THE PRESIDENCY
Electing the President
Electing the President
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE Each state receives a specific # of electoral votes. # of Congressmen + 2 Senators = # of Electoral Votes Each electoral vote is represented by a person (more on that in a minute) Following the November election, the electoral college meets in December to officially cast their votes for POTUS
ELECTORAL COLLEGE 538 electoral votes/270 needed to win If neither candidate wins a majority, the House of Representatives elects POTUS and the Senate elects VPOTUS.
ELECTORAL COLLEGE & FEDERALISM Electors are chosen by the party leaders in each state The Constitution leaves it up to the states how to award their electoral votes (Winner-Take-All, District Method etc.) States also have different laws governing ***faithless electors***-electors who refuse to cast their vote to the candidate they were pledged to.
ORIGINAL SYSTEM Electors chosen by state legislatures or popular vote Each elector cast two votes for POTUS, one of which had to be from outside of his state (Article II). 1 st Place = President 2 nd Place = VP Problem: POTUS & VP could be from different parties
CURRENT SYSTEM ***12 th Amendment*** Electors cast a vote for POTUS and one for VP Winner-Take-All/Plurality System The winner of the popular vote in each state wins all of that state s electoral votes.* *Except in Nebraska & Maine who use the district method. Grover Cleveland won the popular vote for the presidency but lost in the electoral college to Benjamin Harrison.
Why don t we elect POTUS by national popular vote? I. Founding Fathers feared an uninformed or impassioned electorate might popularly elect a tyrant. ***SAFEGUARD: They allowed the electors to vote their conscience. II. Forces candidates to coalition-build instead of focusing on one geographic area/population centers III. National popular vote would enable electoral fraud
Formal Qualifications CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS At least 35 years old A natural-born citizen of the U.S. A resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years
Informal Qualifications It also helps to have: Several years prior governmentparticularly executive experience; Prior military experience; Very few skeletons in your closet; Access to a lot of $$$; A middle-class background.
$alary & Benefit$ Annual Salary: $400,000 Annual Expense Allowance: $50,000 Travel Allowance: $100,000 Air Force I Retirement Pension Health Insurance Camp David access
Presidential Powers
EVOLUTION OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER The Presidency was a relatively weak institution prior to the 20 th century as Congress was the dominant branch. Presidential power has expanded due to: Internal social and economic crises Foreign policy crises Expansion of federal power by Congress that necessitated an expanded federal bureaucracy administered by the Chief Executive.
POTUS LIMITED BY: The Constitution Popular Opinion Public support for a President may impact how much support he receives from Congress for his programs. ***LAME DUCK*** A President who has either been voted out of office after his first term or is unpopular during the latter part of his second term.
POTUS and Congress frequently struggle for power and often have different agendas, even under a unified government. Veto override Impeachment Treaties require Senate confirmation Cabinet and judicial appointments, ambassadorships require Senate confirmation Congressional oversight of actions taken by the executive branch
The Courts Presidential initiatives or actions may be ruled unconstitutional EX: U.S. v. Nixon (1973) limited executive privilege Politics ***DIVIDED GOVERNMENT*** When the White House and one or both houses of congress are controlled by different parties. -Compromises benefit both sides but the process is much slower -Unless POTUS has an ideological majority in both houses, he is more likely to lose legislative battles
***GRIDLOCK*** -The inability of the federal government to act quickly and decisively due to divided government
***IMPERIAL PRESIDENTS*** Imperial presidents will act without consultation with the other branches in order to move their agenda forward. Often done via ***executive orders/actions***-orders have the full force of law when that authority is granted by the Constitution or an act of Congress.
POTUS PROGRAM Major initiatives that POTUS seeks to enact Presidential Programs are shaped by Interest groups -They generate new ideas Aids & Advisors -They test new ideas for political soundness ( Will we have the backing of Congress and/or the public? ) Federal Bureaus and Agencies -Will know whether or not a program can even work and how to implement it. Outside Experts -Provide criticisms
Roles
Symbol of the U.S.: Represents America at special occasions, key foreign events and ceremonies. HEAD OF STATE EX: Awarding medals and speechmaking.
Sees to it that laws are faithfully executed ***IMPOUNDMENT*** CHIEF EXECUTIVE -Not spending money allocated by Congress (Congress must approve in 45 days) Appoints key officials like ambassadors and judges (S) and lesser officials
CHIEF EXECUTIVE Issues executive orders that affect how laws are enforced Can fire employees of the Executive Branch Grants pardons & amnesty
CHIEF LEGISLATOR Proposes and drives legislation Approves legislation (C). Lobbies members of Congress to support his agenda or uses the ***Bully Pulpit*** to appeal directly to the American people. Presents his agenda to Congress in the annual State of the Union address.
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF Decides where and how to deploy the armed forces, and the rules of engagement. Power is shared by the Secretary of Defense and the Commander of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. WAR POWERS ACT POTUS can deploy the military to a hostile area/order military operations against another country without a declaration of war for 60 days. POTUS must inform congress in writing within 48 hours.
MONITORS: Unemployment Inflation, taxation, business Also: CHIEF ECONOMIST Does not control the economy, but pushes policies can impact it. EX: Tax cuts/increases Prepares the federal budget
Chief Diplomat Shapes the foreign policy of the United States. Appoints and manages the ambassadors, embassies, and foreign activities of the country. Signs treaties (S). Executive Agreements. Daily duties handled by the Secretary of State.
CHIEF POLITICIAN/PARTY LEADER Presidents help members of their party get elected or appointed to office (Coattails Effect). They make campaign speeches needed for reelection. Head of fund-raising for the party.
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION 22 nd Am. limits POTUS to two terms + two years of the previous POTUS term if necessary. (10 years total) 25 th Am.: VP takes over if POTUS dies. Presidential Succession Act of 1947 -Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore followed by Cabinet Secretaries take over if POTUS & VP die/resign.
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION PRESIDENTIAL INCAPACITY 25 th Am also says VP & majority of the Cabinet can decide if POTUS is mentally or physically unable to be POTUS and remove him.
FIN
The Cabinet President Calvin Coolidge & his Cabinet
The Cabinet CABINET = VP + heads (Secretaries) of 15 major executive departments CABINET SECRETARIES Often have conflicting loyalties due to their personal backgrounds, relationship to special interests and rivalries EX: Hamilton & Jefferson POTUS doesn t have much control over them due to the size of their departments. Often receive their appointments due to: Their level of expertise in their respective area Political loyalty
OTHER OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WHITE HOUSE OFFICE -Special advisors and assistants to POTUS -Don t require confirmation EXECUTIVE AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES -EX (EXECUTIVE AGENCIES): NASA, Small Business Administration -EX (INDEPENDENT AGENCIES): Federal Reserve GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS USPS, Amtrak
OTHER EXECUTIVE OFFICE -Agencies of the ExBr that report directly to POTUS -Confirmed by the Senate Office of Management and Budget (OMB) National Security Council Council of Economic Advisors ***RULE OF PROPINQUITY*** Whomever is in the room when the decision is made has the most power. The closer your office it the Oval Office, the more influence you have over POTUS