The Presidency

Civics- Chapter 9

Qualifications

35 years of age Natural-born

citizen of the U.S. 14 year resident

of the U.S.

The Presidency

Established by Article II of the U.S. Constitution

Elected by the electoral college Serves a 4-year term Limited to two full terms of office or

ten years. (22nd Amendment)

Electoral College To become president, a candidate must win

a majority of the electoral college vote. 270 electoral votes is a majority

538 electors- each state has the same number of electors as it has representatives in Congress 435 House of Reps 100 Senate 3 for Washington DC

Presidential Election of 2012Obama - 332 Romney-206

Electoral College Results- 2008

Constitutional Roles/ Powers

Chief Executive Commander-in-Chief Chief Diplomat Chief Diplomat: taking Russian

President Medvedev for a ride in his limo

Commander-in-Chief: President Bush leading the troops into battle

Chief Executive: Signing the

Lily Ledbetter Act of 2009

Traditional Roles

Chief of State Party Leader Leader of the Free World

Traditional Roles- Chief of State

Traditional Roles

Presidential Powers Commander-in-chief Commissions military officers Veto Pardon Appoint federal officials, judges, &

ambassadors Make treaties with foreign nations Receive ambassadors

Limits on the presidency 2/3 veto override Impeachment Senate must approve treaties by a 2/3

majority Senate must approve appointments Congress must declare war Congress controls the budget Courts can overrule actions

The Vice-President

Elected together with the president President of the Senate

Casts the tie breaking vote Succeeds the president

Presidential Succession

Vice President Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore of the Senate Members of the Cabinet

Cabinet

A group of policy advisors to the president, including the executive department heads.

National Security Council

Top military officers and advisors from other govt. agencies and depts.

Concerned with national defense

Executive Departments State

Foreign policy Treasury

Prints money, collects taxes

Defense Armed Forces

Interior Natl. parks, resources

Justice Law Enforcement

Agriculture

Commerce

Labor

Health & Human Services

Housing & Urban Development

Transportation

Energy

Education

Veteran’s Affairs

Homeland Security

Independent Agencies Executive Agencies

Central Intelligence Agency Environmental Protection Agency NASA

Regulatory Commissions National Labor Relations Board Federal Communications Commission

Government Corporations U.S. Postal Service Federal Deposit insurance Corporation (FDIC)