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The Presidency

The Presidency. Chapters 13 & 14 Starting with Ch. 13 Section 1…. Formal Qualifications & Term. At least 35 years of age Reside in the US for prior 14 years Natural born citizen Born on US soil At least one parent is a citizen Term of office = 4 years

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The Presidency

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  1. The Presidency Chapters 13 & 14 Starting with Ch. 13 Section 1…

  2. Formal Qualifications & Term • At least 35 years of age • Reside in the US for prior 14 years • Natural born citizen • Born on US soil • At least one parent is a citizen • Term of office = 4 years • 22nd Amendment – established two term limit • Before FDR, Washington’s precedent

  3. Job Description Chief of State Chief Executive Chief Administrator Chief Diplomat Commander in Chief Chief Legislator Chief of Party Chief Citizen

  4. Compensation • $400,000/ year (since 2001) • $50,000/ year expense account • Is taxed on this amount too • Other benefits: • White House • Oval Office & West Wing with staff • “The Beast” • Air Force One • Marine One • Camp David, Thurmont, MD • Healthcare, insurance, pension

  5. 13.2 Presidential Succession • Vice President – replaces the president in case of death, resignation, or impeachment • 1st VP to do this – John Tyler, 1841 • Most recent – Gerald Ford, 1974 • Presidential Succession Act of 1947 • Worst case scenario • After VP, Speaker of the House, Senate pro tempore, then Cabinet heads in order dept. was created • 25th Amendment, 1967 • Allows for VP to be “Acting President” • Provides for change if Pres. is incapacitated

  6. Vice President • Officially – preside over Senate and wait… • For much of history, VP was ignored • Considered “political suicide” to accept spot • Can help “balance the ticket” • Handpicked by Presidential nominee • Can strengthen ticket, balance geography • Today’s VPs are much more active & involved • Biden, Cheney, Gore • VP vacancies – nominated by Pres.  confirmed by both House & Senate – majority vote • VPs cannot be fired, but may also be impeached

  7. 13.3 Presidential ElectionsThen vs. Now • Electoral College grew out of Constitutional compromises • Concerned with education of most Americans then • Each state determined how to select a group of presidential electors = to # of Senators & Reps • Often Americans then voted for “local electors” • Electors then met & voted for Pres & VP • Candidate with most votes = Pres • 2nd most votes = VP • Result  problem – Pres Adams w/ VP Jefferson • 12th Amendment, 1804, fixed it – run as a team

  8. 13.4 Now…starting with Primaries • Presidential Primaries – held in most states & territories • Voters cast secret ballots to pick candidate of YOUR party • Also selects delegates to National Convention • Process began in early 20th Century • Primaries held in Jan thru June of presidential election years • Today most are proportional representation • Used to be winner take all contests (like Electoral College) • Role of New Hampshire

  9. Caucuses • Closed meetings of members of a political party to select delegates for Nat’l Convention and thus the party’s candidate for president • Very different than what we do… • Caucus goers “have done their homework” • Existed since 1840s • Today 19 states still use caucuses for one or both parties • Results in 10% of Dem’s delegates & 15% of Rep’s • Role of Iowa

  10. National Convention • Quadrennial meetings of the major political parties to officially nominate candidates for Pres. & VP • In the past, this is where & how nominees were picked • Today, events are scripted “pep rallies” to kick off the campaign season • Also re-unites the party after the primary season • Adopts the platform • 1st 2 days – organization, adoption of the platform & Keynote Address • Day 3: the nomination & focus on VP • Day 4: all about the Pres. nominee

  11. Who gets picked? • Potential candidates start process often as much as 4 years before the election year • Background, “testing the field,” likability • FUNDRAISING!!! • Incumbents typically get re-nominated • Political experience practically a must • Military experience has counted instead • TV & Internet • “pleasant, healthy,” public speakers

  12. 13.5 The Campaign “organized chaos” Daily news coverage Advertising, interviews, speeches, Internet, “whistle stop” tours, press conferences, press releases, rallies, dinners & events, “stuff”, shake hands, “kiss babies”, pose for pictures Debates – formalized & run by the Commission on Presidential Elections Focus on swing voters & battleground states

