The President

The Executive Branch

1. Chief of Statea. Ceremonial head of the peopleb. A “symbol/mascot” for the nationc. Like the Queen of England

2. Chief Executivea. Constitutional Powersb. To enforce the laws of the nation

Roles of the President

3. Chief Administrative Officera. Head of the bureaucracy

b. Huge labor force to carry out the work of the government

4. Chief Diplomata. Spokesperson of .

America to the worldb. Creator of US foreign

policy

Roles of the President

5. Commander in Chiefa. Head of the US Armed Forces

6. Chief Legislatora. Sets the over-all shape of

public agendab. Works with Congress to.

get policies enactedinto law

Roles of the President

7. Chief of the Partya. Not in the Constitutionb. An automatic position

c. The “Top Dog” in the party

8. Chief Citizena. Represents the peopleb. Against big governmentc. Against big businessd. What we would want to do in times of

greatness or pain

Roles of the President

What if the President dies, resigns , gets removed or is disabled and can’t do the job?1. Vice President assumes office2. Then … Speaker of the House3. President Pro Tempore of Senate4. Cabinet members

Succession to the Presidency

NominationGet noticed

Media Fundraising

Primaries and Caucuses Choosing the PARTY candidateOpen – can vote in either partyClosed – can only vote for the party you’re

registered in

The Race for the Presidency

Primaries and CaucusesCandidates vie for

party title to run for officeSports analogy

Semi-finalsElimination rounds

Early primaries are most important

The Race for the Presidency

National ConventionsParty Pep RalliesFormally announce

Presidential NomineeVice Presidential NomineeParty platform

Debates

General Election – the final contest for president

The Race for the Presidency

The Electoral CollegeNeed 270 electoral votesMost states are “winner-take-all”

Can lead to a “minority president”A president who wins

the electoral voteBut lost the popular vote

The Race for the Presidency

Presidential focusInterpret laws to own feelingsDelay or push action on certain laws

Executive OrdersWeight of lawPolicy needed by bureaucracy to function

Executive PrivilegeConfidentialityAdvisors need to be able to be open without

constant public scrutiny

The President’s Growing Power

Growing BureaucracyPresident oversees the bureaucratic

processExpanded Programs

New Deal LegislationSocial Security Act Federal Housing Administration

Obama-Care

The President’s Growing Power

364 – 368Complete worksheet

377 – 385 Complete worksheet

400 – 404 410 – 411

Answer “Thinking Critically” questions 1 & 2 from p. 411

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