American Government C H A P T E R 13 The Presidency

Objective:

•to identify roles of the U.S. President & examples of each

• Standard 4.3:

understand basic features of major forms of government in the world.

Today’s Lesson—Presidential Roles Today

Review Presidential Govt Presidential Roles Review Group Activity •Head of State •Chief Executive •Commander in Chief •Chief Diplomat •Chief Legislator •Economic Planner •Party Leader

Presidential Govt

•Presidential Govt (U.S.)- govt featuring a separation of power between the exec & leg branches -Both are chosen independently of each other & are coequal in power

-Pres is chosen independently of the legislature & holds office for a fixed term -Each branch has many powers not subject to the direct control of the other

Roles of President Head of State- the ceremonial head of the govt, the symbol of all the people of the nation—represents U.S. to the world, hosts foreign govt heads Ex. Presents Medal of Honor/throw out first pitch/lights White House Xmas tree

President’s Roles (cont’d) Chief Executive- sees that laws are executed (carried out)—uses several tools:

1. Executive Orders- presidential rules having same force as law- often used to spell out details of programs (creating new exec office agency) 2. Make appointments- cabinet members, over 2200 other fed officials, top military posts, Supreme Court Justices 3. Reprieves- postponement of legal punishment 4. Pardons- release from legal punishment (President Ford pardoned Nixon)

5. Amnesty- group pardon to people for crimes against govt- usually military personnel Ex. Carter granted amnesty to Vietnam draft evaders: Pres. Harrison granted amnesty to Mormons practicing polygamy 6. Commutation-power to commute (reduce) length of a sentence or fine

Presidential Roles The role in which the President is the ceremonial head of the govt, the symbol of all the American people—represents U.S. to the world is his role as_____. Head of State The Role in which the President ensures that laws are carried out, grants pardons and reprieves, and can commute criminal sentences is his role as ___. Chief Executive

Objective:

•to identify roles of the U.S. President & examples of each

• Standard 4.3:

understand basic features of major forms of government in the world.

More Roles of the President Commander in Chief- supreme commander of all U.S. military forces— including nuclear weapons •War Powers Act- 1973- prevents Pres from committing U.S. military over 60 days w/o congressional approval •Take actions at home supporting war efforts (rationing/price controls during WWII & control of wartime industries)

•Use military to control serious disorders in the nation (riots, violent strikes, civil rights events in 1960s) •Use military to keep maintain order during natural disasters & aid in rescue/cleanup etc.

President’s Roles (cont’d) Chief Diplomat- the President is the main architect of American foreign policy and chief spokesperson to the rest of the world. •Has sole power to negotiate/sign treaties-must have 2/3 Senate approval

• Executive agreements- pact between Pres & foreign govt head (FDR lent equip to UK during WWII) •Sole authority to recognize govts of other countries (haven’t recognized Cuba since 1959)

Presidential Roles The role in which the President is the commander of the U.S. military is his role as_____. Commander in Chief The role in which the President is the main architect of American foreign policy and chief spokesperson to the rest of the world is his role as ___. Chief Diplomat

Objective:

•to identify roles of the U.S. President & examples of each

• Standard 4.3:

understand basic features of major forms of government in the world.

President’s Roles (cont’d) Chief Legislator- the main architect of the nation’s public policies (lawmaking).

•Influences lawmaking by: meeting w/senators & reps/giving political favors—in their constituents’ dists •Can veto legislation—usually just the threat works: no line item veto (vetoing just part of a bill)

Economic Planner—President is expected to “fix” the economy when needed—prepares the federal budget Party Leader- leader of the political party that controls the exec branch.

•Give speeches, attend fundraisers, develop future election strategies— expected to promote party members to top govt positions (patronage) as reward for support •2010 Budget

Presidential Roles The role in which the President is the main architect of the nation’s public policies (lawmaking) is his role as_____. Chief Legislator The role in which the President is expected to “fix” the economy when needed & he prepares the federal budget is his role as ___. Economic Planner The role in which the President is leader of the political party that controls the exec branch is his role as_____. Party Leader

Objective:

•to identify roles of the U.S. President & examples of each

• Standard 4.3:

understand basic features of major forms of government in the world.

