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Chapter 13

Chapter 13. The Presidency- Section 1 (President’s Job Description). Presidential Roles.

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Chapter 13

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  1. Chapter 13 The Presidency- Section 1 (President’s Job Description)

  2. Presidential Roles 1)Chief of State- Head of the government of the U.S. and therefore a symbol of all the people of the nation.----In many countries they reign but not rule (Queen of England, King of Sweden, Emperor of Japan, President of Germany). 2)Chief Executive- Broad powers both foreign and domestic by Constitution. Often Considered the “most powerful office in the world” -Not unlimited power (checks and balances)

  3. Roles continued… 3) Chief Administrator- Director of the huge executive branch and one of the largest governmental machines ever -Directs an administration that employs more than 2.7 million civilians and spends more than 3 trillion a year 4) Chief Diplomat- Architect of American foreign policy and spokesman to the rest of the world----actions followed closely at home and abroad

  4. Roles Continued… 5) Commander in Chief- Leader of armed forces---More than 1.4 million men/women and power of military under his/her control 6) Chief Legislator- Principal author of public policy (shapes Congresses agenda by initiating and demanding they pass most of the major piece of legislation that it does) -Congress and the President often clash and working with Congress occupies a major part of the Presidents time *NOTE- These six roles from Constitution.

  5. Roles continued… 7) Chief of Party- Automatically the leader of the political party that controls the executive branch -Not mentioned in Constitution, but much of his/her power depends on this role 8) Chief Citizen- “Representative of the people” and is expected to fight for public interest against the many private interests NOTE- President must do all these roles simultaneously and they are all connected---one can affect the other

  6. Formal Qualifications • Natural Born Citizen- Question if means born abroad to American Citizen means eligible? Debated, but never happened or answered • 35 years of Age- Youngest John Kennedy at 43 (Theodore Roosevelt 42, but by succession)---Regan 69 was the oldest to win election---Most in 50’s when elected • Resident of the U.S. for 14 years (do not need to be the 14 previous years) *other informal qualifications (section 4)

  7. Presidential Terms • Constitution set 4 year terms (no limit)—no one served more than 2 until Franklin Roosevelt won a third/fourth term.---22nd Amendment now sets limit at 2 terms • A President who succeeds into office (ex-death) may finish the term and serve two more terms (cannot exceed 10 years) • Several Presidents argued against two term rule (undemocratic/people cannot choose)---others want a single 6 year term (not worry about reelection)

  8. Pay and Benefits • Congress sets salary---currently $400,000 a year • $50,000 a year expense allowance- Basically part of salary (may spend however chooses) • Constitution forbids any other pay for work • Extras- 132 room mansion (White House) -large staff, fleet of automobiles, Air Force One, and several other planes/ helicopters -Camp David (Maryland), medical/dental/ health---travel and entertainment funds, and much more

  9. SECTION 2 Presidential Succession and the Vice Presidency

  10. The Constitution and Succession • Constitution did not originally provide for succession (John Tyler set precedent when took over for William H. Harrison who died of pneumonia 1 month after taking office) • 25 Amendment made it official • Congress sets the rest of the order of succession---Present law is the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 • Vice, Speaker of House, President Pro Tempore of Senate, followed by the 14 heads of the Cabinet departments (p. 371)

  11. Presidential Disability • What happens when a President is so ill they cannot perform duties (ex- Garfield lingered for 80 days before dying from assassins bullet)---25 Amendment (Sections 3 and 4)—The Vice President assumes duties • President resumes duties with written declaration---congress can challenge • 25 Amendment has only come into play a couple times (only for a few hours at a time, while President had surgery and was under anesthetics)

  12. The Vice Presidency • Vice-President- Constitution only gives two duties (head the Senate and help decide question of Presidential disability) • “I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but may be everything.”---John Adams (Vice- does little, but could be next leader) • 8 Presidents died in office, 1 resigned * Presidents usually choose a Vice-President who will balance the ticket- give a better chance of being elected (race, gender, geography, etc). Not thinking of succession.

  13. Vice Presidency Today and Vacancy • Recently Vice-Presidents have had a little more power (Dick Cheney) considered the most influential • No President has made them “Assistant President”---Mainly because it is the only member of the executive branch the President cannot fire, no matter what • Vice Presidency has been vacant 18 times (9 by succession, 2 by resignation, 7 by death) -25 amendment (1967) dealt with matter--- President nominates and both houses of Congress must confirm by majority vote

  14. Section 3 Presidential Selection: The Framers’ Plan

  15. Original provisions • Deciding on how to choose a President proved to be the most difficult task the framers had---Most against the two obvious choices -Election by Congress (con-put under legislative thumb-pressure to do what they want) -Popular vote (people spread over such a large area could not possibly be informed enough) -decided on presidential electors- chosen in same manner as state legislature and have equal amount to the amount in Senate and House from each state. Each cast 2 electoral votes (most votes President, 2nd most Vice)

  16. The Rise of Parties • Original idea worked with Washington---Parties formed-1776 John Adams (Federalist) beat rival Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) by 3 votes---Rivals in same office • Broke down altogether in 1800- Each party ran not only Presidents and Vice Presidents but presidential electors in several states (intention was for electors to be open minded) - All 73 Democratic-Republicans voted for Jefferson and Burr (tie)- House took 36 ballots before declaring Jefferson winner (p. 376)

  17. Continued… • Election of 1800 introduced 3 new elements in selecting President • Party nominations for President and Vice • Nominations for candidates of party electors who pledged to vote for their party • Automatic casting of ballots in-line with those pledges • 12 Amendment- Cast one ballot for President and a separate for Vice (still done today)---Resulted from 1800 Election • Very different from Framers’ plan in 1787

