd party candidate would prevent a majority winner. Presidency may not be decided by inauguration day .
(Electoral college votes are counted on Jan 6th- Inauguration is Jan 20th)
Proposed Reforms #1 & #2
1. District Plan= would eliminate “winner take all”, but not the possibility that the loser of the popular vote could still win the electoral vote.
2.Proportional Plan= would eliminate faithless electors and “winner take all”, and strengthen role of 3rd parties but would increase chance that no candidate would win a majority of electoral votes.
Proposed Reforms #3
2. Direct Popular Election-Would require a Constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College in favor of direct popular vote.
Opposed by/ concern= - Small States, Federalists/ States rights
advocates- cost of campaign to have to campaign
in every State, could lead to voter fraud and lengthy challenges.
3. National Popular Vote Plan-Each State would cast 100% of electoral votes for winner of the national popular vote.*Guarantees the popular vote winner wins the presidency. *direct popular election of the President without a constitutional amendment. (States would enter into an interstate compact)
Proposed Reforms #4
National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
10 states + D.C. have agreed to cast 100% of their electoral votes
for the winner of the national popular vote.
136 electoral votes
Will go into effect once the total # of states in the compact represent
at least 270 electoral votes.
Advantages of Electoral College System
1. It is a known process. A new process could have unknown defects that would surface once adopted.
2. It identifies the winner of the presidential election quickly and certainly.
3. It promotes the two-party system. (Stability / organization of govt.)
Ch 13 The Electoral College
•5. Do you think the Electoral College system should be abolished? Why or why not?
1.Why was the 12th Amendment necessary? How did it change the Electoral College?
2. The Electoral College is a “winner take all” system. What does that mean?
3. Explain 3 weaknesses of the Electoral College system.
4. List and explain three solutions to the Electoral College System.
Short Answer Question #1
The Electoral College
Discuss the major defects of the electoral college system.Which proposed solution to the Electoral College system do you think is best?Why? Who would support it? Who would oppose it? What do you think is the best advantage of the electoral system?
Short Answer question #2
The powers & roles of the President.
1.What makes a great President?
Discuss the presidential powers and roles and the qualities a great president needs in order to fulfill all of the various roles and the powers that go with each.
Ch 14 Discussion Questions
1. What is the difference between the view of presidential power held by Pres. Teddy Roosevelt and the view held by Willam H. Taft?2. How does the President’s ordinance power influence the meaning of a law?3. What is the “practical effect” of senatorial courtesy?4. What is the check on the President’s power of appointment?
Ch 14 discussion questions
5. Why did the Framers choose the Senate to be the body responsible for giving “advice and consent” to any treaty made by the President?6. Why is the President’s power of recognition so powerful?7. How does Congress check the President’s power as Commander-in-chief?8. What is the benefit of giving the President line-item veto power? What is the potential problem with it?9. What powers of the President serve as a check on the judicial branch?