The Executive Branch
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I can understand the roles, responsibilities,
and powers of the Executive Branch.
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Article II of the Constitution provides
guidelines for the election of the President,
the qualifications, succession, compensation,
powers, making of treaties, and
impeachment. We will discuss those today.
1.) The youngest person to ever be elected President was: John F.
Kennedy, age 43, in 1960.
2.) The oldest person to ever be elected President was: Ronald
Reagan, age 69, in 1980.
3.) The only president to be elected to more than 2 terms was:
Franklin D. Roosevelt- elected to 4 terms in 1932, 1936, 1940, and
1944.
4.) The youngest living President is: Barack Obama. He was 47
when he was elected. He is 54 now.
5.) The oldest living President is: George H. W. Bush.
He is 91. But only by 4 months! Jimmy Carter is also 91.
1.) Chief of State – the President is the ceremonial head of
government – the symbol of everyone in the nation.
2.) Chief Executive – he/she holds the executive power of
the United States. “the most powerful office in the world”
3.) Chief Administrator – he/she directs an administration
that employs more than 2.7 million civilians.
4.) Chief Diplomat- he/she is the main spokesperson to the
rest of the world. Directs foreign policy.
5.) Commander-in-Chief – he/she has direct and immediate
control over the nation’s military.
6.) Chief Legislator – he/she is the main architect of the
nation’s public policies. The president asks/demands that
Congress to enact legislation. Ex: The Affordable
Healthcare Act or stricter gun control laws
7.) Party Chief – head of his/her political party
8.) Chief Citizen – the representative of all the people
“a place of moral leadership”
“While the President is not all-powerful, his powers
are nonetheless many and extraordinary. What he
says and what he does very largely set the nation’s
agenda – shape what government, the media, and the
people are most concerned about. And it is to the
President that the media and the people regularly
turn when anything significant occurs, at home or
abroad.”
1.) Must be a natural-born citizen of the U.S.
2.) Must be at least 35 years old.
▪ Most presidents have been in their fifties when elected.
▪ Only 6 presidents have been under the age of 50 when
they took office.
3.) Must have been a resident of the U.S. for 14
years. (Any 14 years)
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Beyond the 3 formal qualifications, what else
does society seem to require from a
presidential candidate?
Think about:
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Background
Religion
Appearance
Family
What else matters???
“No person shall be elected to the office of the
President more than twice, and no person who has
held the office of President, or acted as President, for
more than two years of a term to which some other
person was elected President shall be elected to the
office of the President more than once.”
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4 year terms
A maximum of two full terms = 8 years
The only exception would be if someone succeeded to the
presidency after the midpoint in a term. Then they could
run for 2 full terms = 10 years.
However, no president may serve more than 10 years in
office.
Pro: a safeguard against executive tyranny
Cons: takes away people’s choice; limits president’s
authority/effectiveness (“lame duck”)
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1789: $25,000/year
Since 2001: $400,000/year
Plus…
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$50,000 expense account
The White House (132 rooms on an 18.3 acre estate)
A fleet of automobiles
Access to Air Force One, helicopters, etc…
Camp David – resort hideaway in the Catoctin Mountains in Maryland
Travel and entertainment expense accounts
$150,000/year retirement pension for the rest of their lives
Former first ladies receive $20,000/year for the rest of their lives
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The 25th Amendment (1967) provides for
succession in the event of the president’s
death, resignation, or disability
 Top 4 in line for Presidential Succession:
1.) Vice President
2.) Speaker of the House
3.) President pro tempore of the Senate
4.) Secretary of State
-The next 14 are the secretaries (heads) of various
departments…treasury, defense, etc…
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Video: The Electoral College
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Flaws of the Electoral College
1.) The winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed to
win the election. (Not very democratic)
2.) Electors are not bound to vote according to the
popular vote. (It’s never affected the outcome of an
election, but it could.)
3.) Any election might have to be decided by the House
of Reps if 270 votes are not reached by a candidate.