The President’s The President’s Job DescriptionJob Description

Critical Thinking:Critical Thinking:

Demonstrate understanding of Demonstrate understanding of President’s many rolesPresident’s many roles

Formal Qualifications:Formal Qualifications:1.1. ““natural born Citizen” of U.S. natural born Citizen” of U.S.

(jus sanguinis controversy)(jus sanguinis controversy)

2.2. 35 years of age35 years of age

3.3. 14 years residency in U.S.14 years residency in U.S.

Question: Which Amendment Question: Which Amendment limited President to two terms limited President to two terms

and why?and why? 2222ndnd Amendment (1951): “No person Amendment (1951): “No person

shall be elected to the office of the shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice….”President more than twice….”

Maximum of two full terms or 10 yearsMaximum of two full terms or 10 years Traditions as informal amendments to Traditions as informal amendments to

ConstitutionConstitution

Succession of Presidency Succession of Presidency and VPand VP

The “24” Quiz: What if…..?The “24” Quiz: What if…..? 1947 law – Speaker of House1947 law – Speaker of House 2525thth Amendment (1967): Amendment (1967): New Prez New Prez

nominates new VP, who is nominates new VP, who is confirmed by majority of Congressconfirmed by majority of Congress If no new VP yet, 1947 law…If no new VP yet, 1947 law…

Question: If VP and majority of Question: If VP and majority of Cabinet declare Prez “unable to Cabinet declare Prez “unable to discharge powers”, what happens if discharge powers”, what happens if Prez disagrees?Prez disagrees?

Congress decides: 2/3 both housesCongress decides: 2/3 both houses

The President’s RolesThe President’s Roles

Six formal roles come directly from Six formal roles come directly from the Constitutionthe Constitution

Other roles have been assumed by Other roles have been assumed by Presidents throughout historyPresidents throughout history

Chief of StateChief of State Chief Chief ExecutiveExecutive

Ceremonial head of Ceremonial head of governmentgovernment

Symbol of the Symbol of the nation’s ideals, nation’s ideals, principles, traditionsprinciples, traditions

““protect and defend protect and defend the Constitution” the Constitution” (Art. II, s.1)(Art. II, s.1)

““take care that the take care that the laws be faithfully laws be faithfully executed” (Art. II, executed” (Art. II, sec. 3)sec. 3)

Executive OrdersExecutive Orders Agency RegulationsAgency Regulations

Chief Administrator Chief Administrator Appoints high public officers and federal judgesAppoints high public officers and federal judges

Rule of Senatorial CourtesyRule of Senatorial Courtesy The CabinetThe Cabinet and the White House Staff and the White House Staff

Director of Executive Branch/federal bureaucracyDirector of Executive Branch/federal bureaucracy Over 2.7 million civilians; more than $2 trillion/yearOver 2.7 million civilians; more than $2 trillion/year Crisis ManagerCrisis Manager

Chief LegislatorChief Legislator Main architect of public Main architect of public

policiespolicies Often shapes the Often shapes the

congressional agendacongressional agenda Initiates, suggest, or Initiates, suggest, or

pressures Congress to pressures Congress to enact much major enact much major legislation legislation

Veto and Pocket Veto Veto and Pocket Veto Power Power

Controversy over Signing Controversy over Signing StatementsStatements

Chief Diplomat Commander Chief Diplomat Commander in Chiefin Chief

Chief architect of Chief architect of American foreign American foreign policypolicy Appoints Appoints

ambassadorsambassadors Negotiates TreatiesNegotiates Treaties

Nation’s Nation’s spokesperson to the spokesperson to the rest of the worldrest of the world

Final responsibility Final responsibility and authority for and authority for Armed ForcesArmed Forces Delegates authority to Delegates authority to

Sec. Defense and Joint Sec. Defense and Joint ChiefsChiefs

Over 1 million troops Over 1 million troops subject to the subject to the President’s direct President’s direct controlcontrol

Making Undeclared WarMaking Undeclared War QUESTION: Does the Constitution give QUESTION: Does the Constitution give

the President the power to make war the President the power to make war without a declaration of war by without a declaration of war by Congress?Congress?

Congress has not declared war since Congress has not declared war since WWII, despite numerous “wars”:WWII, despite numerous “wars”: N. Korea and Vietnam: long-lasting N. Korea and Vietnam: long-lasting

“undeclared wars”“undeclared wars” Recent examples: Afghanistan and IraqRecent examples: Afghanistan and Iraq Congress passed 8 joint resolutions since Congress passed 8 joint resolutions since

WWII to authorize President to use forceWWII to authorize President to use force

The War Powers Resolution The War Powers Resolution (1973)(1973)

A result of growing A result of growing frustration over frustration over VietnamVietnam

Provisions:Provisions: 1) Within 48 hours 1) Within 48 hours

after sending after sending American forces American forces abroad, President abroad, President must report to must report to Congress with Congress with detailsdetails

2) Combat 2) Combat commitment commitment must end within must end within 60 days, unless 60 days, unless Congress agrees Congress agrees to a longer to a longer periodperiod

3) Congress may 3) Congress may end combat by end combat by passing a passing a resolution to that resolution to that effecteffect

Not yet testedNot yet tested

Informal RolesInformal Roles

Chief of partyChief of party Leader of Political Leader of Political

PartyParty Parties not Parties not

mentioned in mentioned in Constitution, but Constitution, but play vital role in play vital role in govt.govt.

Chief citizenChief citizen Represent highest Represent highest

standards of standards of citizenshipcitizenship

Expected to work Expected to work for and represent for and represent the public interest the public interest

Other RolesOther Roles

EconomyEconomy Stewardship of Stewardship of

economyeconomy International trade International trade

and planningand planning Submits annual Submits annual

budget to Congressbudget to Congress Economy seen as Economy seen as

President’s job; President’s job; President’s fault if President’s fault if poorpoor

Pay and BenefitsPay and Benefits

Congress determines salaryCongress determines salary It can not be changed during a termIt can not be changed during a term $400,000 per year set in 1999, $400,000 per year set in 1999,

became effective January 20, 2001.became effective January 20, 2001. Also provided with a $50,000-a-year Also provided with a $50,000-a-year

expense allowanceexpense allowance Plus fringe benefitsPlus fringe benefits

Critical Thinking Critical Thinking QuestionsQuestions

List five informal qualifications you think List five informal qualifications you think one should have in order to be seriously one should have in order to be seriously considered for the presidency. Explain considered for the presidency. Explain your choicesyour choices

At $400,000 a year, the President’s salary At $400,000 a year, the President’s salary is far more than that of many wealthy is far more than that of many wealthy Americans, yet less than the yearly Americans, yet less than the yearly income of the wealthiest Americans. Do income of the wealthiest Americans. Do you think the President is fairly you think the President is fairly compensated? Why or why not?compensated? Why or why not?