Wanted: President of the United States

1. Wanted:President of the United States • Create a job posting in the wanted/classified ads for the Office of President. • What type of qualifications would you be addressing • Job Skills • Experience? • formal & informal • What type of job tasks would him or her have?

2. Chapter 6: The Presidency

3. Duty vs. Power • What are the differences? • Create a working definition for each • List responsibilities that you associate with each • At the minimum list words or phrases you associate with each of these words

4. Essential Questions • How did the delegates think about executive power? • What were the questions on organizing the executive branch? • How did the framers envision the Presidency? Would it match up with it’s current role? • How do the president’s powers expand in times of war and emergency? • What are the informal and formal powers of the presidency?

5. Formal & Informal Powers • Formal powers of the president are outlined in Article II of the Constitution • Informal powers are not directly stated but play a major part in the success of the presidency • Two main informal powers are access to the media and position as leader of his political party. • Why are these essential to the President's Success?

6. Roles of the PresidentOfficial • The President has several official roles: Article II • 1. Chief Executive – power to execute the nations laws – carry out- resp. to see that the gov’t programs are carried out • 2. Commander- in – Chief – order troops into action and call them home ( deploy) – oversees the nations military • 3. Foreign Policy – plansand policies for dealing with other countries • Directs the activities of foreign embassies – diplomacy ( art of negotiating with foreign countries) • The President is the chief agenda/policy setter for America • Why do you think the power to be chief agenda setter is important?

7. Unofficial Roles of President • Chief or head of state – takes on the symbolic figurehead of the U.S. • Represents the people • 1 example? • Serves as the leader of their political party • Chief Citizen – model of citizenship & civic virtue • Held to a very high standard • If you were president how would carry out your role as chief citizen?

8. Formal Characteristics of the Presidency • Qualifications: 35 years old, have lived in the country for 14 years, be a natural-born U.S. citizen • What do Americans feel today about some of the qualifications? • Limits on Terms of Office? What was the premise of the Framer’s arguments/debate at the convention? • What AMD now places limits on how many terms a President can serve? • What is one advantage and disadvantage of this AMD? • Rank the qualifications of the presidency. If you could choose only one which would it be? Why? • Election Process: Electoral College – Process is outlined in the Constitution • # of electors = Congressional Representatives ( House of REPS & Senators)

9. Formal ( con’t) • Presidential Succession- VP is 1st in line • Which AMD states the line of Presidential succession? (1967) • 1841 – William H. Harrison died in office John Tyler assumed control • What branch decides the order of succession? • Presidential Succession Act of 1947 • If this was not passed and the President & VP both became ill or unable to serve what do you think would have happened? • Salary and Benefits – salary is never altered during a term • Benefits : staff ( policy/housekeeping), health benefits, tax exemptions, pension, access to Air Force One, cars

10. Informal/Unwritten Qualifications • Personal and professional experience was not built into the Constitution • Voters do look for specific characteristics when choosing a leader • Background: well-educated • Personal Qualities of the President • Needs to be an individual the people will ultimately support • Persuasive and inspiring – confident • Strong ability to communicate • New technology gives us almost unlimited access to the President • How has television and the Internet affected the type of person who is likely to run for President? • I what ways do you think voters can judge if a candidate will be calm in times of crisis? • Must compromise and effectively manage a vast executive department administration • Must develop a clear plan for the nation and their intentions • Must be strong in times of crisis • Why do you think that 3/4s of US presidents have had some backgrounds in the military?

11. Section 2: Presidential Powers • Article II – outlines the powers of the President; as the U.S. has grown and developed so have the powers of the presidency. These powers are and have been checked by other branches over time. • Lesson Objectives: • Be able to explain the executive powers of the President • Describe the diplomatic & military powers of the President • Summarize how the President exercises legislative and judicial powers • Be able to evaluate this developed power

12. Executive Powers • As the protector and defender of the Constitution the President has 3 main powers • 1. Appointment and Removal Powers – appt individuals to top executive posts – 3,000 people today • ‘advise & consent’ • S.C. & Federal judges, ambassadors… • Can not fire judges: Congress can impeach • Do you agree with this? Why or why not? • Executive Orders: instructs an executive branch agency on how to carry out their jobs • Has the weight of a law • Extension of ‘care that the laws be faithfully executed’ Article II Sec 3 • Research an example of an Executive Order – Be prepared to discuss in class

13. Executive Powers- con’t • Executive Privileges - power allows the president the ability to not release certain information to Congress or a court of law • Power is disputed • Presidents claim matters of national security to protect the public • Constitution does not mention Exec Priv , Courts have protected it • Some limits do apply • President Nixon and Watergate • United States v. Nixon (1974)

14. Diplomatic & Military Powers • The roles of the President give them wide diplomatic & military powers with some limitations • Diplomatic Powers • Can negotiate treaties • 2/3 of Senate approval • Executive agreements between a foreign leader • NAFTA is an example • Diplomatic Recognition – legitimizes another government – sets up a formal diplomatic relationship • Military Powers- defense & security of the U.S. and our interests around the world • Congress has the power to declare war but the president has used the military over 200 times to intervene w/out a formal declaration from Congress • War Powers Resolution – 1973 – President must consult before and during • Report w/in 48 hours • Forces withdrawn in 60-90 days • Constitutionality in question by presidents

15. Diplomatic & Military Discussion Questions • Why might a President choose to make an executive agreement with a foreign government rather than negotiate a treaty? • Why do you think President Nixon vetoed the War Powers Resolution? • What event caused Congress to pass this Resolution in the 1st place? • Using the War Powers Resolution , how can Congress force a president to withdraw troops? • Do you think the War Powers Resolution has been effective as Congressed has hoped? • Why hasn’t it enforced more?