  13. Electoral College NOW • Electors are also voted on Election Day • Most states however their names are NOT on the ballots • Each party picks electors who have pledged to support the party’s nominee • So picking the candidate elects those electors • Most states are winner-take-all, including PA • Maine & Nebraska • Electors meet in state capitals – mid – Dec. • Result is mailed to Senate • Mail is opened during a joint-session of Congress • “magic number” is 270 out of total of 538

  14. What if no one gets 270… • House of Reps votes for President • Top 3 candidates only considered • Each state gets one vote • Must reach 26 votes to win • Happened in 1800 & 1824 • Senate votes for Vice President • Only top 2 candidates considered • Happened in 1836

  15. Criticisms of the Electoral College • Winner of the popular vote does NOT necessarily win the election • 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000 • Electors CAN still vote for who they want… • “broken their pledges” • Happened 11 times, never impacted outcome • Possible that ANY election can end in the House • 1800 & 1824 • Alternatives have been proposed • District plan, proportional plan, direct popular election plan, & national popular vote plan

  16. 14.1 Growth of Presidential Power • Unity of the office – “the buck stops here” – Truman • & huge staff • Personalities of various Presidents • Leadership in an increasing complex society & economy • Times of crisis • Congress has delegated to Executive branch how to enforce laws • Mass media

  17. All in a Day’s Work iCivics Lesson… See handouts Expressed powers of the President from Constitution

  18. 14.2 Executing the Law • Congress makes the laws  Executive branch enforces the laws • Often Congress leaves it to the Executive branch to define what that means • Executive Orders – directives, rules, & regulations from the President that have the effect of laws • From Ordinance power from the Constitution & Congress • Appointment Power – naming approx. 3000 appointees • Ambassadors, the Cabinet & high ranking officials, federal judges, marshals, & attorneys, Justices, officers in armed forces – approved by Senate • Recess appointments – only valid until end of Congressional Term

  19. Con’t • Removal Power – President may dismiss anyone he appointed except federal judges & Justices • Upheld in Myers v. United States, 1926 • Over dismissal of a postmaster • However, in Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, 1935, placed a limit on the removal power if the position appointed to is a specific term length • Executive Privilege • Claims by presidents that certain pieces of info are reserved for their eyes only • Continues to be a source of disagreement w/ Congress • United States v. Nixon, 1974 – ruled against Nixon

  20. 14.3 Domestic vs. Foreign policy iCivics lesson… Domestic – involving mostly issues within the US Foreign – involving issues dealing with other countries See and fill in handouts

  21. Other Presidential actions in Foreign policy… • Executive agreements – pact between the President & the head of another nation • Are NOT approved by the Senate but have the same standing as treaties • Cannot violate US law or other treaties • Only continue to exist if new President also applies it • Power of Recognition – acknowledges the legal existence of a country • Typically leads to embassies, etc • Does NOT necessarily mean we agree with them on everything • Persona non grata – when a diplomat is no longer welcome

  22. President & Military powers • Undeclared wars – President has the power to send in combat troops when he deems it necessary • Korea, Vietnam, to some degree Iraq & Afghanistan (“war on terrorism”) • Congressional resolutions – when Congress authorizes the use of force but does not declare war • War Powers Resolution, 1973 • if President sends in combat troops after an attack has happened • President MUST tell Congress within 48 hours • May only keep troops there for max. 60 days unless Congress authorizes longer

  23. 14.4 President’s Legislative powers • Recommending legislation • “message power” – minimum of 3 times a year: State of the Union, budget message, & Economic Report • Veto power & even threat of veto • NOT line-item veto • Signing statements – issued to either challenge Constitutionality of some laws or to explain the enforcement or not of other • Power to call Special Sessions of Congress • Rarely used not that Congress meets so often

  24. President’s Judicial powers • Can grant reprieves – postponement of the sentence • Can grant pardons – legal forgiveness of a crime • Power is absolute except for impeachments • Usually granted after the conviction • Must be accepted by the person receiving it • Pardons can include conditions, commutation, or amnesty

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