QUALIFICATIONS
PRESIDENTIAL
ROLES
PRESIDENTIAL
POWERS
Created by Article II of the Constitution
EXECUTIVE
OFFICES
VICE PRESIDENTS
DUTIES
PRESIDENTIAL
SUCCESSION
PRESIDENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
TO BE THE PRESIDENT YOU MUST FILL ALLOF THE
FORMAL REQUIREMENTS.
AGE
35
CITIZENSHIP
NATURAL BORN
U.S. CITIZEN
RESIDENCY
HAVE LIVED IN
THE U.S. AT
LEAST 14
YEARS
POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT
MILITARY
POWERS
EXECUTIVE
POWERS
LEGISLATIVE
POWERS
DIPLOMATIC
POWERS
JUDICIAL
POWERS
EXECUTIVE POWERS
EXECUTIVE POWERS ARE THOSE POWERS THE
PRESIDENT HAS AND USES TO MAKE SURE THAT
FEDERAL LAW IS CARRIED OUT. THEY INCLUDE:
EXECUTING
THE LAW
APPOINTING POWER
ORDINANCE POWER
REMOVAL POWER
EXECUTING THE LAW
THE PRESIDENT HAS THE JOB, RESPONSIBILITY
AND DUTY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL LAWS ARE
ENFORCED AND ADMINISTERED, AS PER THE
CONSTITUTION:
ARTICLE II, SECTION 1, CLAUSE 8 (THE
PRESIDENTIAL OATH)
ARTCLE II, SECTION 3, CALLED THE “TAKE
CARE” POWER
The ORDINANCE POWER
* The President has the power to issue executive
orders.
*An EXECUTIVE ORDER is a directive, rule, or
regulation that has the effect of law. While the
order is not an actual law, it is treated like one.
*This power is given to the President
from two sources: the Constitution
and Congress.
THE APPOINTING POWER
•The President has the power to appoint nearly three
million federal civilian employees.
•Once the President receives the consent of the
Senate, he appoints most of the top-ranking
officials in the Federal Government.
SENATORIAL COURTESY – Presidential
Appointments Need Appointees Home Senators
Approval
•Some examples are: federal judges, cabinet
members, heads of independent agencies, and officers
of the military.
THE REMOVAL POWER
*The President can remove anyone from office who he has
appointed.
*The only restriction on this power is that
the President cannot remove Supreme
Court Justices from the bench.
*Three major reasons for removal are: inefficiency in
office, neglect of duty, or inappropriate behavior.
DIPLOMATIC POWERS
THE PRESIDENTS DIPLOMATIC POWERS ARE
AMONG HIS MOST POWERFUL. THEY INCLUDE:
POWER TO MAKE TREATIES
POWER OF EXECUTIVE AGREEMENTS
POWER OF RECOGNITION
POWER TO MAKE TREATIES
*treaty=formal agreement
between two or more sovereign
states
*The President usually negotiates
treaties through the Secretary of State.
*The Senate must give
approval for these
international agreements
with a 2/3 vote.
POWER OF EXECUTIVE AGREEMENTS
Executive Agreements are like treaties in that they are
agreements between the President and foreign leaders or
their subordinates. They are different in that they do not
require the approval of the Senate. They usually stem out
of previous legislation, or a previous treaty.
THE POWER OF RECOGNITION
*The President, representing the United States,
acknowledges the legal existence of that country
and its government.
*This recognition
can make or
break the survival
of a new country.
*This recognition is not
permanent. It can change
with revolutions or
changes in government.
MILITARY POWERS
*During wartime, the President can make critical
decisions that he feels is necessary for wartime AS
COMMANDER AND CHIEF.
*The President also has the power to send
troops into combat, without approval by
Congress. This is referred to as undeclared war.
*Finally, the President can use troops
for domestic peace within the United
States.
LEGISLATIVE POWERS
*The President possesses the power to submit OR
RECOMMEND ideas to Congress.
*The President gives a “State of the Union” address each
year, where he presents ideas for new legislation to
Congress.
