Chapter Thirteen:

The Presidency

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Learning Objectives

Explain the formal qualifications for office and detail the ways that the informal qualifications have changed over time.

Identify and explain the roles of the President (including head of state, chief executive, commander in chief, chief diplomat, chief legislator, and chief of party).

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Learning Objectives

Identify and explain the types of presidential powers: Constitutional powers; Statutory powers; Express powers; and Inherent powers.

Explain impeachment, differentiate it from conviction, and give historical examples of the process.

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Learning Objectives

Describe the organization of the executive branch:

The Cabinet; The Executive Office of the President; The White House Office; The Office of Management and Budget; and The National Security Council.

 

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Learning Objectives

Discuss the evolving role for the vice president as an adviser and successor to the president.

Describe the Twenty-fifth Amendment and discuss potential problems associated with it.

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Who Can Become President?

Must be a natural born citizenMust be at least 35 years oldMust be a resident within the United States for

at least 14 years

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Who Can Become President?

Process of Becoming President Nominated by party Win a majority of electoral votes

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The Many Roles of the President

Head of StateChief ExecutiveCommander in Chief of the Armed ForcesChief DiplomatChief Legislator

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The Many Roles of the President

Head of State—As head of state, the president engages in many activities that are largely symbolic or ceremonial, such as:

Decorating war heroes. Throwing out the first pitch to open the baseball

season. Dedicating parks and post offices. Receiving visiting heads of state at the White House.

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The Many Roles of the President

Chief Executive—As chief executive, the president is constitutionally bound to enforce the acts of Congress, the judgments of federal courts, and treaties signed by the United States. Has powers of appointment and removal Has power to grant reprieves and pardons

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The Many Roles of the President

Commander in Chief—The President is the civilian commander of the U.S. armed forces.

Wartime Powers

War Powers Resolution

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The Many Roles of the President

Chief Diplomat—As chief diplomat, the president dominates American foreign policy:

Recognizes foreign governments Makes treaties Executive agreements

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The Many Roles of the President

Chief Legislator—Presidents must recommend to Congress legislation that they judge necessary and expedient.

State of the Union message Getting legislation passed Vetoing legislation

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The Many Roles of the President14

The President as Party Chief and Superpolitician

The President as Chief of Party

Constituencies and Public Approval Presidential constituencies Public approval “Going Public” for support

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The President as Party Chief and Superpolitician

Special Uses of Presidential Power

Emergency PowersExecutive OrdersExecutive Privilege

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Abuses of Executive Power and Impeachment

Articles I and II of the Constitution authorize the House and Senate to remove the president, vice president or other civil offices for committing “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

House impeaches (accuses) Senate conducts trial

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The Executive Organization

CabinetExecutive Office of the PresidentWhite House OfficeOffice of Management and BudgetNational Security Council

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The Vice Presidency

The Vice President’s JobStrengthening the TicketSupporting the President

Presidential SuccessionThe Twenty-fifth AmendmentWhen the Vice Presidency Becomes Vacant

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The Vice Presidency21

Web Links

The White House: extensive information on the White House and the presidency: www.whitehouse.gov.

Bartleby.com: Internet publisher of literature, reference, and verse providing unlimited access to books and information on American presidents:

www.bartleby.com/124.

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What If…There Were No Executive Privilege?

When a U.S. president wishes to keep information secret, he or she can invoke executive privilege.

If there were no executive privilege, a president would have to be aware that all of his or her words, documents, and actions could be made public.

There would probably be fewer records of administration’s activities.

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What If…There Were No Executive Privilege?

Without executive privilege, the president might experience problems in waging a war on terrorism.

The White House would have a difficult time regulating the flow of past presidential records into the public forum.

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You Can Make a Difference: Watching the White House

Citizens should monitor the president’s performance and policies.

You can maintain a connection to the White House and keep informed on the president's initiatives by logging onto www.whitehouse.gov.

You can sign up for email from the White House or the President's political campaign to receive constant updates on policy initiatives or appointments.

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