Understanding the U.S. Presidency: Duties, Benefits, Election, and Reform

1. The Presidency President and Vice President

2. Constitutional duties Main Duty: “faithfully” execute the laws of the United States Commander in chief Appointments w/Senate consent Treaties w/Senate consent Meet with other foreign dignitaries State of the Union Address Duties of the President

3. Term and Salary • 22nd Amendment (1951) • Two 4 year terms • (Vice president can serve 2 or less of the President’s term+ 2 four year terms of their own)

4. Salary • George Washington $25,000 • 1969 – 2003 $200,000 • Presently $400,000

5. Presidential Benefits • Expenses (duties) • Travel Allowance • Air Force One + • White House (pool, bowling alley, theater) • Secret Service • Insurance • Life time pension

6. Presidential Qualifications • Constitutional Natural born citizen of the US 35 years old 14 years a US resident

7. Informal Requirements • Government experience • Money base (for campaigns) • Political beliefs • Personal characteristics

8. 25th Amendment Vice President Speaker of the House President pro tempore of Senate Sec. Of State Presidential Succession

9. Presidential Disability • 25th Amendment • President’s choice (chooses to take a break) • Vice President and a majority of the cabinet(declare President unfit to serve)

10. The Electoral College Yesterday and Today

11. Article II, Section I provided that each state would choose electors (No Popular Vote) Each state would have as many electors as it had Senators and Representatives in Congress Top Majority Electoral “vote getter” became President, “Second place” majority became Vice President The Original System

12. The House of Representatives would break the tie Why was there no popular vote? Tie or No Majority by candidates?

13. Election of 1800 Jefferson (Democratic Republican) v. Burr (Federalist) Tie vote sent the election to a Federalist Controlled House) Jefferson Wins 12th Amendment Separate vote for President and Vice-President Did this solve the problem? Impact of Political Parties

14. Elections on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November Voter’s not directly voting, but rather voting for their party’s electors (influencing how they vote) 538 total electors (270 needed to win) Can you win the Electoral vote and not Popular? Electoral College Today

15. Monday after second Wednesday in December Winning electors in each state meet in their state capitals to cast votes for P/VP Results sent to DC January 6 Congress counts electoral votes (majority needed to win) 270 January 20 Candidate receiving majority of electoral vote is sworn in as president The Process Tuesday after first Monday in November (Election day) Voters cast ballots for a slate of electors pledged to a particular presidential candidate

16. The candidate receiving the majority of the electoral vote was president candidate receiving the second most majority electoral votes became vice president Tie or no majority: the House of Representatives would break the tie The Vote

17. Federalists Democratic Republicans 1800 Jefferson/Burr tie sent election to a Federalist House 12th amendment to the “rescue”. (separate ballots for President/Vice President) Impact of Political Parties

18. Electoral College today • Elections on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November • Voter’s not directly voting, but rather voting for their party’s electors • 538 total electors (270 needed to win)

19. Tuesday after first Monday in November Voters cast ballots for a slate of electors pledged to a particular presidential candidate Monday after second Wednesday in December Winning electors in each state meet in their state capitals to cast votes for P/VP Results sent to DC Electoral College

20. January 6 Congress counts electoral votes (majority needed to win) 270 January 20 Candidate receiving majority of electoral vote is sworn in as president of the U.S.

21. Winner Take All - this system makes it possible for the winner to have not received a majority of the popular vote but still win the electoral vote Ideas for reform - 2 electoral votes + 1per congressional district -win a % of electoral votes based on the popular vote -direct popular vote Electoral College Issues

22. Washington’s Cabinet Original purpose? State Defense Treasury Attorney General Closest Advisors The Cabinet

23. Today’s Considerations 15 Cabinet Positions today (Homeland Security added after 9/11) Advisors+ Administrators of large bureaucracies The Cabinet

24. Presidential Powers • Commander-in-chief • Appointments w/Senate Consent • Treaties/executive agreements* • State of the Union Address • Purposes legislation (*today’s treaties) 1960’s Civil Rights Legislation

25. Informal Powers • Inherent or Implied • Immediate needs of the nation (FDR) • Mandate of the People (FDR)

26. Presidential Roles • Head of State • Head of the Nation (ceremonial leader)

27. Chief Executive –influence ways laws are implemented • Chief Legislator- suggests laws and budget • Economic Planner- keep country “running” • Party Leader- chief money raiser and “cheerleader” • Chief Diplomat- directs foreign policy

28. Commander-in-Chief • Shares with Congress the power to declare war/ in “charge” of sending troops where needed be it at home or abroad

29. Qualities and Skills of an effective President • Understanding the public – knowing the public fears and hopes • Ability to Communicate-clearly explain what they are trying to do • Sense of Timing- introducing new policies at the right time The “Great Communicator”

30. Openness to new ideas- flexible enough to seek new solutions to modern problems • Ability to Compromise- accept part of what you want versus nothing at all • Political Courage- make unpopular decisions for the good of the nation

31. The Inauguration • Noon • January 20th • In the year following the November election • Capitol steps (weather permitting)