Presidential Paradoxes January 25th & 26th
Agenda Finish Bachelorette Presidential Paradoxes This is important! You will have to be able to EXPLAIN this topic **HINT HINT** Discuss the Vice President what s the job like? Activity: Choosing your Vice President *David Muir Interview
What are expectations of a President?
President Expectations/Characteristics Good speaker Educated Doesn t crack under pressure Nice Stern and calm Assertive Respectful Open minded Responsible and secure BUT also flexible/open-minded
What is a PARADOX? Actual Definition: a self-contradictory statement. Now how does this relate to the President? Two things we expect the president to be, but they contradict each other.
Presidential Paradoxes We often have contradictory expectations of the President.
Here are some examples of Presidential Paradoxes... You will need to be able to explain these and why they are paradoxes/why do they exist? 1) Powerful, but we fear abuse of power 2) Relatable like us, but also extraordinarily above us 3) Visionary and creative, but we fear change 4) Above politics nonpartisan, but requires a master politician to succeed partisan
Agenda - 1/30 & 1/31 Sit where you want. NOTE: I can change this at any time. Choose wisely. If you know you will pay attention more, not be distracted sit in the front of the room! Review for Presidency Quiz Presidency Quiz #1 Current Event #11 - on Executive Orders Presidential Succession Notes about the VP, Succession Activity (next class)
After the Quiz (1/30 & 1/31) Pick up Executive Order Current Event #11 We will discuss this, don t turn it in right away!
Questions to think about when writing your analysis What is the difference between an executive order and executive power and executive action?
Ok so let s talk about the VP
Presidential Succession Act of 1947 Established that following the Vice President, it would be the Speaker of the House and then the President pro tempore. Reasons for succession (death, illness, resignation, impeachment, temporary/permanent inability to perform duties) VP Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore (Senate) Secretary of State then are followed in turn by each of the 13 heads of the Cabinet departments
25th Amendment - Ratified 1967 1. In the case of removal or death of the President, the Vice President becomes President. 2. If there is a vacancy in the office of Vice President, the President nominate a VP with a majority vote in both Houses. 3. If the President informs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore that he is unable to perform the duties as president, then power goes to the Vice President. 4. If the VP and a majority of cabinet members determine that the President is unable to do his job and inform the Speaker and President pro tempre, then the VP shall take over.
25th Amendment **What two times has the 25th Amendment been used? 1) 1973 - Nixon nominated Congressman Gerald R. Ford to fill the vacancy left by VP Spiro Agnew s resignation. 2) Still in 1973, Ford became President after Nixon resigned and he nominated Nelson Rockefeller to fill the VP vacancy left by him
Could this man have been President?
Vice President - Duties Formal Duties 1. To preside over the Senate 2. Help the decide the question of Presidential disability Informal Duties 1. Balance the ticket
How does the President choose the VP? He/she should consider the potential Vice President s - Age - State the VP is from - Ideological views
Fun Fact! The Vice President cannot be fired by the President.
Picking your VP Activity
Warm up - February 1st & 2nd What is the Electoral College? Write down everything you remember and know; we will discuss this. Your WarmUp will become your notes sheet about the Electoral College and choosing the President.
How we Pick the President
It is a process, not a place.
The Electoral College In the presidential election, you do not cast your vote for the candidate instead you vote to elect presidential electors.
The Electoral College - Basics How many electoral votes are there? 538 How many does one need to win? 270 How is the number of electoral votes determined? # of Representatives + 2 Senators How many states have a winner-take-all system? 48; Maine and Nebraska use a proportional type vote When do electors cast their votes? December 6th Is it possible to win the popular vote, but lose the electoral vote? YES 23rd Amendment gives DC three electors and treats it like a state for the purpose of the electoral college.
What if no candidate gets 270 If the HOR can t decide on a President by the 20th of January the newly elected Vice President shall act as President until a choice is made. If there isn t a majority of votes for the VP, the Senate decides between the two top candidates.
The Meeting 1. After the election, the electors meet the first Monday after the first Wednesday after the election. 2. Electors meet in their state, where they cast their votes for President and VP, on separate ballots. 3. The party that wins the state in the general election selects the members from that state.
The Final Decision On January 6th, each states electoral votes are counted in a joint session of Congress Vice President as the President of the Senate presides over the count and announces the results The President is sworn in on January 20th
Trouble with the Electoral College? 1. The winner-take-all feature a. The winning candidate receives all of the electoral votes for the state that win 2. The popular vote winner doesn t always win the Electoral college. This has happened 5 times (including this year in 2016). 3. By law, do electors have to vote the way the state tells them to? NO a. They are called faithless electors