  18. Section 4 Presidential Nominations

  19. National Conventions • 1832- Both major parties started having a national convention to pick presidential nominees -National committee makes arrangements for the party’s convention (Date/Place)---Cities often bid for it (boost to local businesses) * Committee issues a “Call”---Tells date, place, and how many delegates each state can send (based on # of electoral votes, may issue bonus for support in recent elections)---2008 (GOP-2380 delegates, Democrats-4233)

  20. Presidential Primaries • Presidential Primary- party voters 1) choose some or all of a State party organizations delegates to their party’s national convention– 2) Express a preference among various contenders for nomination • 1905- Wisconsin first to hold a primary (popular vote for delegates) • Winner take all for representation has all but disappeared and most use proportional representation. (Winner take law is outlawed in Democratic Party, exists in some Republican primaries)- p. 379

  21. Primary Appraisal • Presidential primaries can be brutal, especially without a leader (President)---Party in power often avoids this 1) President is seeking reelection 2) Has given his backing to someone he favors for the nomination -President is rarely challenged if seeking reelection *With long primaries---contenders time, effort, money, scheduling, and fatigue are tested - Critics want either one primary or regional primaries held in a 2-3 week span (need Congress approval, several states, and parties)

  22. Caucuses • States that do not hold primaries, select delegates to national convention through caucuses • Usually local caucuses sends delegates to district, then to state (where national delegates are chosen) • The Iowa Caucuses usually gets the most attention because it’s the first delegate selection event every presidential election

  23. Securing Nomination • After state delegates have been chosen, each party has their national convention. 3 major goals: • Name party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates • Bring all the party’s leaders together for a common purpose • Develop platform- formal statement of principals, policy stands, and objectives for the campaign

  24. Continued… • Day 1- welcoming and speeches by key party members • Day 2- speeches continue and keynote address: Usually a high point (glorifies the party and its leaders, rips on the other party, and predicts a victory in November) • Day 3- Choose Vice-Presidential Candidate (usually known ahead) and Culminates with the selection of Presidential Candidate (roll call and vote by state leaders until majority reached)---usually know ahead of time

  25. Who is nominated? • Incumbent President is virtually certain of getting nomination---otherwise only 2 or 3 survive as actual contenders for each party • Most candidates have a long history of political experience (few from private world/ ex- Dwight Eisenhower)– Governor of a large state has produced the most • Most Protestant (couple Catholic), appear happily married (only 5 divorced), well developed speaking and cast well on T.V., • Breaking norms- Hilary Clinton came close, Obama (first black, dad from Kenya), McCain (72 years old)----all in 2008, times are changing

  26. Section 5 The Presidential Election

  27. Presidential Campaign • All-out effort to win votes---T.V ads, billboards, speeches, mail, phone calls, etc. • Focus on swing voters (1/3 voters who are undecided) and battle ground states (states that are to close to call) • Several Debates follow---Now between the presidential candidates and between Vice-presidential candidates • Kennedy credited with beating Nixon because of debates, but often just a formality or public appearance

  28. The Election • People do not vote directly for candidates, but try to inform the electoral college who they should vote for (usually follow the people) • In every state (except Maine and Nebraska) it is a winner take all for electoral votes • Electoral college formally meets in each state on the 2nd Wednesday in Nov., but the winner is known on election night. Formal election doesn’t take place until January. • No one wins majority (270 of 538 electoral votes)—House chooses president from top 2 candidates (26 votes needed 1 per state)---Same in Senate for Vice-President

  29. Flaws in Electoral College • Winner of popular vote is not guaranteed to win • Electors not required to vote in accord with the people • House may have to decide the outcome -Ex- Obama won 51% of vote in Ohio, but won all 20 electoral votes -California, each electoral vote represents over 600,000 people and in Wyoming 164,000 -Four times a candidate won the popular and lost election (Bush over Gore most recent)

  30. Continued… • Electors have only not followed the states popular choice 11 times (most recent, Minn. 2004) one elector did not cast vote for John Kerry • House has only had to decide the President twice (most recent 1824)—strong third party candidates are making this more likely * Several issues---every state gets 1 vote, but varied populations, it is possible that succession takes place and the minority could elect their candidate

  31. Proposed Reforms • Amendments to revise or eliminate the electoral college have been introduced in every term of Congress since 1789. • District and Proportional Plan- Two electors from each state would cast ballot with popular vote and each district elector with vote in their district. • Proportional- Each candidate would receive the number of electoral votes equivalent to the % of popular vote in state (ex- 40 electoral votes, win 10% of popular vote, get 4 electoral votes). • No amendment needed, but would send a great deal of elections to the House

  32. Continued… 2) Direct Popular Election- Each person’s vote counts the same and always have a winner. -Would require a Constitutional Amendment -Smaller states feel they would loose power -Heavy strain on election process (expensive-would have to campaign everywhere) -Many feel voter fraud would be high and uncontrollable * Many want, but with all the problems it is not likely in the near future

  33. Reforms Cont… 3) National Popular Vote Plan- Direct popular vote without a change to constitution -amend state elections laws to give all State electoral votes to the candidate that wins the national popular election and enter a compact to elect the person who wins the popular vote -Only work if states equaling 270 electoral votes enter the compact -Currently ratified in 4 states (Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey)---only reform getting serious consideration today

  34. Defending the Electoral College • Known process---each of the proposed reforms may have defects that cannot be known until in affect • Rarely does the nation have to wait long to know the outcome of the presidential election • Although it does present obstacle for a minority party, it promotes the nation’s two-party system -Review on page 395

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