Understanding the Role and Powers of the U.S. President

1. Chapter 12 The President Timothy Lewis, Parker Toland, Matt Maples

2. Who Can Become The President • Most common profession is a lawyer • Usually has experience being VP, congressmen, or state governor • Requirements- • 35 years old • natural born citizen • 14 years of residency in US

3. Special uses of powers • Executive Privilege-withhold info from congressional hearings • EX- US vs. Nixon- couldn’t use it w/ Watergate • Cannot withhold info with criminal charges • Clinton tried to use with affair case, but to use executive privilege it has to be related to job • Executive Orders-force of law w/o congressional consent, have to be in federal registrar • Emergency Powers-exercised in national crisis (9/11) • EX- Lincoln extending civil liberties during Civil War • FDR mobilized budget bill during WW1

4. Executive Organization • Cabinet-advisory group selected by Pres. to help him with his duties (Includes head of 15 executive offices) used at discretion • Kitchen Cabinet-friends of President that help him make decisions (started w/ Jackson) • EOP-organization estb. by FDR to assist Pres. w/ major duties • Includes NSC, OMB, White House Office

5. President as Party Chief and Super Politician • Patronage- the practice of rewarding faithful party workers with government employment and contracts • Washington community- people involved in politics in D.C. • He is very concerned with public approval ratings • The Pres. does: • Chooses national committee chairmen • Fundraisers for party

6. President Process • Must get nominated in primary. • Sometimes even the most popular President in the Presidential run looses the election because of the electoral college. • Due to 12th amend. P and VP must get nominated separately.

7. Abuses of Executive Power • Can be impeached if: • Treason of any sort • Bribery, high crimes or misdemeanors • If many people don’t like you • No president has been impeached and convicted. • 3 have gotten close though: • Andrew Johnson • Richard Nixon- Watergate • Bill Clinton- affair with Monica Lewinski

8. The VP • Only power in constitution is to preside over the Senate, but rarely is there. • VP is used to help gain support for Pres. • 25th amend.- if Pres. can’t fulfill his duties the VP becomes Pres • 8 VP have become President • After VP the Speaker the house

9. Roles of the President • Not too many found in the Constitution • The Presidency has grown into a very complicated position

10. Head of State • Ceremonial Head of Country • Throwing first pitch at ballgames • Official state visits to countries • Decorates war heroes

11. Chief Executive • Enforces acts of Congress • Appoints government officials • Grants Reprieves, postponement of sentence, Pardons- release from punishment

12. Commander in Chief • Comander of military forces • Makes ultimate decision • Have to have consent of senate to go to war • With war powers resolution act president can send troops for 60 days w/o senatorial consent

13. Chief Diplomat • Recognizes foreign gov’t, signs treaties • Have to have consent of senate to have a treaty • Executive agreement- international agreement made by president without senate, like a treaty.

14. Chief Legislator • President tries to influence laws • State of the union address- address to congress and citizens that tells presidents legislative goals • Veto message tells why pres. vetoed something • Pocket Veto- law doesn’t get passed because congress adjourns • Line Item Veto- specific sections of bill • Congress has to have 2/3 vote of both champers to override veto

15. Other Presidential Powers • Constitutional power- vested in president by article 2 of the constitution • Statutory power- created for pres. by laws enacted by congress • Expressed power- power of president that is expressly written in the constitution

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