The Presidency – Ch. 13

Roles, Term Limits, Pay & Benefits

Roles• Chief of state• Chief executive• Chief administrator• Chief diplomat• Commander in chief• Chief legislator• Chief of party• Chief citizen

Constitutional Qualifications (II, 1, 5)• Native-born citizen of U.S.

• @ least 35-yrs. Old– Barack Obama elected @ age– Ronald Reagan elected @ age 69

• Lived in U.S. for min. 14 yrs.

Constitutional Qualifications (II, 1, 5)• What other qualifications are required?

Presidential Term• Each term = 4 yrs.

• No original constitutional requirement on term limits– FDR elected as P 4 times

• 1951 – 22nd Amendment adopted– P can serve no longer than 2 terms

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Presidential Term• What is the maximum of years any P can serve?

Presidential Term• Several P have asked for 22nd Amendment to be

repealed– 2-term limit is undemocratic– Limits rights of Americans on who should become P

• What do you think?

Pay & Benefits• 1789 – $25,000/yr.• 2001 – $400,000/yr. (before taxes)• Also allowed $50,000/yr. expense allowance (taxed

as part of income)• Lives in White House and Camp David• Presidential transportation (Air Force 1, etc.)• Generous travel, medical, dental, entertainment

benefits

White House

Camp David

Air Force One

Presidential Succession (13.2)

Presidential Succession Act (1947)• Vice President• Speaker of the House• President pro tempore• Sec. of State• Sec. of Treasury• Sec. of Defense• Attorney General• Sec. of the Interior• Sec. of Agriculture• Sec. of Commerce

• Sec. of Labor• Sec. of Health/Human

Services• Sec. of Housing/Urban

Development (HUD)• Sec. of Transportation• Sec. of Energy• Sec. of Education• Sec. of Veteran Affairs• Sec. of Homeland Security

Presidential Disability (25th Amendment)

• 180 years before 25th Amendment, no provision existed for situations when the P is disabled

• Section 3 – P informs Congress in writing that he is unable to discharge his/her duties OR VP + majority of Cabinet inform Congress that P is incapacitated– P can regain duties by telling Congress no inability exists– VP + Cabinet can challenge statement– Congress has 21 days to decide

Presidential Disability (25th Amendment)

• 1985 – Pres. Reagan transferred powers to VP Bush while he had surgery to remove tumor

• 2002 – Bush transferred powers to VP Cheney while Bush was under anesthesia

Presidential Disability (25th Amendment)

• Is this provision a good one? Is there potential for abuse?

Vice President

Responsibilities• Preside over the Senate

• Help decide the question of presidential disability

• Must meet the same constitutional requirements as P

VP Vacancy• Position been vacant 18 times– 9 times for succession– 2 times for resignation– 7 times for death

• P is allowed to nominate a new VP