1 / 24

The Presidency

The Presidency. Chapters 13 & 14 Starting with Ch. 13 Section 1…. Formal Qualifications & Term. At least 35 years of age Reside in the US for prior 14 years Natural born citizen Born on US soil At least one parent is a citizen Term of office = 4 years

sierra
Download Presentation

The Presidency

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Presidency Chapters 13 & 14 Starting with Ch. 13 Section 1…

  2. Formal Qualifications & Term • At least 35 years of age • Reside in the US for prior 14 years • Natural born citizen • Born on US soil • At least one parent is a citizen • Term of office = 4 years • 22nd Amendment – established two term limit • Before FDR, Washington’s precedent

  3. Job Description Chief of State Chief Executive Chief Administrator Chief Diplomat Commander in Chief Chief Legislator Chief of Party Chief Citizen

  4. Compensation • $400,000/ year (since 2001) • $50,000/ year expense account • Is taxed on this amount too • Other benefits: • White House • Oval Office & West Wing with staff • “The Beast” • Air Force One • Marine One • Camp David, Thurmont, MD • Healthcare, insurance, pension

  5. 13.2 Presidential Succession • Vice President – replaces the president in case of death, resignation, or impeachment • 1st VP to do this – John Tyler, 1841 • Most recent – Gerald Ford, 1974 • Presidential Succession Act of 1947 • Worst case scenario • After VP, Speaker of the House, Senate pro tempore, then Cabinet heads in order dept. was created • 25th Amendment, 1967 • Allows for VP to be “Acting President” • Provides for change if Pres. is incapacitated

  6. Vice President • Officially – preside over Senate and wait… • For much of history, VP was ignored • Considered “political suicide” to accept spot • Can help “balance the ticket” • Handpicked by Presidential nominee • Can strengthen ticket, balance geography • Today’s VPs are much more active & involved • Biden, Cheney, Gore • VP vacancies – nominated by Pres.  confirmed by both House & Senate – majority vote • VPs cannot be fired, but may also be impeached

  7. 13.3 Presidential ElectionsThen vs. Now • Electoral College grew out of Constitutional compromises • Concerned with education of most Americans then • Each state determined how to select a group of presidential electors = to # of Senators & Reps • Often Americans then voted for “local electors” • Electors then met & voted for Pres & VP • Candidate with most votes = Pres • 2nd most votes = VP • Result  problem – Pres Adams w/ VP Jefferson • 12th Amendment, 1804, fixed it – run as a team

  8. 13.4 Now…starting with Primaries • Presidential Primaries – held in most states & territories • Voters cast secret ballots to pick candidate of YOUR party • Also selects delegates to National Convention • Process began in early 20th Century • Primaries held in Jan thru June of presidential election years • Today most are proportional representation • Used to be winner take all contests (like Electoral College) • Role of New Hampshire

  9. Caucuses • Closed meetings of members of a political party to select delegates for Nat’l Convention and thus the party’s candidate for president • Very different than what we do… • Caucus goers “have done their homework” • Existed since 1840s • Today 19 states still use caucuses for one or both parties • Results in 10% of Dem’s delegates & 15% of Rep’s • Role of Iowa

  10. National Convention • Quadrennial meetings of the major political parties to officially nominate candidates for Pres. & VP • In the past, this is where & how nominees were picked • Today, events are scripted “pep rallies” to kick off the campaign season • Also re-unites the party after the primary season • Adopts the platform • 1st 2 days – organization, adoption of the platform & Keynote Address • Day 3: the nomination & focus on VP • Day 4: all about the Pres. nominee

  11. Who gets picked? • Potential candidates start process often as much as 4 years before the election year • Background, “testing the field,” likability • FUNDRAISING!!! • Incumbents typically get re-nominated • Political experience practically a must • Military experience has counted instead • TV & Internet • “pleasant, healthy,” public speakers

  12. 13.5 The Campaign “organized chaos” Daily news coverage Advertising, interviews, speeches, Internet, “whistle stop” tours, press conferences, press releases, rallies, dinners & events, “stuff”, shake hands, “kiss babies”, pose for pictures Debates – formalized & run by the Commission on Presidential Elections Focus on swing voters & battleground states

