American CitizenshipAmerican Citizenship

Chapter 13Chapter 13

The PresidencyThe Presidency

Section 1Section 1

The President’s DescriptionThe President’s Description

The President’s RolesThe President’s Roles Chief of StateChief of State

– Ceremonial head of the government of the United Ceremonial head of the government of the United StatesStates

Chief ExecutiveChief Executive– Vested with “Executive Power,” given by the Vested with “Executive Power,” given by the

constitutionconstitution Chief AdministratorChief Administrator

– Director of the Federal GovernmentDirector of the Federal Government Employs nearly 2.7 million civiliansEmploys nearly 2.7 million civilians

Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat– Main architect of American foreign policy and the Main architect of American foreign policy and the

nation’s chief spokesperson to the rest of the worldnation’s chief spokesperson to the rest of the world Commander in ChiefCommander in Chief

– Controls the nation’s 1.4 million men and women in Controls the nation’s 1.4 million men and women in uniformuniform

The President’s RolesThe President’s Roles

Chief legislatorChief legislator– Main architect of its public policiesMain architect of its public policies– Helps to initiate, request, demand certain Helps to initiate, request, demand certain

actions by the Congressactions by the Congress Not Stated in the ConstitutionNot Stated in the Constitution

– Chief of PartyChief of Party acknowledged leader of the political partyacknowledged leader of the political party

– Chief CitizenChief Citizen Representative of all the peopleRepresentative of all the people ““A place of moral leadership” FDRA place of moral leadership” FDR

President plays all these roles President plays all these roles simultaneously, and can not isolate simultaneously, and can not isolate themselves to one role over anotherthemselves to one role over another

Formal QualificationsFormal Qualifications

Constitution puts some requirements Constitution puts some requirements into becoming a presidentinto becoming a president

– Must be a “Must be a “natural born citizennatural born citizen””– Be at least 35 years of ageBe at least 35 years of age

youngest ever elected was JFK at the age of 43 and youngest ever elected was JFK at the age of 43 and Ronald Reagan elected at the age of 69Ronald Reagan elected at the age of 69

– Must have lived in the United States for at Must have lived in the United States for at least 14 yearsleast 14 years

Nearly 100 million people in the United Nearly 100 million people in the United States meet these requirements, thus States meet these requirements, thus leading to informal qualificationsleading to informal qualifications

The President’s TermThe President’s Term

Ultimately at the Constitutional Ultimately at the Constitutional Convention, a term limit of 4-yearsConvention, a term limit of 4-years

– Until the 1951 amendment, there was Until the 1951 amendment, there was no limit to the number of terms a no limit to the number of terms a president could servepresident could serve

Still fights today over the Still fights today over the legitimacy of the 2-term limitlegitimacy of the 2-term limit

– Lame-duck president, or safeguard Lame-duck president, or safeguard against “executive tyranny?”against “executive tyranny?”

– How about a single six-year term?How about a single six-year term?

Pay and BenefitsPay and Benefits Initially it was $25,000, however today it is Initially it was $25,000, however today it is

$400,000$400,000 Also provided a $50,000 expense Also provided a $50,000 expense

allowanceallowance Other benefitsOther benefits

– 132-room mansion set on an 18.3 acre estate in 132-room mansion set on an 18.3 acre estate in the heart of the nation’s capital (White House)the heart of the nation’s capital (White House)

– Suite of offices and a large staffSuite of offices and a large staff– Fleet of automobilesFleet of automobiles

lavish lavish Air Force OneAir Force One plane, including other planes and plane, including other planes and helicoptershelicopters

– Camp David resort getaway in the Mountains in Camp David resort getaway in the Mountains in MarylandMaryland

– Finest Medical, Dental, and other health careFinest Medical, Dental, and other health care– Generous travel and entertainment fundsGenerous travel and entertainment funds

Section 2Section 2

Presidential Succession and the Presidential Succession and the Vice PresidencyVice Presidency

The Constitution SuccessionThe Constitution Succession

Presidential SuccessionPresidential Succession– Scheme by which a presidential Scheme by which a presidential

vacancy is filledvacancy is filled– Originally not provided by the Originally not provided by the

ConstitutionConstitution However signed into the Constitution with However signed into the Constitution with

the 15th amendmentthe 15th amendment

– Presidential Succession Act of 1947Presidential Succession Act of 1947 the order of succession following the Vice the order of succession following the Vice

