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Article II: Article II: The Executive Branch

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Article II I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Article II Section I

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44 th President Barack Obama: Oath of Office

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Article II The oath of office puts our president in the position of Chief Executive. As chief executive he serves as head of the branch. The power is derived from the office of the presidency. This is just one of many roles the president plays.

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Article II: Chief Roles Chief of State: The ceremonial role of the president. In other nations, kings or emperors are seen as figureheads and not actual rulers. In America, our president portrays this role among many that contain more active governing duties.

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Article II: Chief Roles Chief Executive: Holding the most powerful office in the world, the president is the head of his branch and nation. Any broad use of this power is an example of this powerful role.

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Article II: Chief Roles

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Chief Administrator: As the head of his branch, he is the boss to an administration of 2.7 million people. As the head seat at the conference table, he must ensure the branch functions smoothly.

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Article II: Chief Roles

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Chief Diplomat: Our president (with advisers) makes our foreign policy. He and his administration sets the tone for how the United States interacts with the rest of the world.

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Article II: Chief Roles Commander In Chief: The presidential powers over our military has significantly grown over time. The president does not declare war, but still retains immense power over the armed services. He is the highest rank among all services.

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Article II: Chief Roles

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Chief Legislator: As chief legislator, the president suggests legislation to Congress, who initiates the process. He also serves a role in that process in holding the powerful veto. In addition, the president can practically create law through executive orders.

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Article II: Chief Roles

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Chief of Party: As an elected official, the president is by nature a politician. As member of his respective party that has ascended to the presidency makes him the chief of that party. Often times, the president will be asked to represent the party or members when needed.

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Article II: Chief Roles Chief Citizen: The president must represent all citizens. This is done in governing by promoting the diverse needs of Americans, and in leisure by relating to our lives and interests.

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Citizenship: Natural born: American citizenship by soil/blood. No president has ever been born abroad. Age: 35 yrs old Residency: Within the US for 14 years. Straight? Up to election? (lifetime)

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Over time, Americans have expressed a clear bias for certain characteristics in their president. Preferences of the people include: Male Military background Long political career Caucasian What does this say about the election of 2008? Or 2012?

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The 22 nd Amendment states the president can only serve two 4- year terms, serving a maximum of 10 years.

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As of January 20, 2001 the taxed income of the President became $400,000. In addition, the president receives a $50,000 expense account. Other benefits of the presidency include: Lodging: 137-room mansion fully staffed and equipped with sports and entertainment. Transportation: limos, Air Force One, Marine One, yacht Protection: 24hr secret service protection (including family) Much more

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25 th Amendment Section 1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President. After the Vice Presidents position, the succession order is detailed by the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.

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Presidential Succession Vice President Speaker of the House President pro temp Secretary of State Secretary of Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General Secretary of Interior Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Labor Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Energy Secretary of Education Secretary of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Homeland Security

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Beyond taking the role of President in a situation of disability, the vice president is the president-in- waiting. VP (with majority of Cabinet) can inform Congress of the Presidents disability, if the President doesnt do this himself. The only other role the VP has is to preside over the Senate. (has tie-breaker vote) The VP also helps to balance the ticket or improve the viability of the Presidential candidate.

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Presidential Candidate: Barack Obama Vice Presidential Candidate: Joe Biden Age: 47 Experience: Freshman Senator Strengths: Speaking, reaching youth, uniting factions, intelligent Strengths: Foreign Relations, established politician, many friends in Washington Experience: 14 th longest serving Senator in history. Age: 66 Balance the Ticket

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20 th : Moves inauguration from March to January 22 nd : Limits the presidency to two terms 25 th : details disability and names VP acting president Election of the President 12 th : Changes the way electoral votes elect President/VP 23 rd : Gives Washington D.C. electors (and a voice)

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Most framers disliked the popular vote and thought America was too vast for voters to be well educated about candidates. Presidential Electors: body composed of electors from each state that would cast TWO votes for choosing a president. These elite would act as free agents and ensure the uneducated lay folk would not choose the wrong president. Most votes won the Presidency Second most votes won the Vice Presidency. What potential tensions could exist by this design?

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By the election of 1800, political parties were born. The electors from each state were loyal party candidates, thus voted identically (all for their partys candidates) causing a tie. (Jefferson, Burr 73 ) House of Rep. breaks tie By 1804, the 12 th Amendment will establish SEPARATE ballots for the President and Vice President. Giving electors one vote for each. Tie less likely. FederalistDemocratic-Republicans Adams 65Jefferson 73 Pinckney 64Burr 73 Jay 1 Considering the presence of political parties, how does this process change for each elector? Do they have a choice?

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The Constitution requires that the electoral college chooses the President, so they still exist and carry out the act.carry out the act. The judgment of the electors has been removed. They are chosen by parties. Electors are instead, a rubber stamp or assumed validation for their partys candidate. Whoever wins the state (by popular vote) gets the set of electors from that party.

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Obama Biden 20 Romney Ryan 20 Another difference in todays Electoral College is the body of electors. The framers set up a system to have one body of electors, but today political parties in each state create their own set. These electors pledge to vote for their partys candidate. 24 states have laws that make it mandatory for the electors to vote in accordance with the popular vote.

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Who are the electors? Electors are chosen from each states party structure. Electors apply and even take an oath to vote for their pledged candidate if that candidate wins the state. Typically electors are long-time party supporters with service or donation history.

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The candidates also run on a paired ticket (Pres/VP) since 1864. This is how the citizen voter sees the candidates. Barack Obama/Joseph Biden Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan The elector will cast separate ballots if their candidate wins the state.

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The biggest controversy with the electoral college today is the winner-take-all characteristic. If a candidate loses a state by a close margin, millions of popular votes received equate to 0 electoral votes toward the goal of 270. Winning big in smaller electoral vote-carrying states, and losing narrowly in states with many electoral votes can result in the elections loser attaining more popular votes. Democracy?

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Party organization at the national level determines when and where the Party Convention will be.Party Convention National party organizers also set the number of delegates that will attend the convention and apportion them by state electoral votes. 2004: Republicans=2509, Democrats=4353 Now a formality, delegates once chose candidates at the National Convention.

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How do candidates get delegates? Presidential Primaries & Caucuses The race before the race is an early election that : Chooses party delegates in the state State a preference for certain candidates as the presidential nominee

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The primary system is scheduled by the National Party structure. Primary date is important to choice-why? What purpose do primaries serve (beyond delegate- choosing/preference pick)? Filter the less popular choices out States are responsible for setting up primary regulations. Pennsylvania currently holds a closed primary. Dem-Dem, Rep-Rep, Ind/No pref- sorry.

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D

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Typically, candidates in each party wont survive the primary races past February. January Switched Parties January

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R

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February January March June (1.6%)

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