  13. Electoral College NOW • Electors are also voted on Election Day • Most states however their names are NOT on the ballots • Each party picks electors who have pledged to support the party’s nominee • So picking the candidate elects those electors • Most states are winner-take-all, including PA • Maine & Nebraska • Electors meet in state capitals – mid – Dec. • Result is mailed to Senate • Mail is opened during a joint-session of Congress • “magic number” is 270 out of total of 538

  14. What if no one gets 270… • House of Reps votes for President • Top 3 candidates only considered • Each state gets one vote • Must reach 26 votes to win • Happened in 1800 & 1824 • Senate votes for Vice President • Only top 2 candidates considered • Happened in 1836

  15. Criticisms of the Electoral College • Winner of the popular vote does NOT necessarily win the election • 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000 • Electors CAN still vote for who they want… • “broken their pledges” • Happened 11 times, never impacted outcome • Possible that ANY election can end in the House • 1800 & 1824 • Alternatives have been proposed • District plan, proportional plan, direct popular election plan, & national popular vote plan

  16. 14.1 Growth of Presidential Power • Unity of the office – “the buck stops here” – Truman • & huge staff • Personalities of various Presidents • Leadership in an increasing complex society & economy • Times of crisis • Congress has delegated to Executive branch how to enforce laws • Mass media

  17. All in a Day’s Work iCivics Lesson… See handouts Expressed powers of the President from Constitution

  18. 14.2 Executing the Law • Congress makes the laws  Executive branch enforces the laws • Often Congress leaves it to the Executive branch to define what that means • Executive Orders – directives, rules, & regulations from the President that have the effect of laws • From Ordinance power from the Constitution & Congress • Appointment Power – naming approx. 3000 appointees • Ambassadors, the Cabinet & high ranking officials, federal judges, marshals, & attorneys, Justices, officers in armed forces – approved by Senate • Recess appointments – only valid until end of Congressional Term

  19. Con’t • Removal Power – President may dismiss anyone he appointed except federal judges & Justices • Upheld in Myers v. United States, 1926 • Over dismissal of a postmaster • However, in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, 1935, placed a limit on the removal power if the position appointed to is a specific term length • Executive Privilege • Claims by presidents that certain pieces of info are reserved for their eyes only • Continues to be a source of disagreement w/ Congress • United States v. Nixon, 1974 – ruled against Nixon

  20. 14.3 Domestic vs. Foreign policy iCivics lesson… Domestic – involving mostly issues within the US Foreign – involving issues dealing with other countries See and fill in handouts

  21. Other Presidential actions in Foreign policy… • Executive agreements – pact between the President & the head of another nation • Are NOT approved by the Senate but have the same standing as treaties • Cannot violate US law or other treaties • Only continue to exist if new President also applies it • Power of Recognition – acknowledges the legal existence of a country • Typically leads to embassies, etc • Does NOT necessarily mean we agree with them on everything • Persona non grata – when a diplomat is no longer welcome

  22. President & Military powers • Undeclared wars – President has the power to send in combat troops when he deems it necessary • Korea, Vietnam, to some degree Iraq & Afghanistan (“war on terrorism”) • Congressional resolutions – when Congress authorizes the use of force but does not declare war • War Powers Resolution, 1973 • if President sends in combat troops after an attack has happened • President MUST tell Congress within 48 hours • May only keep troops there for max. 60 days unless Congress authorizes longer

  23. 14.4 President’s Legislative powers • Recommending legislation • “message power” – minimum of 3 times a year: State of the Union, budget message, & Economic Report • Veto power & even threat of veto • NOT line-item veto • Signing statements – issued to either challenge Constitutionality of some laws or to explain the enforcement or not of other • Power to call Special Sessions of Congress • Rarely used not that Congress meets so often

  24. President’s Judicial powers • Can grant reprieves – postponement of the sentence • Can grant pardons – legal forgiveness of a crime • Power is absolute except for impeachments • Usually granted after the conviction • Must be accepted by the person receiving it • Pardons can include conditions, commutation, or amnesty

More Related