The Constitution
& the President
Introduction to
Chapter 14
Contrast Between
Presidents & Prime Ministers
-No set term
-4 year term
-Elected by indirect -Both Chief -Chosen by members
voting of people
of Parliament
Execs.
-Found mainly in
-Both appoint -Found mainly in
the Americas
Europe
Cabinet.
-Cabinet outside of
-Both are the -Cabinet from
Congress
Commander in Parliament
-Run as an
-Always “inside”
Chief
“outsider”
Parliament
-Both have
-No guarantee of
-Always has Legis.
legis.agendas
Legis. majority
majority
-Runs as individual
-Runs for the Party
Discussion of Reading
• Discuss Unified Government.
–Define.
–Pros?
• Ease of tackling legislative agenda
• Quick, decisive action-few filibusters w/ 60+
–Cons?
• Lack of consideration of law impact
• Exs. Patriot Act, Affordable Care Act
• Tyranny of the majority
Discussion of Reading
• Discuss Divided Government.
– Define.
– Cons?
• Gridlock
– Define
– Good, bad or both?
• Filibuster
– How do you stop the minority?
– Pros?
• Deliberative Legislation via compromise?
• Safety valve for the losers of the other branch?
The Most Controversial Laws
of the Last 100 Years
http://www.theatlantic.com/
The Most Controversial Laws
of the Last 100 Years
Controversial Laws Passed in
Unified vs. Divided Gov’t
Law
President
House
House
Difference
Senate
Senate
Difference
Federal
Reserve Act
Wilson
Democrats
58%
Democrats
86%
Tariff Act
Hoover
Republicans
82%
Republicans
69%
Medicaid
Johnson
Amendments
Democrats
38%
Democrats
41%
Welfare
Reform Act
Clinton
Republicans
49%
Republicans
46%
“Bush” Tax
Cuts
George W. Republicans
Bush
85%
Republicans
68%
Affordable
Care Act
Obama
87%
Democrats
100%
Democrats
Peaceful Transition
• Fears of Presidency:
– Jefferson: “Bad edition of the Polish king.”
– Randolph: “Foetus of a monarchy”
• What fears did the Constitution try to
solve? How did they resolve them?
– Domination by Senate over foreign policy
– Election
– Term of Office
• 44x with a peaceful transition:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/inauguration-2013-presidentobama-takes-oath-office-18273470
The Office of the President
• Constitutional Requirements (2.1.5)
• No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen
of the United States at the time of the Adoption of
this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of
President; neither shall any person be eligible to that
Office who shall not have attained to the Age of
thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a
Resident within the United States.
• Impeachment (2.4, 1.2, 1.3)
• Andrew Johnson impeached by HOR, acquitted by
Senate by 1 vote
• Richard Nixon resigned after House Judiciary
recommended impeachment
• Bill Clinton impeached by HOR, acquitted by Senate
Amendments Affecting
President (12)
Amendments Affecting
President (20)
• Important vocabulary: Lame Duck
President
Amendments Affecting
President (22)
Amendments Affecting
President (25)
Discuss the Act of
Succession 1947
Assignment: Due Monday!
• Read pp. 372-378, including inset on Bush
v. Gore & handout on the Electoral
College.
• Complete questions about the system to
refresh details and develop a position.
• Be ready to debate the politics, outcomes,
and effects of Bush v. Gore.