PresidentPresident

Presidential DisabilityPresidential Disability

Previously no provision for dealing Previously no provision for dealing with a disabled Presidentwith a disabled President

– Check and Balance between Executive Check and Balance between Executive and Legislative, in order to with a and Legislative, in order to with a disabled Presidentdisabled President

The Vice PresidencyThe Vice Presidency

Importance of the OfficeImportance of the Office– Given two duties:Given two duties:

Preside over the SenatePreside over the Senate Help decide the question of Presidential Help decide the question of Presidential

disabilitydisability

– However, generally a job with little or no However, generally a job with little or no major dutiesmajor duties

““Heartbeat away from the Presidency”Heartbeat away from the Presidency”

– Blame for lack of duties is based on how Blame for lack of duties is based on how candidate is selectedcandidate is selected

Balance the TicketBalance the Ticket– chooses a running mate based on characteristics chooses a running mate based on characteristics

that help the President win officethat help the President win office

The Vice Presidency (con’t)The Vice Presidency (con’t)

Vice Presidential VacancyVice Presidential Vacancy– Vice Presidency has been vacated 18 Vice Presidency has been vacated 18

timestimes The Vice President TodayThe Vice President Today

– Vice President Dick Cheney is widely Vice President Dick Cheney is widely regarded as the most influential Vice regarded as the most influential Vice Presidents everPresidents ever

Interesting fact, no matter what the Interesting fact, no matter what the circumstances, the President cannot fire circumstances, the President cannot fire the Vice Presidentthe Vice President

Section 3Section 3

Presidential Selection: The Presidential Selection: The Framers’ PlanFramers’ Plan

Original ProvisionsOriginal Provisions

During the Constitutional Convention, During the Constitutional Convention, struggle over whether to have president struggle over whether to have president selected by direct vote or Congressselected by direct vote or Congress

Compromise became the selection of Compromise became the selection of Presidential ElectorsPresidential Electors

– A person elected by the voters to represent A person elected by the voters to represent them in making a formal selection of the Vice them in making a formal selection of the Vice President and PresidentPresident and President

– Each Elector would cast two Each Elector would cast two electoral voteselectoral votes Plurality would select President, and Vice President Plurality would select President, and Vice President

the runner-upthe runner-up

The Rise of PartiesThe Rise of Parties Electoral collegeElectoral college

– The group of people (electors) chosen from The group of people (electors) chosen from each State and the District of Columbia, to each State and the District of Columbia, to formally select the President and Vice Presidentformally select the President and Vice President

The Election of 1800The Election of 1800– Electoral college tie, ultimately leading to Electoral college tie, ultimately leading to

Congress selecting the PresidentCongress selecting the President– Created new elementsCreated new elements

Party nominations for the Presidency and Vice Party nominations for the Presidency and Vice PresidencyPresidency

Nomination of candidates for Presidential Electors Nomination of candidates for Presidential Electors pledged to vote for their party’s Presidential ticketpledged to vote for their party’s Presidential ticket

Automatic casting of the electoral votes in line with Automatic casting of the electoral votes in line with those pledgesthose pledges

The Rise of Parties (Con’t)The Rise of Parties (Con’t)

12th Amendment12th Amendment– Passed in 1804, it changed the Passed in 1804, it changed the

electoral college system, to where electoral college system, to where different ballots would be cast for different ballots would be cast for President and Vice PresidentPresident and Vice President

Section 4Section 4

Presidential NominationsPresidential Nominations

The Role of ConventionsThe Role of Conventions

Used extensively since the 1832 Used extensively since the 1832 electionelection

Convention ArrangementsConvention Arrangements– Built almost entirely by the political Built almost entirely by the political

partiesparties– Generally the party-out-of-power has Generally the party-out-of-power has

their convention first and the party-in-their convention first and the party-in-power three weeks laterpower three weeks later

The Role of Conventions (Con’t)The Role of Conventions (Con’t)

Apportionment of DelegatesApportionment of Delegates– The State party’s delegates is generally The State party’s delegates is generally

based on the State’s electoral votesbased on the State’s electoral votes However, complex formulas eventually However, complex formulas eventually

decide the delegate countdecide the delegate count Selection of DelegatesSelection of Delegates

– Two campaigns… for nomination and Two campaigns… for nomination and presidential candidate racespresidential candidate races

