Essential Question
• How do we select the president of
the United States?
Qualifications for President
The Constitution
• In Article II, Section
1, the Constitution
defines
requirements for
president
• List 3
Presidential Term
• The Constitution did
not specify how many
terms a president
could serve in office
• Which president broke
the 2 term precedent
set by Washington?
Twenty-second Amendment
• 1951
• Presidents may
only serve a
maximum of two
terms or ten
years in office
Presidential Succession
• Eight presidents have
died in office
• Four by natural
causes
• Four by assassination
Twenty-fifth Amendment
• If the President is
removed from
office, the Vice
President takes
over
Twenty-fifth Amendment
• If the Vice Presidency
becomes vacant, the
President nominates
a vice president to be
confirmed by a
majority of Congress
Succession Act of 1947
• Established the line
of presidential
succession
Presidential Succession
1. Vice President
2. Speaker of the House
3. President pro tempore of the Senate
4. Secretary of State
5. Secretary of the Treasury
6. Secretary of Defense
7. Attorney General
Presidential Roles
The Office of the Presidency
• There are seven key
roles for the
President
• The chief
diplomat
• Represents the
nation in
ceremonial
roles
1. Head of State
2. Chief Executive
• Sees that the laws of
Congress are carried
out
Executive Orders
• President may
pass a rule that
has the force of
law
Presidential Appointments
• Appoints federal
officials around the
U.S.
• May remove officials
if needed
Reprieves and Pardons
• Reprieve –
postponement of
legal punishment
• Pardon – release
from legal
punishment
3. Chief Legislator
• Propose
legislation
• Usually described
in the State of the
Union address
Veto Power
• Each bill Congress
passes is sent to the
president for
approval
• May sign the bill,
veto it, or lay it
aside
4. Economic Planner
• Prepare a federal
budget each year
• Decide which
government
programs to
support and which
to cut back
5. Party Leader
• Appoints party
members to many
government jobs
• Help create the
platform for their
party
• Fund-raising for
campaigns
6. Chief Diplomat
• Directs foreign
policy for the U.S.
• Receive
information from
the CIA, the State
Department, the
National Security
Council
Power to Make Treaties
• Negotiate
agreements with
other countries
• The Senate ratifies
these treaties
Executive Agreements
• Pacts between the
president and the
heads of foreign
governments
• Recognition of
foreign
governments
7. Commander in Chief
• Back up foreign policy
decisions with
military force
Power to Make War
• Shares this
power to
Congress
• President is
responsible for
key military
decisions
Nuclear Weapons
• The president has the
authority to order the
use of nuclear
weapons
Domestic Conflicts
• President may
use the
military to
control serious
disorders
within the
nation