16. Legislative & Judicial Powers • In order to make the checks and balances idea work effectively in practice the framers have the president some legislative and judicial powers • Legislative Powers- President has influence over Congress • Chief agenda setter – State of the Union and Budget • VETO – even a threat wields much power over Congress • Line item veto unconstitutional in 1998 • Judicial Powers – Nominate Judges and alter sentences • S.C. justices and Federal judges serve a life sentence • Reprieve- postpone a sentence • Pardon- official forgiveness • Amnesty- group of offends a pardon • Commute- reduce a sentence

17. Legislative and Judicial Powers Questions • Why did the Framers give the President veto power? • Which of the President's judicial powers is the most important and why?

18. Informal Powers • Access to the media and party leader • Play huge parts in a successful presidency • TV and media coverage is immediately available to the president • Why does a president who is skilled in using the media better suited for success? • Why must modern presidents employ media experts? • How is a president’s ability to set an agenda important to their success in office? • Party leader?

19. Checks on Power • The constitution places formal checks on the power of the presidency • Yes the power & nature has developed • Formally checked by S.C. and Congress • S.C. ruled line-item veto unconstitutional in 1998 • Congress can block the president’s nomination for top agency positions • Informal checks are placed upon the president-much of these come from a from of public opinion • Media – inform the public; Freedom the press is protected in the 1st AMD • New York Times printed the Pentagon Papers • Alerted the public on how the gov’t misled the nation on the involvement in Vietnam • Presidents who have a favorable public image and rating can accomplish much of their agenda • Provide examples of Presidential approval? Where did you find your information

20. Changes in Presidential Power – Discussion ??s • What 2 factors have led to the growth in presidential power? • Be able to explain • Federalist Paper No. 51- Why do you think the Framers believed the legislative branch should be the most powerful? What led you to this conclusion? • Which presidents were the driving force of expansion and change within the presidency for the first 100 years? What did Andrew Jackson believe the presidency to be? • Examples? • Compare the President Lincoln and FDR. How were their situations similar? How did they gain more power? • Explain: Why is the ability to use the media vital to modern presidents? • How is president’s role today different from what the Framers envisioned? • How do you think the president’s power will change in the next 100 years?

21. The Presidential Power to Make War – Page 179 • ‘The President in every possible instance shall consult with Congress before introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, and after every such introduction shall consult regularly with the Congress until United States Armed Forces are no longer engaged in hostilities or have been removed from such situations.” - War Powers Resolution, Section 3 • Read ‘ The Issue’ & The Viewpoints • Answer #2 – Find relevant examples to support you answer. Are the restrictions placed on the president in the deployment of troops are appropriate and reasonable? • FORMAL CLASSROOM DEBATE

22. Section 3: The President’s Administration • The president leads a large group of staff members who help him carry out his duties • What is the Executive Office and what are the duties of this office? • How has the role of the V.P. changed over time? • Describe the president’s cabinet and how does it work along with the president? • The Administration is made up all those who work in the executive branch • Why did FDR ask Congress to authorize the creation of the Executive Office of the Presidency?

23. Executive Office of the President • EOP helps the president develop policy • How did the EOP developed? • The White House Office – this consists of the presidents key political and personal staff • Chief of Staff- top manager of the W.H.O. • Role varies from president to president – everyday operations to advisor • In your opinion what effect did the rapid expansion of the Executive Office of the President have on the president’s cabinet?

24. National Security Council • Brings together top military, intelligence, and security officials to coordinate U.S. security policy. • Who coordinates the activities of the NSC? • Why do you think the presidents rely on their national security advisors more than others? • Why is the NSC of such importance to the president?

25. Council of Economic Advisers & The OMB • Congress created the CEA in 1946 • Expert analysis on the economy • Focus on trends and how the president's policy is affecting the economy • 3 members confirmed by the Senate • Assist in preparing the Economic Report • The OMB develops the federal budget of the executive agencies • Management of gov’t finances and purchasing good ands services the Executive branches needs to operate • Works with members of Congress • Large staff- 500 people • Career employees

26. The Vice President • Only other elected position in the Administration • 3 major duties • 1. preside over the Senate • 2. opening and counting the electoral votes • 3. filing in for the president if they cannot do the job • Early VPs only did the duties outlined above, did not really have a role within the cabinet of the president • The role changed as the Ex. Branched changed over time • 12th AMD – separate ballots for President and VP • Was this a good idea by Congress in 1804? • How can a VP candidate help ‘balance the ticket’ • Compare the VP then and now (184) • How has the office changed? • How did Jefferson feel about the VP?

27. The Cabinet • Heads of the executive departments • Resp. for carrying out the laws • Administering programs • Making regulations • Secretary of each dept. help to carry out the president’s polices • They basically run the dept. • When they meet they are the top advisor to the president in their respective policy area • How are cabinet members chosen? • Should cabinet members be chosen or elected? • The Cabinet’s History: ‘the president may require in writing the opinion…’ • How do you think president’s choose their cabinets? • How would you describe Lincoln’s cabinet? • What might you infer about a president who chooses cabinet members with strong ties to the business community?