– Generally political parties allow state Generally political parties allow state parties to decide delegatesparties to decide delegates

Presidential PrimariesPresidential Primaries Presidential PrimaryPresidential Primary

– An election in which a party’s voters choose An election in which a party’s voters choose some or all of a state party organization’s some or all of a state party organization’s delegates to their party’s national convention delegates to their party’s national convention and/or express a preference among various and/or express a preference among various contenders for their party’s presidential contenders for their party’s presidential nominationnomination

Democrats have Superdelegates, who are selected Democrats have Superdelegates, who are selected based on power positions in the Democratic partybased on power positions in the Democratic party

History of the Presidential PrimaryHistory of the Presidential Primary– Started in 1900’s, rose and fall in popularity, Started in 1900’s, rose and fall in popularity,

and has risen againand has risen again

Presidential Primaries (Con’t)Presidential Primaries (Con’t) Primaries TodayPrimaries Today

– Since most states have the decision power, Since most states have the decision power, the primaries are a patch workthe primaries are a patch work

– Most states prefer to be toward the front of Most states prefer to be toward the front of the primary seasonthe primary season

Today we have “Super Tuesday”Today we have “Super Tuesday” Proportional representationProportional representation

– Winner-take-allWinner-take-all candidate who wins plurality, wins all the available candidate who wins plurality, wins all the available

delegatesdelegates– Generally a Republican preferenceGenerally a Republican preference

– Proportional RepresentationProportional Representation Any candidate who wins at least 15 percent of the Any candidate who wins at least 15 percent of the

votes cast in a primary gets the number of that votes cast in a primary gets the number of that state’s delegates in their sharestate’s delegates in their share– Generally a Democratic preferenceGenerally a Democratic preference

Presidential Primaries (Con’t)Presidential Primaries (Con’t)

Evaluation of the PrimaryEvaluation of the Primary– Though confusing, generally force Though confusing, generally force

“knock-down, drag-out” fights for party “knock-down, drag-out” fights for party out of powerout of power

Due to there be no real party leaderDue to there be no real party leader

– Not common for party in power, due to Not common for party in power, due to influence of incumbent Presidentinfluence of incumbent President

Not true for George W. BushNot true for George W. Bush Reform ProposalsReform Proposals

– Many suggestions for changes, but very Many suggestions for changes, but very unlikely to take placeunlikely to take place

The Caucus-Convention ProcessThe Caucus-Convention Process

Iowa the most common state with Iowa the most common state with the Caucusthe Caucus

The National ConventionThe National Convention

Meetings at which delegates vote to pick Meetings at which delegates vote to pick their presidential and vice-presidential their presidential and vice-presidential candidatescandidates

Meets three different goalsMeets three different goals– Name the party’s presidential and vice-Name the party’s presidential and vice-

presidential candidatespresidential candidates– Bring the various factions and the leading Bring the various factions and the leading

personalities in the party together in one placepersonalities in the party together in one place– Adopt the Adopt the party’s platformparty’s platform

formal statement of basic principles, stands on major formal statement of basic principles, stands on major policy matters, and objectives for the campaign and policy matters, and objectives for the campaign and beyondbeyond

The National Convention (con’t)The National Convention (con’t) The First Two DaysThe First Two Days

– Keynote addressKeynote address is given on first day is given on first day delivered by one of the party’s most accomplished delivered by one of the party’s most accomplished

oratorsorators

– Second day the platform is adoptedSecond day the platform is adopted The Last Two DaysThe Last Two Days

– Third day is spent to nominating the Third day is spent to nominating the presidential candidatepresidential candidate

– Fourth day is devoted to nominating the vice-Fourth day is devoted to nominating the vice-presidential candidatepresidential candidate

leading to the president candidates acceptance leading to the president candidates acceptance speechspeech

Who is NominatedWho is Nominated

Political ExperiencePolitical Experience– Generally the most electable Generally the most electable

candidate is nominatedcandidate is nominated Other CharacteristicsOther Characteristics

– Generally Protestants, from larger Generally Protestants, from larger states, pleasant and healthy states, pleasant and healthy appearance, an attractive family, etc.appearance, an attractive family, etc.

