Chapter 8The Presidency

Chapter 8Section 1

President and Vice President

Presidents have enormous power and responsibility in government

Presidential Responsibilities◦ Make sure national laws are fully executed.◦ Serve as commander in chief of the armed forces.◦ Appoint top officials, federal judges, and

ambassadors to meet with foreign governments.

Duties of the President

The 22nd Amendment◦ George Washington set a long-held precedent that the

president would serve only two terms.◦ Franklin Roosevelt was elected four times.◦ The 22nd Amendment limited the president to two

terms. Salary and Benefits

◦ Congress determines the President’s salary.◦ The president has been paid $400,000 since 2001.◦ The President is also provided with a $100,000 non-

taxable travel allowance, the use of a helicopter, airplane, limousines and a 132 room mansion.

◦ He or she also receive free health care and a pension.

President’s Term and Salary

Constitutional Requirements◦ A candidate must be a natural-born citizen.◦ Must be 35 year of age◦ Must be a resident of the United States for 14 years.◦ The same requirements apply to the vice president.

Government Experience◦ Candidates who served as US Senators or state

governors are most likely to win.◦ A political career provides the opportunity to form

alliances needed to obtain a party's nominate as well as the name recognition necessary to win votes.

Presidential Qualifications

Importance of Money◦ Candidates for office must have access to sources

for raising large amounts of money in the presidential election campaign.

◦ There are caps on the amount of money that can be spent during a candidate's run for president. $33.78 million in the primaries $67.56 million in the general election

◦ This money is used to pay for television ads, hiring campaign staff and consultants, and sending out mailings.

Presidential Qualifications

Political Beliefs◦ Successful presidential candidates usually hold moderate

political beliefs.◦ This allows them to reach the greatest number of

potential voters. Personal Characteristics

◦ Presidents generally have been white, married, Protestant, financially successful men.

◦ No women nor any person of Hispanic or Asian ancestry has been elected president.

Personal Growth◦ “To be President of the United States is to be lonely, very

lonely at times of great decision.” Harry Truman◦ The presidency reveals strengths and weaknesses.

Presidential Qualifications

The 25th Amendment established the order of succession to the presidency.◦ Vice President◦ Speaker of the House◦ President Pro Tempore of the Senate◦ Secretary of State◦ Other cabinet member

The 25th Amendment also spells out what happens when the vice presidency is vacant.

Presidential Succession

The vice president’s work depends on what jobs, if any, the president assigns.

Although presidents before Eisenhower generally ignored their vice presidents, presidents since then have tried to give their vice presidents more responsibility.

They are involved in diplomatic activities such as representing the president overseas.

The Vice President’s Role

Chapter 8Section 2

Electing the President

Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution provided that the candidate receiving a majority of the electoral votes became the president.

Each state would have as many electors as it had senators and Representatives in Congress.◦ Elector: member of a party chosen in each state

to formally elect a president and vice president. The Candidate with the second-highest

number of votes became vice president.

The Original System

The election of 1800 was decided by the House of Representatives who voted Thomas Jefferson ahead of Aaron Burr.

To prevent a tie vote for president in the Electoral College, the 12th Amendment provided that electors must cast separate ballots for president and vice president.

The Impact of Political Parties

The Electoral College is still used to choose the president and vice president.

The College uses a winner take all system.◦ All of a state’s (except Maine and Nebraska)

electoral votes go to the candidate receiving the largest popular vote.

The Electoral College vote is cast in December.

The Electoral System Today

Winner Take All◦ The Electoral College system today makes it

possible for a candidate who loses the total popular vote to win the electoral vote.

Third Party Candidates◦ A third-party candidate could win enough

electoral votes to prevent either major party candidate from receiving a majority in Electoral College.

Electoral College Issues

Election by the House◦ When the House of Representatives must decide a

presidential election, each state casts one vote.◦ The House may face several serious problems:

States with small populations have as much weight as states with larger populations.

Under the rules, if a majority of representatives from a state cannot agree on a candidate, the state loses its vote.

If some members of the House favor a strong third-party candidate, it could be difficult for any candidate to get the 26 votes needed to win.

Electoral College Issues

Ideas for Reform◦ Electoral votes by district rather than by state.

Two statewide electoral votes would go to the candidate carrying the most districts.

◦ Candidates receive percentage of Electoral vote based on popular vote in the state.

Direct popular Election◦ Critics argue the Electoral College should be

replaced with direct election of the president and vice president.

Electoral College Issues

The new president is sworn into office in an inauguration ceremony.

All leading officials from the three branches of government attend the January Ceremony.

The Innauguration

Chapter 8Section 3

The Cabinet

Cabinet: secretaries of the executive departments, the vice president, and other top offices that help the president make decisions and policy

Secretaries should have some credible expertise in the policy areas their department will manage.

They should provide geographic balance as well as racial and gender representation.

