The Many Roles of the PresidentThe Many Roles of the President

Chief of StateChief of StateCeremonial head of the Ceremonial head of the

countrycountryActs as the “face of the U.S.”Acts as the “face of the U.S.”Welcomes foreign dignitariesWelcomes foreign dignitariesFor example…For example…

The Many Roles of the PresidentThe Many Roles of the President

Chief ExecutiveChief ExecutiveEnsures that the nation’s Ensures that the nation’s

laws are enforced and laws are enforced and carried outcarried out

Head of the executive branchHead of the executive branch

The Many Roles of the PresidentThe Many Roles of the President Chief AdministratorChief Administrator

Head of the entire bureaucracy – people Head of the entire bureaucracy – people who work for the government to who work for the government to implement policiesimplement policies

Appoints everyone in the top levels of Appoints everyone in the top levels of the bureaucracy, with approval of a the bureaucracy, with approval of a majority of the Senatemajority of the Senate

May also fire any appointed personMay also fire any appointed person does not need Senate approval for firingdoes not need Senate approval for firing

The Many Roles of the PresidentThe Many Roles of the President Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat

Develops the nation’s foreign policy Develops the nation’s foreign policy stancesstancesTop advisor on foreign policy is the Top advisor on foreign policy is the

Secretary of StateSecretary of State Spokesperson to the rest of the Spokesperson to the rest of the

worldworld Meets and befriends leaders of Meets and befriends leaders of

foreign countriesforeign countries

The Many Roles of the PresidentThe Many Roles of the President

Commander-in-ChiefCommander-in-ChiefTop commander of all Top commander of all

branches of the armed forcesbranches of the armed forcesAll are subject to his All are subject to his

immediate controlimmediate controlCan wage undeclared warsCan wage undeclared wars

The Many Roles of the PresidentThe Many Roles of the President

Chief LegislatorChief LegislatorProposes Laws to CongressProposes Laws to CongressChooses whether to sign bills Chooses whether to sign bills

into law or veto theminto law or veto themCan also issue Can also issue executive orders executive orders

– changes in executive branch – changes in executive branch policy that have the effect of lawpolicy that have the effect of law

The Many Roles of the PresidentThe Many Roles of the President Chief of PartyChief of Party

He is the undisputed leader and He is the undisputed leader and face of the party that helped elect face of the party that helped elect himhim

Plans future strategy and direction Plans future strategy and direction of the partyof the party

Helps raise money and campaign Helps raise money and campaign for other party membersfor other party members

The Many Roles of the PresidentThe Many Roles of the President

Chief CitizenChief CitizenWork to help the public as a Work to help the public as a

whole, rather than private whole, rather than private interestsinterests

Represent what all American Represent what all American people should be (in terms of people should be (in terms of character)character)

QualificationsQualifications 35 years old35 years old Natural Born U.S. CitizenNatural Born U.S. Citizen

Could be born in another country to Could be born in another country to an American parent (jus sanguinis)an American parent (jus sanguinis)

Or born on U.S. soil (jus solis)Or born on U.S. soil (jus solis) Resident of the U.S. for 14 yearsResident of the U.S. for 14 years

TermsTerms Pres. serves a 4 year termPres. serves a 4 year term Limited to 2 terms by the 22Limited to 2 terms by the 22ndnd

AmendmentAmendment If V.P. takes over less than half of If V.P. takes over less than half of

President’s term, it doesn’t count President’s term, it doesn’t count against himagainst him

Thus, most possible years = 10Thus, most possible years = 10

$ Perks $$ Perks $Salary of $400,000 per year Salary of $400,000 per year

for lifefor life$50,000 in expenses$50,000 in expensesFree medical care for lifeFree medical care for lifeLive in the White HouseLive in the White HouseUse of Air Force One, Marine Use of Air Force One, Marine

One, other transportationOne, other transportation

Presidential SuccessionPresidential Succession Constitution originally only provided that Constitution originally only provided that

when Pres. becomes incapable, V.P. when Pres. becomes incapable, V.P. would become “acting president”would become “acting president” Didn’tDidn’t address: address:

Is V.P. now president forever?Is V.P. now president forever? Does “acting president” have the same power as Does “acting president” have the same power as

president?president? What if the V.P. leaves office?What if the V.P. leaves office? Who decides if the president is “unable”Who decides if the president is “unable” How is it determined when the president is “able” How is it determined when the president is “able”

again?again? All of this was fixed by the 25All of this was fixed by the 25thth Amendment Amendment