THE PRESIDENT ALSO HAS:
THE POWER OF VETO
*FINALLY THE PRESIDENT HAS THE POWER
TO CALL SPECIAL SESSIONS OF CONGRESS IF
A PRESSING MATTER OCCOURS.
THE POWER OF VETO
*When a bill is presented to the President, he can
do one of four things:
1. Sign it and pass the law,
2. Veto the law,
3. While Congress is in
session, he can not touch
the bill and it will pass in
10 days
4. Pocket veto, or while Congress is
not in session, he can not touch
the bill and it will not pass.
JUDICIAL POWERS
ACCORDING TO ARTICLE II, SECTION 2, CLAUSE 1 THE
PRESIDENT HAS THE POWER TO ISSUE:
PARDON – ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT IT IS LEGAL
FORGIVENESS FOR A CRIME
AMNESTY – ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT IT IS A
PARDON FOR A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE
REPRIEVE – ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT IT IS
POSTPONING A SENTENCE
COMMUTATION- ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT IT IS A
REDUCTION OF A SENTENCE
ROLES OF THE PRESIDENT
CHIEF
EXECUTIVE
CHIEF
DIPLOMAT
CHIEF
LEGISLATOR
CHIEF
CITIZEN
COMMANDER
IN CHIEF
CHIEF OF
STATE
CHIEF
ADMINISTRATOR
CHIEF OF
PARTY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The president is the chief executive, empowered to administer
the laws and affairs of the nation. While the president does not
make the laws, his agencies have the responsibility and authority
to carry out the laws.
Examples in this role
1. Appointing the head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
2. Holding a Cabinet meeting to discuss government business.
3. Reading Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports on the
state of national security
1. Which recent executive orders have impacted the state of the
nation?
2. What article in the Constitution grants the president executive
power?
CHIEF DIPLOMAT
Being a diplomat involves interacting with leaders from other
nations. The president takes the lead in foreign relations by
associating with foreign leaders and, along with the help of
Congress, develops a foreign policy with other nations.
Examples in this role
1. Traveling to London to meet with the British prime minister.
2. Working with leaders in the Middle East in an effort to create
a peace plan for the region.
1. Which foreign leaders has the president recently hosted at the
White House? Which nations has the president recently visited?
2. What have been the motivating reasons for these visits?
3. Which countries have been traditional allies of the United
States? Do these friendly relationships remain strong today?
CHIEF LEGISLATOR
Though the president cannot make laws, he can voice his own
ideas and opinions to Congress while they draft legislation.
He does this through speeches promoting his agenda and by
meeting with Congress to discuss policies.
Examples in this role
1. Signing or vetoing a bill passed by Congress.
2. Working to get enough House or Senate votes for a bill to be
passed through each respective house.
3.Making a speech in Congress.
1. Name one controversial piece of legislation that the president
has pushed through Congress.
2. How has the president pushed his plan for healthcare?
CHIEF OF STATE
The president's role as chief of state is to represent the United
States at public events. This is mainly a ceremonial role that
allows the president to promote/convey/represent American
values and acknowledge others who do the same.
Examples in this role
1. Awarding medals to students receiving academic honors.
2. Congratulating astronauts upon their return from space travel.
3. Greeting visitors to the White House.
4. Delivering the State of the Union Address.
1. When has a president visited U.S. cities in distress?
2. How would a president play the role of chief of state during
wartime?
COMMANDER IN CHIEF
The president is the commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed
forces. That means all of the military leaders report to and
take orders from the president. The president performs this
duty as a civilian, someone who is not in military service.
Examples in this role
1. Inspecting a Navy yard.
2. Deciding, in wartime, whether to bomb foreign cities.
3. Calling out the National Guard to stop a riot.
1. What is the benefit of having a civilian who is an elected
public official as the commander-in chief?
2. What might be some of the drawbacks?
CHIEF OF PARTY
In this role, the president helps members of his political
party get elected or appointed to office. The president
campaigns for those members who have supported his
policies. At the end of a term the president may campaign
for reelection with his party’s support.
