The President’s Job Description

The President’s Job Description Chapter 13 Section 1

Key Terms • Chief of State • Chief Executive • Chief Administrator • Chief Diplomat • Commander In Chief • Chief Legislator • Chief of Party • Chief citizen

Presidential Roles • Chief of State- ceremonial head of the government • He or she is the symbol of the country • “The personal embodiment and representative of their dignity and majesty”

Some countries the chief of state does not rule • Queens of England, Denmark and the Netherlands • Kings of Norway, Sweden and Belgium • Emperor of Japan • President of Italy and Germany

Chief Executive • Vested with “the executive power” by the Constitution • Power is broad in both foreign and domestic affairs • There are constitutional checks

Chief Administrator • The director of the huge executive branch • Is the head of one of the largest governments in the world • Employs 2.7 million civilians and spends 3 trillion dollars a year

Chief Diplomat • The main architect of American foreign policy • Nation’s chief spokesman to the world • Truman states “I make foreign policy” • Everything they do is followed closely abroad

Commander in Chief • The head of the armed forces given by the constitution • Head of 1.4 million men and woman in uniform • President has direct and immediate control

Chief Legislator • The principle author of public policies • The president usually sets the legislative agenda • Working with Congress occupies a lot of the president’s time

Chief of Party • The acknowledged leader of their political party • Virtually unchallengeable • Much of the president’s comes from how they play this role

Chief Citizen • Expected to be the representative of all people • Expected to take the high road and champion interests • “The Presidency” says Roosevelt ,”Is not merely a public office. It is preeminently, a place of moral leadership” • fdr

Chief Citizen • The way the president plays any one role can have a real effect on the ability to play another • Johnson • The way he handles the Viet Nam War damaged him • Nixon • The scandal of Watergate

Formal Qualifications • Be a natural born citizen • Have attained the age of 35 years • Theodore Roosevelt the youngest at 42 • Ronald Regan the oldest at 69 • Most chief executives were in their 50’s

Formal Qualifications • Lived in the United States for 14 years • Both Hoover and Eisenhower spent many years outside the United States. • It is any 14 years

The Presidential Term • Four year term with the ability to be elected to a second term • Until 1951 there was no constitutional limit for re-election • From Washington until FDR no President ran for more than two terms

The Presidential Term • Truman, Eisenhower, Reagan have called for a repeal of the 22 Amendment • Several President’s have urged a single six year term • Free president from campaigning for a second term

Pay and Benefits • Congress determines the President’s pay • First President paid $25,000. Pay now $400,000 • $50,000 in expenses

Pay and Benefits • White house (132 room mansion) • Fleet of Cars • Air Force One • Helicopters • Camp David • Finest medical and dental care • Generous entertainment funds

The President’s Job Description