American Government

Bellwork

“The presidency has made every man who occupied it, no matter how small, bigger than he was; and no matter how big, not big enough for its demands.”

Lyndon Johnson

Qualifications

According to Article II Section 1 of the Constitution, the formal requirements to become President are You must be a natural-born citizen of the

U.S. You must be at least 35 years old You must have been a resident of the U.S.

for at least 14 years before taking office These same requirements apply to the Vice

President.

Informal Requirements

Here are some of the informal requirements to become President. Governmental Experience

Previous Senator, Representative, Governor etc.

Access to large amount of money A more moderate political disposition Mostly middle class, protestant

Salary and Benefits

Salary: $400,000 Travel Allowance: $100,000 (for

official duties only) Salary can not be changed during a

Presidents term. Benefits

Air Force One, other planes, helicopters, and limos for transportation.

Salary and Benefits

Benefits: The President receives free health care,

lives in the White House, has a cooking staff and domestic staff, receives $148,000 a year for retirement, is given free office space, free mailing services, and up to $96,000 a year for office help

Duties

The President is the Commander in Chief of the military This means that the President is in supreme

command of a country’s armed forces The President is in charge of war and peacetime

strategies of the armed forces

Presidents also: Appoint heads of executive departments,

federal court judges, and other top officials, conduct foreign policy, makes treaties, meets with heads of state, appoints ambassadors, and hosts foreign officials

Presidential Succession

This was established by the 25th amendment.

President Vice President

Speaker of the House President pro tempore

Secretary of State Secretary of Treasury Secretary of Defense Attorney General Secretary of the Interior Secretary of Agriculture

Vice President

The Vice President is the President of the Senate. Vice Presidents have very little if no

authority at all. Other than Senate duties, Vice

Presidents are only involved as much as the President wants them to be involved.

Could you be President?

Students will be doing worksheet based of what information was just covered, and the Constitutional qualifications of the presidency.