Examples in this role
1. Choosing leading party members to serve in the Cabinet.
2. Traveling to California to speak at a rally for a party
nominee to the U.S. Senate.
1. To what political party does the current president belong?
2. In what ways can a sitting president work on behalf of his party?
3. In what ways can the president's party continue to work on his
behalf?
CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR
The president also has to be the chief administrator, meaning
to manage the fifteen executive depts. and federal agencies,
such as NASA, and to help carry out those policies. Being the
chief administrator is an enormous task because the executive
departments employ around 1.8 million employees every year.
Even millions more are employed by the postal service and
other government agencies
CHIEF CITIZEN
This role of the President infers that he is the moral leader
and figurehead of the United States.
As a representative of the nation's people, the president
automatically assumes the role of its chief citizen, or
popular leader. This role requires that the president
maintains a certain trust with the people, since it is his/her
duty to work for the public interest. In addition, the
president must place the nation's best interests above the
interests of any one group or citizen. Some examples are
educating citizens on important issues, leading by example,
and concentrating on issues that affect American citizens.
EXECUTIVE OFFICES
“The President’s right arm”as it is referred to is the
several offices that are staffed by the President’s closest
advisors, and are designed to help the President make, and
enforce policy. They include:
NATIONAL
SECURITY
COUNCIL
OFFICE OF
MANAGEMENT
AND BUDGET
OFFICE OF
NATIONAL DRUG
CONTROL POLICY
COUNCIL OF
ECONOMIC
ADVISORS
CABINET
OTHERS
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
The National Security Council is the President's principal
forum for considering national security and foreign policy
matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet
officials. Since its inception under President Truman, the
function of the Council has been to advise and assist the
President on national security and foreign policies. The
Council also serves as the President's principal arm for
coordinating these policies among various government
agencies.
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
OMB's predominant mission is to assist the
President in overseeing the preparation of the
federal budget and to supervise its administration
in Executive Branch agencies. In addition, OMB
oversees and coordinates the Administration's
financial management, information, and regulatory
policies.
OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL
POLICY
The principal purpose of ONDCP is to establish policies,
priorities, and objectives for the Nation's drug control
program. The goals of the program are to reduce illicit drug
use, manufacturing, and trafficking, drug-related crime and
violence, and drug-related health consequences. To achieve
these goals, the Director of ONDCP is charged with
producing the National Drug Control Strategy. The Strategy
directs the Nation's anti-drug efforts and establishes a
program, a budget, and guidelines for cooperation among
Federal, State, and local entities.
COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS
The CEA was established by the Employment Act of 1946 to
provide the President with objective economic analysis and
advice on the development and implementation of a wide
range of domestic and international economic policy issues.
CABINET
The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of
the Presidency itself. One of the principal purposes of the
Cabinet (drawn from Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution)
is to advise the President on any subject he may require
relating to the duties of their respective offices.
The Cabinet includes the Vice President and, by law, the
heads of 15 executive departments-the Secretaries of
Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health
and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban
Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury,
and Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General.
OTHER OFFICES
The other offices of the Executive Branch are as varied as they
are in numbers. Some of the other areas include:
Office of Policy Development - Advises President on domestic
concerns
National Space Council-Advises President on civil and military
efforts in space
Council on Environmental Quality- Aids the President on
environmental policy matters.
Office of U.S. Trade Representatives – Advises the President on
matters of foreign trade.
Office of Science and Technology- Advises on all scientific,
engineering, and technology advances.
VICE PRESIDENTIAL DUTIES
BY CONSTITUTION THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS
ONLY TWO FORMAL DUTIES:
1. PRESIDE OVER THE SENATE
2. HELP DECIDE THE QUESTION OF
PRESIDENTIAL DISABILITY
3. PRESIDENTIAL DISABILITY IS WHEN THE
PRESIDENT IS UNABLE TO CARRY OUT HIS
DUTIES
THE ONLY OTHER ASSUMED PURPOSE OF THE
VICE PRESIDENT IS TO BE A PRESIDENT IN
WAITING.
