One of the most powerful offices of its One of the most powerful offices of its kind in the world. kind in the world. The president, the Constitution says, must The president, the Constitution says, must "take care that the laws be faithfully "take care that the laws be faithfully executed." To carry out this responsibility, executed." To carry out this responsibility, the president presides over the executive the president presides over the executive branch of the federal government (about branch of the federal government (about 4 million people, including 1 million active-4 million people, including 1 million active-duty military personnel) duty military personnel)

Who can become the President?Who can become the President?

““No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States… shall be eligible to the office of the United States… shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.”the United States.”

The Constitution, Article II, Section The Constitution, Article II, Section OneOne

Election every 4 years.Election every 4 years. Inauguration Day – taking the oath:Inauguration Day – taking the oath:

““I do solemnly swear that I will I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”the United States.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cESC0RaVnM&list=PLF6C5ABE020EE90E7

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/photogallery/the-presidents

ExecutiveExecutive LegislativeLegislative JudicialJudicial

head of the governmenthead of the government nominates — and the Senate confirms — nominates — and the Senate confirms —

the heads of all executive departments the heads of all executive departments and agencies, together with hundreds of and agencies, together with hundreds of other high-ranking federal officials. other high-ranking federal officials.

responsible for preparing the budget of responsible for preparing the budget of the United States, although the Congress the United States, although the Congress must approve itmust approve it

Within the executive branch itself, the Within the executive branch itself, the president has broad powers to manage president has broad powers to manage national affairs and the workings of the national affairs and the workings of the federal government. The president can federal government. The president can issue rules, regulations, and instructions issue rules, regulations, and instructions called called executive ordersexecutive orders, which have the , which have the binding force of law upon federal binding force of law upon federal agencies but do not require agencies but do not require congressional approval. congressional approval.

Commander-in-chief of the armed forcesCommander-in-chief of the armed forces In times of war or national emergency, In times of war or national emergency,

the Congress may grant the president the Congress may grant the president even broader powers to manage the even broader powers to manage the national economy and protect the national economy and protect the security of the United States. security of the United States.

The president can veto any bill passed by The president can veto any bill passed by Congress and, unless two-thirds of the Congress and, unless two-thirds of the members of each house vote to override members of each house vote to override the veto, the bill does not become law.the veto, the bill does not become law.

May propose legislation to Congress - In May propose legislation to Congress - In annual and special messages to annual and special messages to Congress, the president may propose Congress, the president may propose legislation he believes is necessary. legislation he believes is necessary.

May call Congress for special sessionMay call Congress for special session

May appoint important public officials. May appoint important public officials. Presidential nomination of federal Presidential nomination of federal judges, including members of the judges, including members of the Supreme Court, is subject to Supreme Court, is subject to confirmation by the Senate. confirmation by the Senate.

Another significant power is that of Another significant power is that of granting a full or conditional pardon to granting a full or conditional pardon to anyone convicted of breaking a federal anyone convicted of breaking a federal law — except in a case of impeachment. law — except in a case of impeachment.

Under the Constitution, the president is the Under the Constitution, the president is the federal official primarily responsible for the federal official primarily responsible for the relations of the USA with foreign nations. The relations of the USA with foreign nations. The president appoints ambassadors, ministers, president appoints ambassadors, ministers, and consuls (subject to confirmation by the and consuls (subject to confirmation by the Senate) and receives foreign ambassadors Senate) and receives foreign ambassadors and other public officials. With the secretary and other public officials. With the secretary of state, the president manages all official of state, the president manages all official contacts with foreign governments. contacts with foreign governments.

DeathDeath Impeachment Impeachment Inability (when Vice President takes Inability (when Vice President takes

over)over)

TreasonTreason BriberyBribery Other crimes and misdemeanorsOther crimes and misdemeanors

Article II, Section FourArticle II, Section Four

Removing an official from office requires two steps: (1) a formal accusation, or impeachment, by the House of Representatives, and (2) a trial and conviction by the Senate.

Impeachment requires a majority vote of the House; conviction is more difficult, requiring a two-thirds vote by the Senate.

Andrew Johnson in 1868 – one vote shortAndrew Johnson in 1868 – one vote short Richard Nixon in 1974 - resignedRichard Nixon in 1974 - resigned Bill Clinton in 1998Bill Clinton in 1998

None convictedNone convicted

The political backing to begin impeachment proceedings against the president came when Johnson breached the Tenure of Office Act by removing Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War, from the cabinet. The Tenure of Office Act, passed over Johnson's veto in 1867, stated that a president could not dismiss appointed officials without the consent of Congress.

Johnson believed the Tenure of Office Act was unconstitutional

President Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 24, 1868 and the Senate tried the case in a trial that lasted from March to May 1868. In the end, the Senate voted to acquit President Andrew Johnson by a margin of 35 guilty to 19 not guilty - one vote short of the two-thirds needed to convict.

In a 1926 case, the Supreme Court declared that the Tenure of Office Act had been invalid.

After five men hired by Nixon's reelection committee were caught burglarizing Democratic party headquarters at the Watergate Complex on June 17, 1972, President Nixon's subsequent behavior—his cover-up of the burglary and refusal to turn over evidence—led the House Judiciary Committee to issue three articles of impeachment on July 30, 1974.

The document also indicted Nixon for illegal wiretapping, misuse of the CIA, perjury, bribery, obstruction of justice, and other abuses of executive power.

Nixon resigned from office on August 9, 1974

http://www.history.com/videos/richard-nixons-resignation-speech#richard-nixons-resignation-speech

Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States, was impeached by the House of Representatives on two charges, one of perjury and one of obstruction of justice, on December 19, 1998. Two other impeachment articles, a second perjury charge and a charge of abuse of power, failed in the House. The charges arose from the Lewinsky scandal and the Paula Jones lawsuit.

He was acquitted by the Senate on February 12, 1999. Requiring a two-thirds majority for a conviction, only 50 senators (out of 100) voted guilty on the obstruction charge and 45 on the perjury charge. The Senate was 17 votes short of removing Clinton from office

The House of Representatives passes by The House of Representatives passes by vote Articles of Impeachmentvote Articles of Impeachment

The Senate tries all impeachmentsThe Senate tries all impeachments Presiding officer is the Vice PresidentPresiding officer is the Vice President If the President is impeached, presiding If the President is impeached, presiding

officer is Chief Justiceofficer is Chief Justice