The President
1. Chief of State
a. Ceremonial head of the people
b. A “symbol/mascot” for the nation
c. Like the Queen of England
2. Chief Executive
a. Constitutional Powers
b. To enforce the laws of the nation
3. Chief Administrative Officer
a. Head of the bureaucracy
b. Huge labor force to carry
out the work of
the government
4. Chief Diplomat
a. Spokesperson of
.
America to the world
b. Creator of US foreign
policy
5. Commander in Chief
a.
Head of the US Armed Forces
6. Chief Legislator
a.
Sets the over-all shape of
public agenda
b. Works with Congress to.
get policies enacted
into law
7. Chief of the Party
a. Not in the Constitution
b. An automatic position
c. The “Top Dog” in the party
8. Chief Citizen
a.
b.
c.
d.
Represents the people
Against big government
Against big business
What we would want to do in times of greatness or
pain
 What if the President dies, resigns , gets removed or is
disabled and can’t do the job?
Vice President assumes office
2. Then … Speaker of the House
3. President Pro Tempore of Senate
4. Cabinet members
1.
 Nomination
Get noticed
 Media
 Fundraising
Primaries and Caucuses
 Choosing the PARTY candidate
 Open – can vote in either party
 Closed – can only vote for the party you’re registered in
 Primaries and Caucuses
 Candidates vie for
party title to run for office
 Sports analogy
 Semi-finals
 Elimination rounds
 Early primaries are
most important
 National Conventions
 Party Pep Rallies
 Formally announce
 Presidential Nominee
 Vice Presidential Nominee
 Party platform
 Debates
 General Election – the final contest for president
 The Electoral College
 Need 270 electoral votes
 Most states are “winner-take-all”
 Can lead to a “minority president”
 A president who wins
the electoral vote
 But lost the popular vote
Presidential focus
 Interpret laws to own feelings
 Delay or push action on certain laws
Executive Orders
 Weight of law
 Policy needed by bureaucracy to function
Executive Privilege
 Confidentiality
 Advisors need to be able to be open without constant public
scrutiny
Growing Bureaucracy
President oversees the bureaucratic process
Expanded Programs
New Deal Legislation
 Social Security Act
 Federal Housing Administration
Obama-Care
 364 – 368
 Complete worksheet
 377 – 385
 Complete worksheet
 400 – 404
 410 – 411
 Answer “Thinking Critically” questions 1 & 2 from p. 411