Qualifications for and Enumerated Powers of the Presidency

1. Qualifications for and Enumerated Powers of the Presidency Libertyville HS

2. Overview of the Executive Branch • What is the purpose of the Executive Branch? (Brainstorm!) • Enforce laws • Run government • Keep the peace • Engage in foreign policy • How does the Executive Branch carry out its purpose? (Brainstorm!) • Federal bureaucracy • Persuasion of people, Congress

3. Overview of the Executive Branch • What is the role of the President? • Lead country • Lead military • Act as chief executive • Chief diplomat • Head of political party • Chief citizen • How does the President do his / her job? • By being elected • Through persuasion of people • Through persuasion of Congress

4. Overview of the Executive Branch • With what branch does the President most often compete to run the government? • Legislative Branch! • Why?!?! • Power struggle • Conflict built in to system (checks / balances)

5. Constitutional Qualifications for President / VP • President • Age? • 35 years of age • Born where? • Natural born citizen • Residency requirement? • Yes – 14 years in USA • Vice President? • Same as president (20th Am) • Additionally, VP cannot be from same state as President

6. Enumerated Powers of President: C in C • Constitutional authority: II, 2(1) • President designated Commander in Chief of Armed Services • Presidential division of war power • Congress’ power ??? • President is C in C • If Congress declares war, Pres gets special wartime powers • Suspension of habeus corpus • Right to direct troops without interference from Congress

7. Enumerated Powers of President: Appointment • Constitutional authority: II, 2(2) • Power to select high ranking members of Executive Branch • Cabinet members • Federal judges • Ambassadors • Check / balance by Senate, power to advise and consent to presidential appointments • ”Hold” of nominee • Filibuster available, as well • Recess appointment • If congress goes into recess, President may appoint person to position without approval of Senate • Person holds position until end of next congressional term

8. Enumerated Powers of President: Reporting • Constitutional Authority: II, 2(1) • Power to require reports from executive officers, cabinet members • Establishes president’s authority over Executive Branch • Makes president the Chief Executive of the US Government

9. Enumerated Powers of President: Pardons • Constitutional authority: II, 2(1) • Pardon: release person from jail or prison • Reprieve: relieve someone of death sentence • Check / balance on the Judicial Branch • Examples • Bill Clinton’s list of Pardons • George W. Bush’s list of Pardons

10. Enumerated Powers of President: Treaties • Constitutional authority: II, 2(2) • President, through the State Department, has authority to enter into treaties with foreign governments • Check / balance by Senate – 2/3 vote required to ratify treaty • Ratified treaties are treated just like acts of Congress

11. Enumerated Powers of President: Reception • Constitutional Authority: II, 3 • Power to receive ambassadors from other countries • President is the face of America to the rest of the world • Power to receive ambassadors is also the power to recognize the legitimate government of a country • Example: fall of USSR

12. Enumerated Powers of President: Convening • Constitutional authority: II, 3 • President empowered to give State of the Union to joint session of Congress • President empowered to advance his legislative agenda in Congress • President empowered to convene either chamber of Congress • Convene to consider matters of importance to President • House has never been convened • Senate has been convened dozens of times – why?