ARTICLE II
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
THE PRESIDENT
THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE CABINET
EXECUTIVE DEPTS. & BUREAUCRACY
GPS
SSCG4 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the
organization and powers of the national government.
a. Describe the structure and powers of the legislative, executive,
and judicial branches.
b. Analyze the relationship between the three branches in a
system of checks and balances and separation of powers.
SSCG13 The student will describe the qualifications for
becoming President of the
United States.
a. Explain the written qualifications for President of the United
States.
b. Describe unwritten qualifications common to past presidents.
Qualifications for President & Vice President
Must be 35 years old
Must be a natural born citizen
Must have lived in the U.S.
the last 14 years
Informal Qualifications
 Informal “Requirements”:
White (except one), Male, Protestant
(except one)
 All manner of professions, but mostly
political ones (former state governors,
for example)
Compensation
 Salary $400,000(2001)
 Camp David Resort
 $50,000 for expenses
 Medical & Dental
 $100,000 for travel
Care
 Secret service
protection-life
 Pension
 Transportation
 White House 132 rooms
and office
Term of office
 The President and VP are elected to
four year terms
 The 22nd amendment limits the
president to two terms or no more
than 10 years
Presidential Succession Act
 1. Vice-President of the U.S.
 2. Speaker of the House
 3. President pro tempore
 4. Cabinet secretaries in order of
department origin (State,
Treasury, Defense)
25th Amendment 1967
 The 25th Amendment clarifies what
happens if the president becomes
disabled.
 If President cannot complete his term,
the V.P. becomes President
 If V.P. office is vacant, the President
appoints one with Senate approval.
RICHARD NIXON & 25th
 Nixon elected 1968 & 1972
 1ST V. P. Spiro Agnew resigned b/c of income tax




evasion
Nixon appointed Gerald Ford VP
Nixon Resigned b/c of Watergate scandal
Ford is President
Ford appoints Nelson Rockefeller VP
Richard Nixon
Watergate
http://watergate.info/
Rise of Political Parties
 No Parties in Constitution
1796 J. Adams-Federalist
T. Jefferson-Republican
Adams Pres- won most Elector votes
Jefferson-VP- 2nd most
Thomas Jefferson-- Aaron Burr
Election of 1800
 Adams vs. Jefferson
 Chose V.P. candidates to run with them
Adams---Thomas Pinkney
Jefferson—Aaron Burr
 Electors voted twice. Jefferson and Burr
tied. Who is President?
Tie Goes to the House
 House votes 35 times. Hamilton
convinces them to vote for Jefferson.
 Jefferson becomes 3rd President
 Aaron Burr is V.P.
 Later Burr will kill Hamilton in a duel.
Changes in Presidential Elections
1. Candidates select running mates.
2. Electors pledged to parties, not
candidates; They vote for PARTY.
3. 12th Amendment added—Electors
designate their vote as Pres. or V.P.
The Electoral College
 Each state will have electors = to the number
of senators + representatives given to that
state
 Electors may not hold any other office
 Electors will be appointed by state
legislature
 Electors will determine the president and
vice-president
2010 Census
Amendment
 23rd Amendment gave the District
of Columbia 3 electors
Total 435+100+3=538 Elector votes
Jimmy Carter-Oval office
Some presidential trivia…
 Youngest: Theodore Roosevelt (42)
 Oldest: Ronald Reagan (69)
 Longest Inaugural Address: William Henry Harrison
(105 minutes)
 Shortest Term: William Henry Harrison (32 days)
 Longest Term: Franklin Roosevelt (12 years)
 Tallest: Abraham Lincoln (6 feet, 4 inches)
Trivia, continued….
 The ‘Teddy Bear’ was named for Theodore Roosevelt
 Largest feet: Warren Harding (Size 14)
 John F. Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic
President
 Father-Son combos: John Adams and John Quincy
Adams and George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush
….and more trivia….
