Why is President

Obama the 44th

President , but there are

only 43 pictured?

Grover Cleveland is both the 22nd and the 24th President and is the only president to date that has served two non-consecutive

terms.

The Executive

BranchThe

Presidency

President Obama

• Graduated Columbia University and• Harvard Law School

• 1st African American President of Harvard Law Review

• Taught Constitutional Law at University of Chicago (92-04)

• Civil Rights Attorney• Served 3 terms Illinois State Senate (97-

04)• Gave Keynote address at Democratic

Convention July 2004• Elected to U.S. Senate Nov. 2004• Elected the 44th President of the United

States on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on January 20, 2009.

8 Roles of the President

1. Chief of State2. Chief Executive3. Chief Administrator4. Chief Legislator5. Chief Diplomat6. Commander and Chief7. Party Chief8. Chief Citizen

Presidential Roles Explained

• Chief...1. State-Head of the U.S.2. Executive- Head of the Executive

Branch3. Administrator- Head person making

sure laws are followed4. Legislator- Pushes laws through and

signs them into law

Presidential Roles Explained Cont’d..

• Chief...5. Diplomat- Head person representing the US in foreign matters.6. Commander and Chief- Directs and strategizes the military.7. Party member- Figure head of the

Party the President belongs to8. Citizen- Head image person of what

Americans are

Formal Qualifications

• _______ _______ Citizen.• At least _____ years old.• Lived in United States __________

years.Disqualifications

Article 1, Sec. 3: Senate can disqualify a person convicted of a

crime.14th Amendment, Sec. 3:

Someone swore oath to Constitution and later rebelled against U.S. (2/3 vote of Senate can remove disqualification)

Born Naturalized

35

at least 14

Presidential Term

Until 1951, The Constitution did not have a term limit for President.

“No third term tradition”.Established by George WashingtonFDR broke this tradition

22nd AmendmentLimit of 10 years, totalThis means... You can serve 2 years as VP and 8 years as

President.

Presidential Powers cont’d

• Executive Order- a directive, rule, or regulation that has the effect of law

• Ordinance Power- power to issue Executive Orders

• Signing Statements- How the president views the bill and how he will enforce it.

Pay and Benefits

• Pay of $400,000 yearly plus $50,000 expense account, a $100,000 non taxable travel account, and $ 19,000 for entertainment

• Use of Air Force One, Fleet of Cars, Camp David

• Staff: including Chef and House Staff• Retirement Pension of $191,300,

transition expenses, medical, and burial

Presidential Powers

War and Foreign Affairs power• Plans and directs military and military strategy

Foreign Policy• Protecting Americans abroad and Foreign Nationals in U.S.• Decides whether to recognize new Nations and

Governments• Negotiates treaties with other Nations (which become

binding when approved by 2/3 of Senate).• May negotiate “Executive Agreements” with Foreign powers

that are not subject to Senate confirmation.

War Powers Act 1974

• 1) Within 48 hours President must inform • congress of sending troops abroad• 2) 60 day time limit unless Congress agrees to

longer • period. Maybe extended 30 days but allow safe • time for American forces to withdraw• 3) Congress may end combat commitment at• anytime, by passing a concurrent resolution to • that effect

• W.P.A still in dispute but till the Congress takes President to court and makes him follow the Act

Presidential Powers Cont.

Judicial Power• Nominates Federal Judges

• U.S. Court of Appeals• Supreme Court (requires Senate

confirmation).• Appoints judges to U.S. District Courts• Grants pardons (usually done at the end

of presidential term).

Growth of Presidential Power

• Growth of Presidential power has increased for various reasons:

• 1) Single person in charge of branch• 2) President himself as he interprets the Constitution• 3) Decisive action during natural and national

emergencies• 4) Congress passing laws strengthening the

Executive Branch• 5) The Use of Mass Media to get public support• Imperial Presidency- the term paints a picture of the

President as an Emperor

VICE PRESIDENT

Today’s Vice President

•Graduate of University of Delaware and Syracuse Law School

•At age 29 - became one of the youngest elected to U.S. Senate

•Delaware Senator for 36 years

•Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee

•Member of the Foreign Relations Committee•VP can never be fired from Office by President (must be impeached)

Where the VP lives• In July 1974, Congress designated a

house on the southeast corner of 34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue in where the VP would live. Located on the grounds of the United States Navel Observatory.

• Before 1974, vice presidents either bought a temporary home in Washington DC or stayed at hotels.

• The first full-time residents were Walter Mondale, President Jimmy Carter's vice president, and his wife, Joan, in 1977. Every vice president since has lived there.

Vice President Role

• The VP has only 2 Constitutional duties1. To preside over the Senate2. Help decide the question of Presidential

disability• Until VP Cheney, the VP has been viewed

and an insignificant office.• Biden played key roll in the passing of

economic stimulus bill in Congress.• Has been asked to be more involved in

health care reform, oversee stimulus spending and be at the table on foreign policy issues.

Vice President Pay and Benefits

• VP salary - $227,300 annually• The VP receives the same pension as

others in Congress based on the position as President of the Senate.

• VP must serve 5 years to qualify for a pension.

Presidential Succession of the VP

• Disability Gap (25th Amendment, sec. 3 & 4)

1. A President, who recognizes that he is disabled (or due to a medical procedure), can remove himself from office temporarily by informing the Speaker of the House and the President pro tem in writing, the VP becomes acting President.

2. VP and majority of the Cabinet inform Congress, in writing, of Presidential incapacitation.

Order of succession to the Presidency:

1 Vice President of the United StatesJoe Biden2 Speaker of the HouseJohn Boehner3 President pro tempore of the Senate Patrick Leahy4 Secretary of StateJohn Kerry 5 Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew6 Secretary of DefenseChuck Hagel7 Attorney GeneralEmpty8 Secretary of the InteriorSally Jewell 9 Secretary of AgricultureTom Vilsack -- Acting Secretary of CommerceRebecca Blank10 Secretary of LaborSeth D. Harris11 Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius 12 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan13 Secretary of TransportationRay LaHood 14 Secretary of EnergySteven Chu 15 Secretary of EducationArne Duncan16 Secretary of Veterans AffairsEric Shinseki*17 Secretary of Homeland SecurityJanet Napolitano

12th Amendment

The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice- President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;

Simply put the President and VP are on separate ballots.

What if....

• If no President can be decided by January 20th, the 20th Amendment provides that the newly elected VP shall act as President until a choice is made. If no clear winner is made, the Senate decides between the 2 top candidates.

• If no qualified President or VP is elected, the 20th Amendment states that the Speaker of the House shall take the post until qualified candidates are elected.

Flaws in the Electoral College

1. Winners of the Popular vote are not guaranteed the Presidency.

2. Electors are not required to vote in accord with the popular vote.

3. The election may have to be decided in the House of Representatives.

The Executive

BranchThe

Presidency