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Chapter 13. The Power of the American Presidency. Roles of the President Powers of the President Electing a President. Jumpstart Assignment. Describe the following political cartoon. Today’s Agenda. Notes: Ch. 13, Sec. 1 and 2 Presidential Roles Hats The Heartbeat Job. Assignment.
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Chapter 13 The Power of the American Presidency • Roles of the President • Powers of the President • Electing a President
Jumpstart Assignment Describe the following political cartoon.
Today’s Agenda • Notes: Ch. 13, Sec. 1 and 2 • Presidential Roles Hats • The Heartbeat Job
Assignment • Of the “roles” of the President of the United States, which one do you think President Obama was most successful at? • Which one was he least successful at? The roles are listed on pages 364 and 365 of your textbook.
100% male 98% Caucasian 02% African American 97% Protestant 82% of British ancestry 77% college educated Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Presidents • 69% politicians • 62% lawyers • >50% from the top 3% wealth and social class • 05% born into poverty • 69% elected from large states
Some folks are born made to wave the flag, Ooh, they’re red, white and blue. And when the band plays, “Hail to the Chief,” Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord, It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no senator’s son, son. It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate one, no. Some folks are born silver spoon in hand, Lord, don’t they help themselves, oh. But when the taxman comes to the door, Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes, It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no millionaire’s son, son. It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate one, no. Fortunate SonRecorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
Some folks inherit star spangled eyes, Ooh, they send you down to war, lord, And when you ask them, “How much should we give?” Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yo, It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no military son, son. It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate one, one. It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate son, son. It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate son, no, no, no. Fortunate SonRecorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
Constitutional Qualifications • Must be at least 35 years old • Must have lived in the United States for 14 years • Must be a natural born citizen
Presidential Benefits • $400,000 tax-free salary • $50,000/year expense account • $100,000/year travel expenses • The White House • Secret Service protection • Camp David country estate • Air Force One personal airplane • Staff of 400-500 Christmas at the White House, 2004
Presidential Roles • Chief of State • Chief Executive • Commander in Chief • Chief Legislator • Chief of Party • Chief Administrator • Chief Diplomat • Chief Citizen
(Chief) Head of State • The President is chief of state. This means he is the ceremonial head of the government of the United States, the symbol of all the people of the nation. Queen Elizabeth and President Reagan, 1983 President Kennedy speaks at Berlin Wall, 1963
Chief Executive • The Constitution vests the President with the executive power of the United States, making him or her the nation’s chief executive. President Clinton with Janet Reno, the first female Attorney General, February, 1993 President Bush holds cabinet meeting in October, 2005
Commander-in-Chief • The Constitution makes the President the commander in chief, giving him or her complete control of the nation’s armed forces. President Johnson decorates a soldier in Vietnam, October, 1966 President Bush aboard U.S.S. Lincoln, May, 2003
Chief Legislator • The President is the chief legislator,the main architect of the nation’s public policies. President Clinton delivers the State of the Union Address, 1997 President Roosevelt signs into law the Social Security Act, 1935
Chief of Party • The President acts as the chief of party,the acknowledged leader of the political party that controls the executive branch. President Reagan & Vice-President Bush accepting their party’s nomination in 1980
Chief Administrator • The President is the chief administrator, or director, of the United States government. President Bush at Ground Zero after 9-11 Vice-President Johnson sworn in aboard Air Force One after President Kennedy’s assassination, 1963
Chief Diplomat • As the nation’s chief diplomat,the President is the main architect of American foreign policy and chief spokesperson to the rest of the world. President Lincoln during the Civil War, 1862 President Roosevelt and the “Bully Pulpit,” 1910
Chief Citizen • The President is expected to be “the representative of all the people.”
Presidential Succession Presidential succession is the plan by which a presidential vacancy is filled. 1) Vice President 2) Speaker of the House 3) President Pro Tempore
Role of the Vice President The vice president is also the president of the Senate. 2. The vice president is also head of the judicial branch and presides over the Supreme Court. 3. The vice president is part of the legislative branch. 4. The vice president is first in the line of succession to the presidency. 6. The qualifications for the vice presidency are not the same as those for the presidency.
