The PresidencyThe Presidency

The Executive Branch

Presidential Elections• Every 4 years

– Election Day: The 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November.

• Winner-Take-All System– The Electoral College: 538 members

• Each state’s representation is based upon membership in the Congress.

• Possible to win popular vote but not Electoral College

– 1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000

Inauguration• January 20th

– Oath of Office• “I do solemnly swear, that I will

faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

– Inaugural Address– March from the Capitol

Building to White House

Qualifications• Constitutional

– Natural Born Citizen– 35 years old– 14 year resident of U.S.

• Realistic– Government Experience– Money– Political Beliefs– Personality– Speaking Ability

Term and Salary

• 22nd Amendment – passed in 1953– 2 full terms of 4 years– 10 years

• Salary– $400,000 a year ($198,000 for

VP)– $50,000 for expenses

connected with duties

Benefits• $100,000 for Travel

Expenses• Secret Service• Air Force One, Limo,

Helicopters, ETC.• Free medical, dental, and

surgical care• Cleaning and Cooking Staff• Entertainment Expense

Account• Pension: $150,000 a year

Benefits

• Camp David– 125-acre camp– Maryland

(Catoctin Mountains)

The White House• 132 rooms• Pool• bowling alley• tennis court• movie theatre• Billiard Room• Jogging Track• Putting Green

Powers of the President1. Mandate

• Power coming into office after election

• The Will of the People (how big did you win?)

2. Constitutional • Commander of the nation’s

military and security• Power of nomination• Foreign Policy Direction

3. Crisis Power– What do you do when things go

bad?• FDR: The Great Depression• Bush: 9/11• Jefferson: The Louisiana Purchase• Lincoln: The Civil War

4. Mass Media Power– Press Conferences – State of the Union– Inaugural Address

Powers of the President

Limits to Presidential Power• Congressional

– Congressional Override on Veto– War Powers Act of 1973

• Limit of 60 days for troop deployment without permission of Congress

– Power of the Purse, Impeachment, and Confirmation Power

• Court– Judicial Review of Legislation

and Power

Roles of the Presidency1. Head of State

• Ceremonial Leader – Host other leaders

2. Chief Legislator• Presidential Plan for Better

America• State of the Union

3. Chief Politician• Leader of Political Party

4. Chief Diplomat• Treaties with foreign governments pending

Congressional approval• Executive Agreements• Recognition of foreign governments (Cuba)

5. Commander in Chief• Armed Forces commander• President cannot declare war, only suggest it.• Nuclear Power• Protect from All Enemies – both foreign and

domestic

Roles of the Presidency

6. Chief Executive• Executive Orders: have the rule of law

• Appointment Power: nomination to positions

• Removal Power

• Impoundment: stop Congressional funding

• Reprieves: postponement of legal punishment

• Pardons: release from legal punishment

• Amnesty: group pardons (Vietnam draft dodgers)

Roles of the Presidency

Role of Vice President• Presides over the Senate• Takes over the Presidency in

case of death or disability • New Roles:

– Diplomatic Relations– Support of Presidential Platform– National Security Council member

Joe Biden

The Cabinet• 15 Secretaries, VP and

other advisors• How do you get in?

1. Must have expertise in the area of policy

2. Usually different demographically

– Geographic, Race, Gender, Religion, etc.

3. Administrative Experience4. Must be confirmed by

Congress

Support Staff• Executive Office of the President

(EOP)– People that directly assist in the

White House.

• White House Staff– Press Secretary, Chief of Staff

• Office of Management and Budget (OMB)– Largest Agency in the EOP– Helps write, organize, and manage

the budget.

• National Security Council (NSC)– Helps to Coordinate military and

foreign policy

– Joint Chiefs of Staff, VP, Secretary of State + Defense

• Council of Economic Advisors– Helps to organize economic

policies and answer the long-range questions.

Support Staff

Why it is tough to be President• Qualities necessary

1. New ideas must be bold and solve problems2. Understanding the Public3. Ability to Communicate4. Sense of Timing5. Openness to new ideas6. Flexibility7. Compromise with Congress8. Courage to stand alone9. Avoiding Isolation