 President with most Grammy Awards: Barack
Obama (2, both for Spoken Word performance)
 Shortest and lightest President: James Madison (5
feet, 4 inches and +/- 100 pounds
 Only President to not belong to a political party:
George Washington
 President who regularly went skinny dipping in the
Potomac River: John Quincy Adams
Commander in Chief
 Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
 Commander in Chief of the state militias (now the
National Guard)
 Commission all officers
 Constitution gives Congress the power to declare
war, but presidents can commit troops and
equipment in conflicts
War Powers Resolution
 President must consult w/ Congress before
introducing armed forces into hostilities
 Consult with Congress regularly until troops
removed
 If war not declared, President must submit report to
Congress within 48 hours of troop deployment
 President must remove troops after 60 days (+30
days for withdrawal) if Congress has not declared
war
Party Leader
 Presidents can offer party candidates support and
punishment by withholding favors.
 Presidential coattails occur when voters cast their
ballots for congressional candidates of the
president’s party because they support the president.
Legislative Leader
 Gives a State of the Union address to a joint session
of Congress each year.

The most important speech the president gives to Congress.
This is where he outlines his legislative agenda for Congress.
 Can use his veto power to prevent legislation.
 Can influence Congress by: bargaining, making
personal appeals, consulting with Congress, setting
priorities, etc.
Economic Leader
 Plans the federal budget
 Develops programs to help support and grow the
U.S. economy through the Department of the
Treasury, the Department of Commerce, and the
Department of Labor
Head of State
 The ceremonial head of the
government and the symbol of all
Americans
 Represents the United States at
ceremonial functions (medal
ceremonies, lighting of the Christmas
tree…)
 Meets with and greets foreign leaders
(kings, queens, prime ministers, ect.)
Chief Executive
 Most important role of the President
 Acts as boss of federal government
workers in 15 executive departments.
 These departments help the President
carry out, enforce, or execute the law.
 The president chooses cabinet
members to advise and assist him.
 Example: Holding cabinet meetings
and appointing federal officials.
Chief Executive
 Can issue executive orders – rules and
commands that have the force of law
 Falls under the constitutional duty to “take
care that the laws are faithfully executed.”
 Can appoint judges to the Supreme Court
 Can grant pardons – declares forgiveness and
freedom from punishment
 Can issue reprieves – delays a person’s
punishment
 Can grant anmesty – a pardon towards a group
of people
Chief Diplomat
 Directs the foreign policy of the U. S.
 Negotiates treaties with other countries
 must be approved by the Senate
 Appoints ambassadors to represent the U.S. in other
countries
 May negotiate for peace between other countries
 Lead U.S. allies in defense & economic issues
Separation of Powers
Powers Shared w/ Senate
 Make Treaties
 Appoint Ambassadors, Judges, & high
officials
Powers shared w/ Congress
 Approve legislation
Presidential Leadership of Congress: The Politics
of Shared Powers
Presidential Powers
 The Expansion of Power
 Presidents may develop new roles for the office
 Presidents may expand the power of the office
 Perspectives on Presidential Power
 Through the 50’s & 60’s a powerful President was perceived as
good.
 From the 70’s on, presidential power was checked and
distrusted by the public.
Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity
 1. What is happening in this cartoon?
Three speakers are evaluating a glass with liquid in it. The optimist
and pessimist describe it as “half full” and “half empty,”
respectively, but the administration spokesperson describes it as
both—and finds a way to promote the president at the same time.
Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity
 2. Which side does the administration spokesperson
support? Explain.
The administration spokesperson supports the president, as
shown in his linking the president with the “half full” view
and speaking of the president’s “tireless efforts.”
Interpreting Political Cartoons Activity
 3. Is the administration spokesperson an objective
judge? What biases might he have?
The administration spokesperson cannot be objective, because he
is employed to support the president. He probably has biases that
favor executive policies and treat other points of view as obstacles
or even enemies.
The Oval Office
White House Office
“West Wing”
 Closest to the Pres.
 #1 person is Chief of Staff
 Press Secretary
 Many others with various names—Who is closest to
the Oval Office?
Removal of President
 The president and vice president
may be removed from office upon
conviction of impeachment for
high crimes and misdemeanors
 Which two presidents have been
impeached?
Andrew
Johnson & Bill Clinton
Title: "Bill
Clinton's
Christmas present
from the U.S.
House."
Artist: John Pritchett
Date: unknown
Source:
http://www.pritchettcartoons.com/
gift.htm
Removal of President
 What were the outcomes of the impeachment of
Andrew Johnson?
Remember - Reconstruction President who was
in a fight with his own party over handling of
former slave states, which led to his successful
impeachment.
 The powers of the presidency were secured
against Congressional interference (separation
of powers)