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION
IS THE ORDER IN WHICH INFERIOR OFFICERS CAN BE
PROMOTED TO THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT IN CASE OF A
VACANCY. THE CURRENT SYSTEM WAS ESTABLISHED BY
THE 25TH AMENDMENT AND CURRENTLY HAS 18
POSITIONS. HERE ARE THE FIRST 10.
1
VICE PRESIDENT
6
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
2
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE 7
ATTORNEY GENERAL
3
PRESIDENT PRO
TEMPORE
8
SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR
4
SECRETARY OF STATE
9
SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE
5
SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY
10
SECRETARY OF
COMMERCE
Executive Office of the President
The President
Office
Of
Policy
Development
Office
Of
Management
And
Office
Of
Administration
Budget
Office
Of
Science
And
Technology
Policy
White
House
Staff
Office
of
The
Vice
President
Office
Of
The US
Trade
Representative
National
Security
Council
Office
Of
National
Drug
Council
Policy
Council
Of
Economic
Advisors
Council
Of
Environmental
Quality
Presidential Benefits
• The First U.S. Congress voted to pay
George Washington a salary of $25,000 a
year — a significant sum in 1789.
Washington, already a successful man,
refused to accept his salary.
• Since 2001, the President has earned a
salary of $400,000 a year.
Presidential Benefits
The President's salary serves as a cap for all other federal
officials, such as the Chief Justice. In order to raise the
salaries of the other federal employees, the President's
salary had to be raised as well.
Presidential Benefits
• Modern Presidents enjoy many non-salary
benefits such as living and working in the
spacious White House mansion in
Washington, DC. While traveling, the
President is able to conduct all the functions of
the office aboard several specially built Boeing
747s, which take the call sign Air Force One.
Presidential Benefits
Presidential Benefits
•The President travels around Washington in an
armored Cadillac limousine, equipped with bullet-proof
windows and tires and a self-contained ventilation
system in the event of a biological or chemical attack.
When traveling longer distances around the Washington
area or on presidential trips, the President travels aboard
the presidential helicopter.
Presidential Benefits
Presidential Benefits
When traveling longer
distances around the
Washington area or on
presidential trips, the
President travels aboard
the presidential helicopter,
which takes the call sign
Marine One when the
president is aboard.
Presidential Benefits
The President has
full use of Camp
David in Maryland,
a sprawling retreat
occasionally used
as a casual setting
for hosting foreign
dignitaries.
Presidential Benefits
The President and his
family are protected
at all times by an
extensive Secret
Service detail. Until
1997, all
former Presidents and
their families were
protected by
the Secret Service
until the President's
death.
Presidential Benefits
Presidents continue to
enjoy other benefits after
leaving office such as
free mailing privileges,
free office space, the
right to hold a
diplomatic passport and
budgets for office help
and staff assistance
Review Questions
What are the three qualifications for someone to be president?
What is the President’s Senatorial Courtesy mean?
What Article of the Constitution do you find the powers of
the President?
Can the President remove a Supreme Court Justice?
The President has the power to make a treaty. What is a treaty?
What military powers does the President have?
Since the President has the power to pardon someone, what power
does the president have? (Legislative, Judicial, or Removal Power)
Since the President has the power to establish foreign policy
with other nations, what role is he serving?
Review Questions
Which role of the president says that the President is the
head of the national government?
The President is the “boss” of government employees. What role
is he serving?
The group of people that is made up of his closest advisors is
his ___________________________
If the President is unable to fulfill his duties, who takes his place?
Which Amendment established Presidential succession?
Which cabinet secretary is first in line before all other cabinet
secretaries?
Some terms to know and apply
Amendment 20
Amendment 22
Amendment 25
President
Vice-President
Cabinet
Treaty
Veto
Reprieve
Amnesty
Commutation
Pardon