The American Presidency
Article II of the Constitution
The President gets his/her power from
Article II of the Constitution.
The President: Some Facts
Elected to a four-year term by the people
who elect electors.
Must be 35, 14 year resident and a natural
born citizen.
Presidential Compensation
Set by Congress.
Can’t be changed during the President’s
term.
Paid: $400,000
Expense allowance: $50,000
Travel: $100,000
Free housing in White House and Camp David
Hundreds of assistants to help with daily life
Camp David: Frederick County, Maryland
The Two Term Precedent
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
FDR was the only president to win more
than two terms (served March 4, 1933April 12, 1945—he died this day).
He led the US through the Depression and
WW II.
George Washington set the precedent for
the limit of two terms until the 22nd
Amendment made law in 1951
If the President Dies…
Order of succession:
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretaries of other departments
7 Roles of the President
The president has many powers and
duties and each fits into a “Role”
The president must balance his time to
make sure all of his roles are carefully
fulfilled.
Role 1: Chief of State
Acts as example for and symbol of the
United States
Represents America at special occasions
and ceremonies.
Awarding medals and speechmaking are
examples of this role.
Role 2: Chief Executive
Acts as boss of federal bureaucracy
Bureaucracy is a large network of individuals
and agencies.
The Federal Government has 14 different
agencies which help the President to
enforce the laws made by Congress.
The president chooses cabinet members
to lead these agencies and to advise him
on agency matters (more to come about
the Cabinet and its members)
Executive Offices
The Offices of the Executive Branch are
found in the White House and other
federal buildings in Washington D.C.
Role 3: Chief Diplomat
Conducts foreign policy by directing the
actions of American ambassadors.
Signs treaties and trade agreements
with leaders of other nations.
President Ford and Soviet General Secretary
Leonid I. Brezhnev sign a treaty
Role 4: Commander-In-Chief
In charge of US Armed Forces.
President decides where armed forces
are to be stationed, weapons to be
used.
Role 5: Chief Legislator
 Congress makes laws.
 President can propose
bills and must sign bills
into law.
 President might ask
members of Congress to
lobby for his agenda.
 Presents his agenda to
Congress in the annual
State of the Union
address.
Role 6: Chief Legislator
President Reagan before a joint-session of
Congress.
Role 7: Chief of the Party
Presidents help members of their party get
elected or appointed to office.
They make campaign speeches needed
for re-election.
Head of fund-raising for the party.
Role 7: Chief Guardian of the Economy
Monitors
unemployment,
Inflation, taxation, business,
and general welfare of the nation.
He does not control the economy, but he gets
credit if it goes well.
The Presidency
Why do you think it is the most visible part
of the American political system?
Does the President really serve the needs
of the American people?
How does the office of the Presidency
actually help the American people?