(1967)(1967)

Presidential SuccessionPresidential Succession If president dies, resigns, is If president dies, resigns, is

impeached, or is temporarily impeached, or is temporarily incapable, succession occursincapable, succession occurs Pres. can be declared temporarily Pres. can be declared temporarily

incapable by himself, or V.P. with a incapable by himself, or V.P. with a majority of the Cabinet (25majority of the Cabinet (25thth Amendment)Amendment)

Presidential SuccessionPresidential Succession What if more than just the president What if more than just the president

dies, or is removed from office?dies, or is removed from office? Order of Succession – set by Order of Succession – set by

Presidential Succession Act of 1947Presidential Succession Act of 1947 Vice PresidentVice President Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House President Pro-TemporePresident Pro-Tempore Secretary of StateSecretary of State Each Cabinet Dept. Secretary in the Each Cabinet Dept. Secretary in the

order they were createdorder they were created

Vice-Presidential SuccessionVice-Presidential Succession

If V.P. dies or resigns, If V.P. dies or resigns, president picks a new onepresident picks a new one

Majority of both houses of Majority of both houses of Congress must approveCongress must approve

What Does the Veep Do?What Does the Veep Do?2 2 ImportantImportant Jobs (sarcasm) Jobs (sarcasm)

Take over if the Pres. diesTake over if the Pres. diesPreside over the SenatePreside over the SenateThese 2 jobs take no time, These 2 jobs take no time,

and allow Dick Cheney to and allow Dick Cheney to spend time shooting old men spend time shooting old men in the facein the face

So What do They Really Do?So What do They Really Do? They do They do

whatever the whatever the president lets president lets them dothem do

How to Pick a V.P.How to Pick a V.P.Balance the Ticket – pick a Balance the Ticket – pick a

guy with qualities that will draw guy with qualities that will draw voters you wouldn’tvoters you wouldn’t

Example of Balancing the TicketExample of Balancing the Ticket

President ReaganPresident Reagan From California From California

(West Coast)(West Coast) Very conservativeVery conservative Idea man – not Idea man – not

concerned with concerned with detailsdetails

Vice-President BushVice-President Bush From Connecticut From Connecticut

(East Coast)(East Coast) Moderate conservativeModerate conservative Technocrat – obsessed Technocrat – obsessed

with nuance/detailswith nuance/details

Presidential SelectionPresidential Selection Constitution says – “president Constitution says – “president

shall be chosen by a number of shall be chosen by a number of electors”electors”

These electors are the electoral These electors are the electoral collegecollege

Original PlanOriginal Plan

Each elector gets 2 votesEach elector gets 2 votes11stst Place becomes president Place becomes president22ndnd Place becomes vice- Place becomes vice-

presidentpresidentThen, a crisis occurs…Then, a crisis occurs…

The Election of 1800The Election of 1800Political Parties had just Political Parties had just

appearedappearedJefferson and Burr – Jefferson and Burr –

Democratic RepublicansDemocratic RepublicansAdams and Pinckney – Adams and Pinckney –

FederalistsFederalistsEach elector casts his 2 ballots Each elector casts his 2 ballots

for his party’s 2 candidatesfor his party’s 2 candidates

The Election of 1800The Election of 1800

Final Result:Final Result:Thomas Jefferson - 73Thomas Jefferson - 73Aaron Burr - 73Aaron Burr - 73John Adams - 65John Adams - 65Charles Pinckney - 64Charles Pinckney - 64John Jay - 1John Jay - 1

The Election of 1800The Election of 1800Burr had run intending to Burr had run intending to

become Jefferson’s Vice, then become Jefferson’s Vice, then realized he had a legitimate realized he had a legitimate claim to win!claim to win!

Took 36 votes in the House of Took 36 votes in the House of Reps. to settle the dispute and Reps. to settle the dispute and pick Jeffersonpick Jefferson

The 12The 12thth Amendment Amendment

Requires Requires presidential and presidential and V.P. elections V.P. elections to be separateto be separate

The Current Selection ProcessThe Current Selection Process

Thankfully for you, the process Thankfully for you, the process is much more complicated is much more complicated todaytoday

It all starts with the nominating It all starts with the nominating process…process…

The Nominating ProcessThe Nominating Process Candidates must win a majority of Candidates must win a majority of

delegates at the party conventiondelegates at the party convention Each state gets delegates at the Each state gets delegates at the

convention based on the number convention based on the number of electoral college votes, plus a of electoral college votes, plus a bonus for states loyal to the partybonus for states loyal to the party

