Qualifications for Presidency

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Harvey Lane
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1 Qualifications for Presidency The Presidency & The Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy Natural-born citizen Lived in U.S. for 14 years At least 35 years old Terms Each term is 4 years May be elected to two terms One person can serve a maximum of 10 years (22 nd Amendment) Pay and Benefits $400,000 per year Expense account Residence in White House Travel and entertainment fund Health care Lifetime pension Travel provided by Air Force One and motorcade 1

2 Electoral College Indirect participation by the people Electors are elected by state # of Senators + # of Representatives = # of Electors 12 th Amendment Electors cast separate ballots for President and Vice President When you vote in a Presidential Election. You really vote for an elector, not the Presidential candidate. Electors meet in DC on the Monday following the 2 nd Wednesday in December. Each elector is expected to vote for his party s candidate. Formal announcement of who is President is made on January 6 th. Flaws in the Electoral College Small states have a greater percentage of the Electoral Vote Can lose popular vote and still win the election 1824 John Quincy Adams 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes 1888 Benjamin Harrison 2000 George W. Bush Solutions to the problems Use popular vote to determine winner Grant electoral votes in proportion to the number of votes a candidate wins in each state If the get 53% of the popular vote in PA they get 53% of the state s electors In order to change the system it would take a constitutional amendment 2

3 Presidential Succession 25 th Amendment Vice President Speaker of the House President Pro Temp Secretary of State Secretary of Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General The list continues to go through the cabinet positions following the order in which the offices were created President Nominates a new V.P. if necessary and needs to be confirmed by a majority of both houses of Congress If President and Vice President are vacant at the same time then the list from the previous slide kicks in. This is why Bush and Cheney are seldom in the same location. Constitutional Duties of the Vice President Presides over the Senate Only votes to break a tie Presides over impeachment trials Fills in for the President in situations of death, disability, resignation, etc. Role of Vice President- Depends on his President Head commissions Goodwill trips abroad Represent the President at International events Member of National Security Council Advisor on foreign policy Military advisor 3

4 Constitutional Powers of the President Commander-in-Chief of Armed Services War Powers Act (1973) President must report in writing within 48 hours if US troops are placed in combat Congress must okay the action within 60 days If Congress doesn t okay it, the President must remove the troops Constitutional Powers of the President con t Diplomatic Powers Can negotiate treaties, but Senate must approve by a 2/3 vote Executive agreements- a presidential agreement, not requiring the Senate s approval, with another head of state Constitutional Powers of the President con t Executive Powers Executive Order- Presidential directive to an agency that defines new polices or carries out existing laws. Can issue executive orders to help him enforce laws Can appoint federal judges and officials with consent of senate Appointments- Senate usually confirms Presidential appointments Pardons, Reprieve, Amnesty, etc. Constitutional Powers of the President con t Legislative Powers Can call Congress into session State of the Union Address each January Veto Power Line-Item Veto- declared unconstitutional in

5 4 Areas Where Presidential Power Has Grown Economic Planning appoints chairman of FED, leads in preparing the Federal Budget each year Executive Privilege President's right to withhold information or refuse to testify before Congress or the courts based on Separation of Powers 4 Areas Where Presidential Power Has Grown Power of Impoundment Refusal to spend money that Congress appropriates Nixon did it to control EPA spending Budget Reform Act of 1974 outlawed Impoundment of money Power of Persuasion News releases, press conferences, photo-ops, sound bites, backgrounders and leaks Rating Presidents Lots of varying lists, but consistent placers At the top Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln At the bottom Buchanan Franklin Pierce Fillmore Zachary Taylor Coolidge Nixon Failures (Scandals) Andrew Johnson US. Grant Warren G. Harding Cabinet Informal advisory body appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate President can ignore it and dismiss members without the approval of Congress 15 departments (newest = Homeland Security) Each department headed by a secretary Except Attorney General Dept. of Justice 5

6 Civil Service oversees civilians who work for the federal government (civilians are called bureaucrats) Andrew Jackson- invented spoils system of patronage Ended 1883 when Congress passes Pendleton Act a disgruntled job seeker, refused a job, shot James Garfield Established the Federal Civil Service (Merit System) have to earn the job Today 85% of federal jobs are under civil service Must take exam, promotions based on ratings 6

The Executive Branch

The Executive Branch What is the job of the Executive Branch? The Executive Branch is responsible for executing (or carrying out) the laws made by the Congress. Executive Branch The qualifications to be