The President

Warm-Up: True or False? 1) The President can declare war if America's national

security is threatened. 2) The President has the right to withhold certain information

from Congress if he thinks it would endanger America. 3) The power of the vice-presidency has been increasing

since the early 1990s. 4) No president has ever made it to the highest office without

being elected to either the Presidency or the vice-presidency.

5) The president is one of the highest paid members of American society.

Qualifications Must be born as a US citizen Be at least 35

Kennedy was youngest elected (42)

Have lived in US for at least 14 years

Length of Term May only be ELECTED twice

Four year terms

IF one gains presidency through succession (VP becomes pres after Pres dies) for more than two years, then can only serve ONE additional term.

IF serving for LESS than two years, then can still be elected for two full termsThus a total of 10 years is possible.

The Two Term Precedent

FDR was the only president to win more than two terms

He led the US through the Depression and WW II

George Washington set the precedent for the limit of two terms until the 22nd Amendment made law in 1951

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)

Benefits $400,000 a year

(Note: VP makes $230K, Congressmen make $165K and Supreme Court judges make $203K)

Free room and board The White House

Get your own airplane 747 “Air Force One”

Get your own mountain hideaway Camp David in Maryland

Nice Pension - $165K Expense account - $50K

The Roles The Constitution speaks briefly about the

duties of the President His duties can be broken into 6 main roles:

Chief of StateChief ExecutiveChief DiplomatCommander in ChiefChief LegislatorChief of Party

Chief of State

President is ceremonial head of the government.

We don’t have a king, so he does the social job of one – with an American TwistEXAMPLES:

–Decorating War Heroes

–Throwing Out The 1st Pitch

–Dedication Ceremonies

–Receiving VIPs at White House

The Chief of State Some believe it

limits the President’s ability to do “real work.”

Takes up too much of his time

Some have called for a separate Chief of State to take over this role

GWB and QE2

The Chief Executive Role Acts as boss of the executive branch of

the gov’t – 15 executive departments He is the CEO of the Government

Makes sure govt is running efficientlyCarries out, enforces, executes the law

Constitutionally bound to enforce the acts of Congress, judgments of federal courts, and treaties signed by the United States.

The Chief Executive Has the bureaucracy to

help him with these tasksCabinet positionsFederal Agencies

Powers of the Chief Executive:Appointment and

Removal

Controls budget Monitors

unemployment,Inflation, taxation, business,and general welfare of the nation.He does not control the economy, but

he gets credit if it goes well.

Chief Executive(Guardian of the Economy)

Oversees Numerous Departments Offices, Agencies, Bureaus, etc

Executive DepartmentsDepartment of Agriculture (USDA) Department of Commerce (DOC) Department of Defense (DOD) Department of Education (ED) Department of Energy (DOE) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department of Justice (DOJ) Department of Labor (DOL) Department of State (DOS) Department of the Interior (DOI) Department of the Treasury Department of Transportation (DOT) Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/Includes/Agency_Index.pdf

Commander in Chief The armed services

are under civilian rather than military controlSecty of DefenseChrmn of the Joint

Chiefs of Staff

The supreme commander of the military forces of the United States

Commander in Chief - Bush

Commander in Chief This gives Presidents a

tremendous amount of powerPowers based upon

Washington as President Exercises more authority

than in any other role.

Where ever the President goes, so goes the Nuclear Code briefcase (the “football”). Theoretically, only the President has the power to order the launch nuclear weapons.

Commander In Chief Congress has the power to declare war, but

the President can send troops.In many cases the situation is confrontational

War Powers Act (1973)Spelled out conditions when the

President can send troopsPresident must report within 48 hoursIf Congress does not issue a

declaration of war, troops must be withdrawn in 60 days.○ Yeah, Right. Never been done

Chief Diplomat Conducts foreign

policy, directs actions of ambassadors

Under this Role the President has 3 main powers:

1. Recognition Power

2. Sign Treaties

3. Executive Agreements

Nuclear Test Ban Treat (JFK)

Recognition Power Recognition power

is the power to recognize, or refusal to, foreign countries.

Receives foreign diplomats; therefore the President recognizes their government.