Today’s Agenda • Assignment • Notes: Presidential Powers (Formal/Informal) • Presidential Powers Scenarios
Assignment How does it relate to the power of the President and Vice President?
Formal Powers of the President • Constitutional or expressed powers of the presidency • Found primarily in Article II of the Constitution (the Executive Article)
Formal Powers: Chief Executive • “Faithfully execute” the laws • Grant pardons for federal offenses except for cases of impeachment • Nominate judges of the Supreme Court and all other officers of the U.S. with consent of the Senate • Fill vacancies that may happen during recess of the Senate (recess appointments)
Formal Powers: Chief Diplomat • Appoint ambassadors, ministers and consuls • Make treaties subject to Senate confirmation • Receive ambassadors • Diplomatic Recognition – acknowledging the legal existence of a country/state
Formal Powers: Head of State • Give State of the Union address to Congress • Recommend “measures” to the Congress • Upon “extraordinary occasions” convene both houses of Congress Chief Legislator
Formal Powers: Commander-in-Chief • Commander of the US Military • Making undeclared war • Limited by War Powers Act 1973 • President can commit troops for 60 days
Formal Powers: Chief Legislator (cont.) • Presidential Veto • Veto Bill within 10 days of passing from Congress • Pocket Veto - President does not sign within 10 days • Congress can override with 2/3 majority from both Houses • Veto Politics • Congressional override is difficult (only 4%) • Threat of veto can cause Congress to make changes in legislation
Informal Powers • Those powers not explicitly written in the Constitution • Similar to “necessary and proper” powers of Congress • In the modern era (since 1933), the President’s informal powers may be significantly more powerful than his formal powers
Chief Executive/Legislator Executive Orders • Orders issued by the President that carry the force of law • Clinton’s “Don’t ask don’t tell” gays in the military policy • FDR’s internment of Japanese Americans • GWB trying suspected terrorists in military tribunals Notice for Japanese “relocation,” 1942
Chief Diplomat Executive Agreements • International agreements, usually related to trade, made by a president that has the force of a treaty; does NOT need Senate approval • Jefferson’s purchase of Louisiana in 1803 • GWB announced cuts in the nuclear arsenal, but not in a treaty; usually trade agreements between • US and other nations
Chief Executive Executive Privilege • Claim by a president that he has the right to decide that the national interest will be better served if certain information is withheld from the public, including the Courts and Congress • United States v. Nixon (1973) – presidents do NOT have unqualified executive privilege (Nixon Watergate tapes)
Chief Legislator Signing Statements A written pronouncement issued by the President of the United States upon the signing of a bill into law. • Ronald Reagan, left, and George H. W. Bush; both presidents issued significant numbers of signing statements containing constitutional objections to laws passed by Congress.
Presidential Roles • Chief of State • Chief Executive • Commander in Chief • Chief Legislator • Chief of Party • Chief Administrator • Chief Diplomat • Chief Citizen
Assignment • Describe the following political cartoon.
Today’s Plan • Jumpstart • Presidential Review Questions • Notes: Presidential Elections • Jeopardy Review • Test Next Class
Electing a President • Step 1: • Primaries and Caucuses – determine who the Presidential candidates will be for each political party • Caucuses -
Electing a President • Step 2: • Convention – political parties formally nominate candidates - Party platform is established – basic principles and beliefs of the party
Electing a President • Step 3: • Electoral College – group of people from each state chosen to formally select the president and vice president
Alternatives to Electoral College • District Plan – each Congressional receives 1 electoral vote • Proportional Plan – candidates receive electoral votes in proportion to the percentage of popular vote received • Direct Popular Election – based strictly on popular vote (would require a Constitutional Amendment) • National Popular Vote – states agree to give all electoral votes to popular winner