The President’s Job Description

Chapter 13Section 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”

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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