 One of the most powerful elective offices in world today
 Serves as head of Executive Branch
 ENFORCES & ADMINISTERS LAWS
 Created by delegates to Constitutional
Convention as a compromise

EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF
GOVERNMENT
 Described in Article II
 President/Vice President
 Federal Bureaucracy

 Formal Qualifications as outlined in
Constitution
 NATURAL BORN Citizen (someone who is a citizen by birth
 At least 35 years old
 Be a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years prior to the election

Experience in Government & Politics
Well-known Public Figures
Political Acceptability

9 “RULES” for Presidential Hopefuls
 1. Rule of Political Talent: Successful experience in government, in either appointed or elected office. (Victorious generals can ignore this rule if they choose.)
 2. Rule of Governors: Nominating conventions frequently choose their candidates from among the state governors. Governors control state delegations and they normally do not take votelosing stands on controversial issues as do members of Congress


3. Rule of big “Swing States”: Candidates from big states have a better chance, particularly if they don’t come from oneparty states. They can usually carry their own states and go to the national convention and sway others

 4. Rule of Multiple Interests: Conventions choose candidates who can command support from many different economic interests-----agriculture, labor, commerce and industry
 5. Rule of Happy Family Life: Candidates must appear to lead ideal family lives.
Showing off a photogenic spouse and wholesome looking children also helps.


6. Rule of Character: Candidates’ personal qualities are just as important as their policies. Presidents can and do change their policies but the public believes that it is much harder for them to change their characters.

 7. Rule of British stock: Candidates with
British ancestors have been preferred.
Most of the Presidents have been able to trace their ancestry to the British Isles.
 8. Rule of Protestantism: Only one non-
Protestant has held office, despite the
Constitution’s ban on religious tests for holding any office

 9. Rule of being Male: As of this date, no major party has nominated a woman for
President.

 No one under 40 has ever been elected
President. Most Presidents have been in their fifties or sixties when elected
 Youngest President elected - Kennedy
 All Presidents have been male
 All but two have been married
 Only one has been divorced
 2/3rds have had legal training

 Performs ceremonial duties
 Stands as symbol of U. S.
 Represents the nation to the rest of the world

Directs Foreign Policy
U. S. Representative in relations with other nations
Writes treaties, grants recognition to new governments

 Carries out and enforces laws of the U.S.
 Administers Government programs
 Supervises government employees
 Names top-ranking officers
 Grants reprieves, pardons and amnesty

 Heads all armed forces
 Determines military strategy

 Heads political party

Executes party’s platform

Provides “coattail advantage”

 Informs Congress about the condition of the country
 Proposes Legislation
 Reports to congress
 Urges passage of needed bills

 $400,000 PER YEAR SALARY *FIXED BY
CONGRESS BUT CANNOT BE
INCREASED NOR DECREASED DURING
A TERM
 LIVE IN WHITE HOUSE (132 ROOMS)
WITH STAFF
 $50,000 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (TAXABLE)

 SUITE OF OFFICES WITH STAFF
 YACHT
 FLEET OF AUTOMOBILES
 AIR FORCE ONE
 CAMP DAVID – RESORT HIDEAWAY
 FINEST MEDICAL , DENTAL AND HEALTH
CARE

 PROTECTION FROM SECRET SERVICE
 LIFETIME PENSION OF $143,800 PER
YEAR
 PRESIDENTIAL WIDOW RECEIVES
PENSION OF $20,000 PER YEAR
 TRAVEL AND ENTERTAINMENT FUNDS

 TOTAL COST TO RUN VAST
OPERATIONS OF WHITEHOUSE
INCLUDING SALARIES OF
ADMINISTRATIVE, DOMESTIC AND
SECURITY STAFF AND EXPENSES FOR
SUPPLIES





 DUTIES: PRESIDE OVER SENATE –
ONLY DUTY SPECIFIED IN
CONSTITUTION
 HELP DECIDE IF PRES. IS DISABLED AND
ASSUME OFFICE OF PRESIDENT IF
NECESSARY

 CHOSEN TO HELP PRESIDENT WIN THE
ELECTION – “BALANCE THE TICKET”
 ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE
PRESIDENT SEES FIT
 ONLY EXECUTIVE OFFICE THAT
CANNOT BE FIRED BY THE PRESIDENT

 SAME AS PRESIDENT
 SALARY: $192,600
 OTHER COMPENSATION:

$10,000 EXPENSE ACCOUNT

LIVE IN HOUSE AT NAVAL OBSERVATORY

ACCESS TO AIR FORCE TWO

LIMOSINE SERVICE

SECRET SERVICE PROTECTION

PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION &
VICE PRESIDENCY
 25 TH AMENDMENT
 PROVIDES FOR SUCCESSION


VICE PRESIDENT
SPEAKER OF HOUSE
 PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF SENATE
 SECRETARY OF STATE
 EACH OF THE OTHER HEADS OF THE
CABINET DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER OF
PRECEDENCE

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT
 COMPLEX OF SEVERAL SEPARATE
AGENCIES STAFFED BY THE
PRESIDENT’S MOST TRUSTED
ADVISERS AND ASSISTANTS

 KEY PERSONAL AND POLITICAL STAFF
 CHIEF OF STAFF
 PRESS SECRETARY
 ASSISTANTS
 CHIEF OF STAFF TO FIRST LADY
 PRESS SECRETARY FOR FIRST LADY
 OVER 400 PEOPLE WORK IN WHO

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
 ADVISE IN ALL DOMESTIC, FOREIGN
AND MILITARY MATTERS
 V. PRESIDENT
 SECRETARY OF STATE
 SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
 DIRECTOR OF CIA

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND
BUDGET
 PREPARE FEDERAL BUDGET

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG
CONTROL POLICY
 ADVISORY OFFICE AND PLANNING
AGENCY ON DRUG PROBLEM IN U.S.

COUN CIL OF ECONOMIC
ADVISERS
 INFORM AND ADVISE PRESIDENT ON
NATION’S ECONOMY