The Selection of the Cabinet

Major Factors in Making Appointments:◦ Do the members’ backgrounds suit their cabinet

post?◦ Do they bring geographical balance to the

cabinet?◦ Do they satisfy interest groups?◦ Do they have high level administrative skills?◦ Are ethnic and racial minorities and women

included in the group?

The Selection of the Cabinet

Background of Cabinet Members◦ Cabinet members today are usually college

graduates and leaders in various professional fields.◦ Cabinet secretaries earn $161,200 annually.◦ Many could make more money in the business world

but take Cabinet positions anyway. Nominations and Confirmations

◦ The Senate must approve cabinet appointees, and it usually does so out of courtesy to the president.

◦ The nominee appears before the Senate committee that oversees the department to answer questions about his or her background and views.

The Selection of the Cabinet

As individuals, cabinet members are responsible for the executive departments they head.

As a group, the cabinet is intended to serve as an advisory board to the president.

The cabinet meets when the president calls it together.

Meeting occur in the cabinet room of the White House and are usually closed to the public and the press.

The Role of the Cabinet

The Cabinet in History◦ The cabinet’s role in government depends on

what each presidents wants.◦ Stronger presidents such as Jackson, Lincoln,

Wilson, and FDR have paid the cabinet less attention.

The Modern Cabinet◦ Several recent presidents have attempted to

increase the role of the cabinet.◦ Most end up using other sources for advice.◦ Bush and Clinton have used their cabinets as

sounding boards rather than advisors.

The Role of the Cabinet

The Influence of Cabinet Members◦ Some cabinet members who work closely with the

president wield influence because they head departments that are concerned with national issues.

◦ The secretaries of state, defense, and treasury, plus the attorney general form the “inner cabinet” and influence the president’s decisions on matters related to their department’s area of interest.

The Role of the Cabinet

Conflicting Loyalties◦ The president does not command full loyalty of

cabinet members.◦ Cabinet members are pressured by career officials

in their departments, interest groups, and members of Congress.

◦ This pressure may result in disagreements within the cabinet over the president’s policies and plans.

Factors Limiting the Cabinet’s Role

Secrecy and Trust◦ With 14 cabinet members, it is difficult to

maintain secrecy in matters the president considers sensitive.

◦ The president may not know and trust all the members of the cabinet because the president must weigh so many factors in appointing them.

Factors Limiting the Cabinet’s Role

Chapter 8Section 4The Executive Office

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) was created by Congress in 1939.

The EOP consists of individuals and agencies that directly assist the president.

The EOP was the result of FDR’s attempts to add government programs in order to make the government more efficient

Executive Office Agencies

Organization and Growth◦ Today the EOP consists of the White House Office

and several specialized agencies that report to the president.

◦ The EOP has grown rapidly for three reasons: Presidents adding new agencies to it as problems

arise. Presidents want experts nearby to advise them about

complex issues. Federal programs sometimes require special staff to

coordinate the efforts of several executive departments and other agencies working together.

Executive Office Agencies

The Office of Management and Budget◦ Largest agency in the EOP◦ Prepares the national budget that the president

submits to Congress each year.◦ Review all legislative proposals that executive

agencies prepare in a process called central clearance

The National Security Council◦ Advises the president and helps coordinate the

nation’s military foreign policy◦ Headed by the president but also includes the vice

president, secretary of state, and secretary of state.

Executive Office Agencies

The National Homeland Security Council◦ Created in 2001 following the terrorists attacks of

9/11.◦ Responsible for developing a national strategy to

protect the US from future terrorist attacks.

The Council of Economic Advisers◦ Helps the president formulate the nation’s

economic policy.

Executive Office Agencies

Other EOP Agencies◦ Presidents add and sometimes eliminate agencies

to the EOP to help carry out policy.◦ Domestic Policy Council◦ National Economic Council◦ Office of Environmental Policy◦ Environmental Protection Agency◦ Office of Science and Technology Policy

Executive Office Agencies

Early presidents had little help with everyday activities.◦ Washington hired his nephew at his own expense.◦ Cleveland and McKinley personally answered

phone calls to the White House.◦ A 1937 study determined that the president

required a personal staff. The president appoints White House staff

without Senate confirmation.

The White House Office

Organization and Growth◦ The White House Office has become the most

important part of the Executive Office of the President.

◦ Key aides are usually longtime personal supporters of the president.

◦ The White House Office grew from about 50 people under Roosevelt to nearly 600 people under Nixon.

◦ Staff size has dropped during the last 3 decades.

The White House Office

Duties of the White House Office◦ The White House staff perform whatever duties

the president assigns them.◦ Duties could include:

Gathering information and providing advice on key issues

Ensuring that executive departments and agencies carry out key directions from the president

Presenting the president’s views to the outside world Deciding who and what information gets through to

the president

The White House Office