Presidential Roles Review The role in which the President is the ceremonial head of the govt, the symbol of all the American people—represents U.S. to the world is his role as_____. Head of State The Role in which the President ensures that laws are carried out, grants pardons and reprieves, and can commute criminal sentences is his role as ___. Chief Executive

Presidential Roles Review The role in which the President is the commander of the U.S. military is his role as_____. Commander in Chief The role in which the President is the main architect of American foreign policy and chief spokesperson to the rest of the world is his role as ___. Chief Diplomat

Presidential Roles Review The role in which the President is the main architect of the nation’s public policies (lawmaking) is his role as_____. Chief Legislator The role in which the President is expected to “fix” the economy when needed & he prepares the federal budget is his role as ___. Economic Planner The role in which the President is leader of the political party that controls the exec branch is his role as_____. Party Leader

Name the Presidential Role In 1962, President Kennedy used the Navy to create a blockade around Cuba to prevent more Soviet nuclear missiles from being placed there. Commander in Chief President Obama invites World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals to the White House for a congratulatory dinner. Head of State Prior to our entry into WWII, FDR entered into executive agreements with England & loaned them many war supplies. Chief Diplomat In the 1950s, President Eisenhower used the National Guard to ensure that Southern states adhered to segregation laws & black students were allowed into public schools. (other than his Commander in Chief role). Chief Executive

Name the Presidential Role In January, the President presents Congress with a proposed budget for the following year. Economic Planner

The President attends a Democratic fundraiser in Nashville & offers advice for upcoming state elections. Party Leader

In 1948, President Truman recognized the new state of Israel. Chief Diplomat

The President vetoed a bill that threatened to limit women’s access to abortions. Chief Legislator

Name the Presidential Role President Ford pardoned Richard Nixon from any prosecutions related to the Watergate scandal. Chief Executive

President Obama presented a Congressional Medal of Honor to a Iraqi War veteran’s widow. Head of State

President Lincoln promoted U.S. Grant to Lieutenant General during the Civil War. Chief Executive

President Carter granted amnesty to all Vietnam War draft evaders Chief Executive

Objective:

•to identify roles of the U.S. President & examples of each

• Standard 4.3:

understand basic features of major forms of government in the world.

Group Work Get into your groups

On separate pieces of paper, create an example of a President taking action in each of the seven roles of the presidency.

Example: President Loftis recognizes the government of the new nation of Petoria. Chief Diplomat

Quiz other groups with your questions/work.

Paragraph Writing

•Given all his responsibilities, is the President justly compensated?

Why or

why not?

•What do you think the most important of the seven presidential roles? •What would be the most difficult of the presidential roles to perform? Why?

Qualifications for President 1. Be “a natural born citizen.” 2. Be at least 35 years of age. {JFK (43) was the youngest person to be elected President. T. Roosevelt (42) was the youngest President. Reagan (69) was the oldest elected President.} 3. Be a 14 year resident of the U.S.

• •

Unofficial qualifications- govt experience, money, moderate political beliefs So far Pres has usually been: middle class, white, married, protestant, male

Presidential Race (vid)

Pay and Benefits

•President is paid $400K/year. •$100K nontaxable travel allowance—$50K nontaxable expense account

•President gets to live in the 132room White House.

•Secret Service protection for 10 yrs (pre Clinton Presidents get lifetime protection)

•Free medical/dental/healthcare •After term- $191K/yr pension for life, free office space & 96K/yr for office staff, free mailing services

•After death- spouse gets $20K/yr •Large suite of offices, a staff, the use of Air Force One, and many other fringe benefits

Presidential Salaries Presidential Salaries

1789-G.W. $25K=($566K) 1873-Grant $50K =($865K) 1909-Taft $75K =($1.71 mill.)

1949 Truman-$100K=($875K) 1969-Nixon-$200K=($1.13 mill.) 2001-G.W.Bush-$400K

Presidential Salary Comparison

•McDonald’s CEO Annual Salary $20.08 million

•Walt Disney CEO Annual Salary $21.78 million

•Starbucks CEO Annual Salary $29.21 million

•Verizon CEO Annual Salary $30.9 million

The President’s Term

•Traditionally, Presidents limited the number of terms served to two (G. Washington). This tradition was broken by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 when he won a third, & fourth term in 1944.

•The 22nd Amendment (1951) placed limits on presidential terms— President now may not be elected more than twice or only once if they became President due to succession. President may serve 10 yrs max.

Review 1. As commander in chief, the President (a) is the leader of all the nation’s armed forces. (b) initiates legislation.

(c) is the director of the government. (d) represents the citizens of the United States abroad.

