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Formal Requirements
The Presidency
• Requirements set in the Constitution
– Must be at least 35 years old
– Must have resided in US for 14 years
– “natural born” citizen
youngest president
Informal “Requirements”
• aka “de facto” requirements
– white – male
– protestant
youngest elected
only Catholic
Secession and Impeachment
• VP becomes President if the President leaves office due to death or resignation or conviction of impeachment
– impeachment‐investigated by the House, tried by the Senate with the Chief Justice presiding
– only 2 presidents have been impeached…neither were convicted
• A. Johnson
• B. Clinton
Being President
• normal road to the White House is to be elected
– serves 1 or 2 terms of 4 years
– 22nd Amendment‐limited Presidents to 2 terms
– most presidents have been elected to office
Constitutional Powers
• national Security
– Commander‐in‐Chief
– negotiates treaties with other nations
• legislative
– veto bills
– State of the Union address*
• administrative nominations
• judicial nominations
• inherent powers
– Louisiana Purchase
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Informal Powers
• Executive order
– presidential order that has the force of law and does not require congressional approval
– expires at the end of the president’s term
• Executive Agreement
– a presidential agreement with another country that does not require Senate approval
– expires at the end of the president’s term
Presidential Signing Statements
• signing statement is a written message issued by the president upon signing a bill into law that states objections to some of the provisions in the bill
• not provided for in the Constitution
• George W. Bush increased their use, and Obama has continued this trend
the Cabinet
Growing Presidential Powers
• not intended by the Constitution or the Framers, but used
– War Powers Act
– executive privilege
• used mostly in foreign policy to withhold information from Congress and/or the American public
– executive orders
• Korematsu v US
Executive Branch
• the Vice President
– few official constitutional duties
– recent presidents have given their VPs important jobs
• the Cabinet
– presidential advisors not in the Constitution
– made up of the cabinet secretaries of the federal departments, confirmed by Senate
Executive Office
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Roles of the President
Chief Diplomat
– negotiates treaties with other countries
• Treaties must be ratified by 2/3 vote in the Senate
– use executive agreements to take care of routine matters with other countries
– may negotiate for peace between other countries
– lead U.S. allies in defense and economic issues
– makes foreign policy for the US
Chief of State
• the “face” of the United States
• ceremonial duties
Commander‐in‐Chief
• leader of the armed forces
• decides where troops shall be stationed
• where ships shall be sent
• how weapons shall be used
Chief Executive‐the “boss”
The White House Office
– The White House Staff are the chief aides and staff for the president.
– They are chosen on the basis of their loyalty to the president
– Need not be confirmed
– The national security advisor is an example
Chief Legislator
• the Constitution gives the president power to influence Congress in its lawmaking
• Presidents may urge Congress to pass new laws or veto bills that they do not favor
• fewer than 3% of presidential vetoes are overridden
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Chief of the Party
• president helps members of his political party get elected or appointed to office
• president campaigns for those members who have supported his policies. POWER FROM THE PEOPLE
• The Public Presidency
– approval ratings
– Public support is perhaps the greatest source of influence a president has.
– Presidential appearances are staged to get the public’s attention.
– As head of state, presidents often perform many ceremonial functions‐ which usually result in favorable press coverage.
Chief Guardian of the Economy
• president is concerned with such things as – unemployment, – high prices
– taxes
– business profits
– the general prosperity of the country
OK, now on to Practice Exam #1
• put up your phones
• nothing on your desk except a pencil/pen
• AFTER you’re finished with multiple choice part, turn your bubble sheet in
• NOW you can have your white book and composition book out and start working on the FRQs
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