Ch. 7 The Presidency
Section 1
Ch. 7, sec. 1 The Presidential Office
• Essential Questions:
– What are the roles of the president?
– What are the qualifications and terms of the office
of the presidency?
– What is the order of presidential succession?
Roles of the President:
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chief executive
commander in chief
chief agenda setter
representative of the nation
chief of state
foreign-policy leader
political party leader
Qualifications and terms of the office
of the presidency:
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be native-born U.S. citizen
be at least 35 year old
have been a U.S. resident for at least 14 years
can serve two four-year terms
Order of the presidential succession:
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vice president
Speaker of the House of Representatives
president pro tempore of the Senate
cabinet members, in the order of their
department’s establishment
Ch. 7, sec. 2 Presidential Powers
• Essential Questions:
– What are the president’s executive and foreignpolicy powers?
– What judicial and legislative powers does the
president have?
– How has presidential power grown over the
years?
The president’s executive powers:
• executing laws – executive orders
• appointing key officials
• executive privilege – refusal to give Congress
info. it has requested
The president’s foreign-policy powers:
• making treaties - alliances
• making executive agreements
• diplomatic recognition
The president’s judicial powers:
• appointing Supreme Court justices
• appointing federal judges
• granting reprieves, pardons, and
commutations
Military Powers
• Committing troops – not conventional warfare
– helping restore democracy, keep peace
• War Powers Act – troops must be removed
within 90 days.
The president’s legislative powers:
• recommending legislation
• vetoing legislation
• lobbying members of Congress
The growth of presidential power:
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has become a symbol of federal authority
has become a focus of the U.S. political system
has become a representative of the people
has an increased role in foreign affairs
has increased expressed powers
has a stronger public presence and role in
shaping public interest
• has increased legislative power
Ch. 7, section 3 Presidential
Nomination and Election
• Essential Questions:
– What is the presidential college?
– How are presidential candidates chosen?
– How are convention delegates chosen?
– What is the format for national conventions?
Presidential Nomination and Election
• The electoral college is a body of electors
chosen by the states to vote for president and
vice president.
How presidential candidates are
chosen:
• Parties hold national conventions, where
delegates nominate candidates.
How convention delegates are chosen:
• Party members select delegates in presidential
primaries.
Format for national conventions
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speeches
approving the party platform
floor demonstrations by delegates
state-by-state roll call
Chapter Wrap-up
• 1. What are the benefits of being president?
• 2. Describe the roles of the president. Do you think any
are more important than others?
• 3. What are the president’s five main powers? Give an
example of each.
• 4. What are some examples of how presidential power
has grown over the years?
• 5. How are presidential and vice presidential
candidates nominated?
• 6. What is the electoral college, and why has it
sometimes been criticized?