2. In order to become President, a citizen needs to be at least (a) 25 years old.

(b) 35 years old. (c) 45 years old. (d) 30 years old.

The Constitution and Succession

•Presidential succession is the plan by which a presidential vacancy is filled.

•The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 set the order of succession following the Vice President.

Presidential Disability

•The 25th Amendment provide procedures to follow when the President is disabled.

•The Vice President is to become acting President if (1) the President informs Congress, in writing, “that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,” or (2) the Vice President and a majority of the members of the Cabinet inform Congress, in writing, that the President is thus incapacitated.

The Vice Presidency

•The Constitution only gives the Vice President two duties besides becoming President if the President is removed from office: 1) to preside over the Senate (breaks tie votes if necessary), and

2) to help decide the question of presidential disability.

•If the office of Vice President becomes vacant, the President nominates a new Vice President subject to the approval of Congress.

•The Vice President often performs diplomatic and political chores for the President.

•Must have same qualifications as the President •Salary of $221,100 /yr

Into the Oval Office

Review 1. Who is in line for presidential succession following the Vice President? (a) the First Lady (b) the Speaker of the House (c) the president of the Senate (d) the Secretary of State

2. Which constitutional amendment provides for presidential succession? (a) the 25th Amendment (b) the 26th Amendment (c) the 22nd Amendment (d) the 21st Amendment

The Electoral College Today Voters do not vote directly for the President. Instead, they vote for electors in the electoral college. The electoral college is the group of people (electors) chosen from each State and the District of Columbia that formally selects the President and Vice President. States have as many electoral votes as they have reps in Congress

•All States, except two (Maine

•On January 6, the electoral votes

and Nebraska), select electors based on the winner of the popular vote in that State.

cast are counted by the president of the Senate, and the President and Vice President are formally elected.

•Electors then meet in the State capitals on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December and cast their votes for President and Vice President.

•If no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes (270), the election is thrown into the House of Representatives.

Flaws in the Electoral College There are three major defects in the electoral college: (1) It is possible to win the popular vote in the presidential election, but lose the electoral college vote (1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000).

•“Winner take all” –winner of the popular vote gets all electoral votes •How electoral votes are distributed—two are based on Senate seats (regardless of size) *CA has 1 electoral vote for every 615,848 people—WY has 1 electoral vote for every 164,594 people (2) Nothing in the Constitution, nor in any federal statute, requires the electors to vote for the candidate favored by the popular vote in their State.

(3) If no candidate gains a majority in the electoral college, the election is thrown into the House, a situation that has happened twice (1800 and 1824). In this process, each State is given one vote, meaning that States with smaller populations wield the same power as those with larger populations.

Proposed Reforms •In the district plan, electors would •A commonly heard reform be chosen the same way members of Congress are selected: each congressional district would select one elector (just as they select representatives), and two electors would be selected based on the overall popular vote in a State (just as senators are selected).

suggests that the electoral college be done away with altogether in favor of direct popular election. At the polls, voters would vote directly for the President and Vice President instead of electors.

•The proportional plan suggests

•The national bonus plan would

that each candidate would receive the same share of a State’s electoral vote as he or she received in the State’s popular vote.

automatically offer the winner of the popular vote 102 electoral votes in addition to the other electoral votes he or she might gain.

Electoral College Supporters There are two major strengths of the electoral college that its supporters espouse:

•It is a known process.

•In most election years,

Each of the proposed, but untried, reforms may very well have defects that could not be known until they appeared in practice.

the electoral college defines the winner of the presidential election quickly and certainly.

Electoral College & 2008 Election (vids)

Review 1. Which of the following is a possible flaw of the electoral college system? (a) Electors are not bound to cast their electoral vote for the party they represent. (b) A candidate can fail to win a majority of electoral votes

(c) A candidate can win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote. (d) All of the above.

2. The proportional plan for electoral college reform suggests that (a) electors are chosen by State legislatures. (b) candidates receive a share of a State’s electoral votes correlating to his or her share of the State’s popular vote. (c) electors are chosen based on congressional districts. (d) the candidate that wins the popular vote automatically receives 102 electoral votes.

Presidential Seal Eagle: represents the nation

E Pluribus Unum: “of many, one”

Olive Branch: represents peace

Stars: represent the 50 states

Shield: (stripes): represents the 13 colonies

Arrows: represent the ability to wage war