Section 5Section 5

The ElectionThe Election

The Electoral College TodayThe Electoral College Today

People do not vote directly for a People do not vote directly for a Presidential candidate, they vote to Presidential candidate, they vote to elect presidential electorselect presidential electors

Choosing ElectorsChoosing Electors– Electors chose by popular vote in Electors chose by popular vote in

every stateevery state– Chosen on a Chosen on a winner-take-allwinner-take-all manner manner

Some states have the names of the Some states have the names of the electors on the ballotelectors on the ballot

The Electoral College Today The Electoral College Today (con’t)(con’t)

Counting Electoral VotesCounting Electoral Votes– Electors meet on the same day, in each Electors meet on the same day, in each

of their respective state capitalsof their respective state capitals After the vote, it is signed and sealed, then After the vote, it is signed and sealed, then

sent to the president of the Senatesent to the president of the Senate Formal election takes place on January 6thFormal election takes place on January 6th

– However, most people know the next President by However, most people know the next President by the November electionthe November election

Must win at least 270 electoral votesMust win at least 270 electoral votes If there is a tie, the election is sent to the If there is a tie, the election is sent to the

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

Flaws in the Electoral CollegeFlaws in the Electoral College

First Major DefectFirst Major Defect– That the winner of the popular vote That the winner of the popular vote

will not win the presidencywill not win the presidency 2000 election of George W. Bush2000 election of George W. Bush

– Bush lost the popular vote by 537,179 votes, but Bush lost the popular vote by 537,179 votes, but won the electoral college with 271 electoral won the electoral college with 271 electoral votesvotes

– Thus a distorted view of the popular Thus a distorted view of the popular votevote

Flaws in the Electoral College Flaws in the Electoral College (Con’t)(Con’t)

The Second Major DefectThe Second Major Defect– No requirement for electors to vote for No requirement for electors to vote for

the candidate that carried their statethe candidate that carried their state One elector from Washington, D.C., did not One elector from Washington, D.C., did not

vote in 2000 election… a vote for Gorevote in 2000 election… a vote for Gore The Third Major DefectThe Third Major Defect

– Presidential election being decided by Presidential election being decided by the House of Representatives, due to the House of Representatives, due to the majority of electoral votes not the majority of electoral votes not being met (270 votes)being met (270 votes)

Proposed ReformsProposed Reforms

The The District PlanDistrict Plan– The electors would be chosen in each The electors would be chosen in each

state in the same way as members of state in the same way as members of CongressCongress

Possibly take away the winner-take-all Possibly take away the winner-take-all problemproblem

Still does not answer the inability of the Still does not answer the inability of the popular vote to decisively win the electoral popular vote to decisively win the electoral votevote

Proposed Reforms (Con’t)Proposed Reforms (Con’t)

The The Proportional PlanProportional Plan– Win electors based on the percentage of Win electors based on the percentage of

popular vote in each state the candidate winspopular vote in each state the candidate wins cures winner-take-allcures winner-take-all

– Possibly destroy the two-party systemPossibly destroy the two-party system also increases the odds that the decision would be also increases the odds that the decision would be

made by the House of Representativesmade by the House of Representatives

– Some argue, then the number of electors to Some argue, then the number of electors to win should be lowered to plurality, rather win should be lowered to plurality, rather than majoritythan majority

Proposed Reforms (Con’t)Proposed Reforms (Con’t)

Direct Popular ElectionDirect Popular Election– Each vote would count equally in the national Each vote would count equally in the national

resultresult– However, multiple issues with the proposalHowever, multiple issues with the proposal

Small states would lose their saySmall states would lose their say Possibly weaken the federal system of governmentPossibly weaken the federal system of government

– States are no longer representedStates are no longer represented Increase likelihood of voter fraudIncrease likelihood of voter fraud

– Some parts of the Some parts of the electorateelectorate would lose would lose representationrepresentation

Proposed Reforms (Con’t)Proposed Reforms (Con’t)

The The National Bonus PlanNational Bonus Plan– Proposal for electing a President by which the Proposal for electing a President by which the

winner of the popular vote would receive a winner of the popular vote would receive a bonus of 102 electoral votes in addition to his bonus of 102 electoral votes in addition to his or her state based Electoral College votes. If or her state based Electoral College votes. If no one received at least 321 electoral votes, no one received at least 321 electoral votes, a run-off election would be helda run-off election would be held

Not a likely planNot a likely plan

Electoral College SupportersElectoral College Supporters– Any of the proposed reforms could have Any of the proposed reforms could have

unintended consequencesunintended consequences– Identifies the winner quicklyIdentifies the winner quickly