Chapter 12 The President
Timothy Lewis, Parker Toland, Matt Maples
Who Can Become The President
Most common profession is a lawyer
 Usually has experience being VP, congressmen,
or state governor
 Requirements
35 years old
 natural born citizen
 14 years of residency in US
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Special uses of powers
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Executive Privilege- withhold info from congressional
hearings
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EX- US vs. Nixon- couldn’t use it w/ Watergate
Cannot withhold info with criminal charges
Clinton tried to use with affair case, but to use executive
privilege it has to be related to job
Executive Orders- force of law w/o congressional
consent, have to be in federal registrar
Emergency Powers- exercised in national crisis (9/11)
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EX- Lincoln extending civil liberties during Civil War
FDR mobilized budget bill during WW1
Executive Organization
Cabinet- advisory group selected by Pres. to
help him with his duties (Includes head of 15
executive offices) used at discretion
 Kitchen Cabinet- friends of President that
help him make decisions (started w/ Jackson)
 EOP- organization estb. by FDR to assist Pres.
w/ major duties
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Includes NSC, OMB, White House Office
President as Party Chief and Super
Politician
Patronage- the practice of rewarding faithful party
workers with government employment and
contracts
 Washington community- people involved in
politics in D.C.
 He is very concerned with public approval ratings
 The Pres. does:
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Chooses national committee chairmen
Fundraisers for party
President Process
Must get nominated in primary.
 Sometimes even the most popular President in
the Presidential run looses the election
because of the electoral college.
 Due to 12th amend. P and VP must get
nominated separately.
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Abuses of Executive Power
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Can be impeached if:
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Treason of any sort
Bribery, high crimes or misdemeanors
If many people don’t like you
No president has been impeached and convicted.
 3 have gotten close though:
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Andrew Johnson
Richard Nixon- Watergate
Bill Clinton- affair with Monica Lewinski
The VP
Only power in constitution is to preside over
the Senate, but rarely is there.
 VP is used to help gain support for Pres.
 25th amend.- if Pres. can’t fulfill his duties the
VP becomes Pres
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8 VP have become President
 After VP the Speaker the house
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Roles of the President
Not too many found in the Constitution
 The Presidency has grown into a very
complicated position
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Head of State
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Ceremonial Head of Country
Throwing first pitch at ballgames
 Official state visits to countries
 Decorates war heroes
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Chief Executive
Enforces acts of Congress
 Appoints government officials
 Grants Reprieves, postponement of sentence,
Pardons- release from punishment

Commander in Chief
Comander of military forces
 Makes ultimate decision
 Have to have consent of senate to go to war
 With war powers resolution act president can
send troops for 60 days w/o senatorial
consent

Chief Diplomat
Recognizes foreign gov’t, signs treaties
 Have to have consent of senate to have a
treaty
 Executive agreement- international agreement
made by president without senate, like a
treaty.
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Chief Legislator
President tries to influence laws
 State of the union address- address to congress
and citizens that tells presidents legislative goals
 Veto message tells why pres. vetoed something
 Pocket Veto- law doesn’t get passed because
congress adjourns
 Line Item Veto- specific sections of bill
 Congress has to have 2/3 vote of both champers
to override veto
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Other Presidential Powers
Constitutional power- vested in president by
article 2 of the constitution
 Statutory power- created for pres. by laws
enacted by congress
 Expressed power- power of president that is
expressly written in the constitution
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THE END