States have choices on how to States have choices on how to award these delegatesaward these delegates

State’s Options – How to VoteState’s Options – How to VotePrimary Election – election Primary Election – election

among the public to choose a among the public to choose a nomineenomineeOpen Primary – all eligible Open Primary – all eligible

voters may votevoters may voteClosed Primary – only party Closed Primary – only party

members may votemembers may vote

State’s Options – How to VoteState’s Options – How to Vote

Caucus – meeting of party Caucus – meeting of party members to debate and votemembers to debate and vote

State’s Options – How to Award State’s Options – How to Award DelegatesDelegates

Winner-Take-All – winner of the Winner-Take-All – winner of the state’s contest gets all of the state’s state’s contest gets all of the state’s delegatesdelegates

Proportional Representation – Each Proportional Representation – Each candidate gets delegates equal to the candidate gets delegates equal to the % of the vote they got% of the vote they got **Democratic Party rules require **Democratic Party rules require

proportional representation**proportional representation**

The ConventionThe Convention Delegates “vote” Delegates “vote”

– everyone knows – everyone knows who will winwho will win

President officially President officially nominates his nominates his running materunning mate

General ElectionGeneral Election

General Election – one candidate General Election – one candidate from each party run against each from each party run against each other for the presidencyother for the presidency

General ElectionGeneral Election

Each state sets requirements for Each state sets requirements for how a party gets qualified to be how a party gets qualified to be on the balloton the ballot

General ElectionGeneral Election

Traditionally, the Republican and Traditionally, the Republican and Democratic Candidates will Democratic Candidates will debate each other at least oncedebate each other at least once

General ElectionGeneral Election

Winner of the election is determined Winner of the election is determined by who gets a majority of electoral by who gets a majority of electoral college votes (270 out of a possible college votes (270 out of a possible 538)538)

General ElectionGeneral Election

Electoral College is winner-take-Electoral College is winner-take-all – whoever gets a plurality (not all – whoever gets a plurality (not a majority) in the state gets all the a majority) in the state gets all the state’s electoral college votesstate’s electoral college votes

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College ProsPros

Preserves stable Preserves stable 2 party system2 party system

No mass No mass confusion over confusion over recountsrecounts

Pushes Pushes candidates to candidates to campaign in campaign in smaller statessmaller states

ConsCons Undemocratic – Undemocratic –

can win with fewer can win with fewer votesvotes

Outdated – we Outdated – we have technology have technology for voters to have for voters to have full controlfull control

Voters in closely Voters in closely divided states divided states matter morematter more

Proposed Reforms to the Proposed Reforms to the Electoral CollegeElectoral College

District PlanDistrict Plan Electoral College Votes based on who Electoral College Votes based on who

wins each congressional districtwins each congressional district Example: California has 53 districtsExample: California has 53 districts Bush wins 20, gets 20 electoral votesBush wins 20, gets 20 electoral votes Kerry wins 33, gets 33 electoral votesKerry wins 33, gets 33 electoral votes Kerry wins popular vote in CA, gets 2 Kerry wins popular vote in CA, gets 2

bonus votesbonus votes

Proposed Reforms to the Proposed Reforms to the Electoral CollegeElectoral College

Proportional PlanProportional Plan Electoral College votes awarded based on Electoral College votes awarded based on

% of popular vote% of popular vote Example: State has 20 electoral votesExample: State has 20 electoral votes Bush gets 60%, Kerry gets 40%Bush gets 60%, Kerry gets 40% Bush gets 12 electoral votes, Kerry gets 8Bush gets 12 electoral votes, Kerry gets 8

Proposed Reforms to the Proposed Reforms to the Electoral CollegeElectoral College

Direct Popular ElectionDirect Popular Election Whoever wins the most votes Whoever wins the most votes

nationwide becomes the presidentnationwide becomes the president

Proposed Reforms to the Proposed Reforms to the Electoral CollegeElectoral College

National Bonus PlanNational Bonus Plan Electoral College system still in placeElectoral College system still in place Whoever wins the popular vote Whoever wins the popular vote

nationwide gets a bonus of 102 nationwide gets a bonus of 102 electoral college voteselectoral college votes

102 is the number which makes it 102 is the number which makes it mathematically impossible to win mathematically impossible to win popular vote and lose the electionpopular vote and lose the election