Hussein, Rabin & Clinton

Creation of Treaties Has the sole power to negotiate treaties

The Senate must approve these treaties (2/3)The Senate can also make amendments to the

treaties, possibly leading to the dismissal of the entire treaty

Woodrow Wilson felt that changes to the Versailles Treaty were so extensive that it led to the US not becoming a part of the League of NationsSenate changes made the treaty ineffective

Executive Agreements What are executive agreements? Answer: international agreements made by

the President w/o Senatorial ratification.However, the Senate and House may not

appropriate funds to support the agreement

P.S. When putting the American Flag alongside other nations’ flags – the US flag always goes on the right (as in this picture)

Advantages / Problems•Advantages of this power is speed and secrecy

•Essential during a crisis

•Agreements and treaties are binding on all future administrations.

•.John F Kennedy and Nikita Kruschev during the Cuban Missile Crisis

“You pull your missiles out and I will pull our missiles out.”

Chief Legislator Influences the making of laws The President can recommend laws to

Congress. Helps create Congressional Agenda

State of the Union Address

What is the big push this year? What was it last year?

Chief Legislator President must give a State of the Union

Address every year.Displays what legislation the President would

like to see passed in the upcoming session of Congress

Getting Legislation PassedPower of PersuasionCompromise

Presidents who share the majority party in Congress have an easier time passing legislation

Chief Legislator The President has the power to veto legislation.

Congress may override w/ a 2/3 majority○ VERY hard to override a veto

If you are curious -Top 3 “Vetoing” Presidents: 1. Franklin Roosevelt 635 vetoes 2. Grover Cleveland 414 vetoes 3. Henry Truman 250 vetoes

How many has President Obama vetoed?

Chief of Party Not mentioned in

Constitution Chooses national

chairperson Disciplines party

members who do not support him.

Rewards those that support him (patronage)

President Obama supporting fellow Democratic Candidate last October

Chief of Party Try to maintain a high level of public

opinion ratings. This gives them even greater influenceCan help others in party

○ Unpopular presidents can hurt others in party

Special Powers Presidents have a variety

of powers and special privileges not available to other branches of the U.S. government.

The 4 types are:1.Emergency Powers2.Executive Orders3.Judicial Powers4.Executive Privilege

Emergency Powers These are also known as inherent powers. Exercised by the President during a period of

national crisis, particularly in foreign affairs

EXAMPLE: 1952 – Truman tried to take over steel mills because he needed weapons for Korean War.Supreme Court said the President could not take

away private property.

Example: President sent soldiers to deliver mail during 1970s postal strike

Executive Orders Rules issued by the President that have the force of

law. They can do 3 things:

1. Give force to legislative statutes 2. Enforce the Constitution or treaties with nation 3. Establish practices of administrative agencies

This represents the Presidents legislative pwr.

EXAMPLES: 1) to classify gvt. Information as secret, 2) ration consumer goods, and 3) restructure the White House bureaucracy (dept of Homeland Security was created by Executive Order)

Granting Reprieves and Pardons Pardon: granting of a release from

the punishment of a crime. Legal forgiveness. A pardon can be granted before/after a conviction Amnesty – forgiveness of a crime to a

group of law violators

Reprieve: To postpone the execution of sentence imposed by a court of law; usually done to await new evidence/humanitarian.

Commutation: reduction in severity of legal penalty

Executive Privilege

The President’s right to refuse to appear before, or to withhold information from a court or Congressional investigation.

Nixon and Watergate Tapes The Supreme Court held that executive privilege could not

be used to prevent evidence from being heard in criminal proceedings.

Identify the President’s Role 1) President Clinton appointed Ruth Bader Ginsberg to the

Supreme Court. 2) Jimmy Carter brought Egypt and Israel together to sign

the Camp David Peace Accords in 1979. 3) President Clinton sent Hillary Clinton to represent the

United States at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. 4) President Kennedy ordered America's nuclear forces on

high alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. 5) President Carter placed restrictions on the sale of

gasoline during the 1979 energy crisis. 6) The president made his annual state-of-the union address

to Congress to outline his agenda for the year.

Homework:

Read about the Vice President’s role and the order of succession to the presidency on the Moodle

Answer: What is the President’s most important role? (Your opinion)

○ TEAEAC response (Due Weds.)