The President and Vice President

 

1-Explain what the following quote tells you about Harry Truman’s attitude about the presidency when he told the press in 1945:

“I don’t know whether you fellows ever had a load of hay fall on you, but when they told me yesterday what had happened, I felt like the moon, the stars, and all of the planets had fallen on me.”

 2-What had just happened to Truman?  He had just become president when FDR died the day before.

3-List 6 duties of the President: 

1.Commander in chief of the armed forces.2.Appoints heads of executive departments with Senate’s consent.3.Appoints Federal Court judges with Senate’s consent.4.Makes treaties with Senate’s consent.5.Meets with heads of state.6.Hosts foreign officials.7.Appoints ambassadors to other nations.8.Ensure that all laws of the United States are faithfully executed.9.Pardon people convicted of federal crimes [except in impeachment cases].10.Reduces a person’s jail sentence

4-Explain the president’s lawmaking power.

State of the Union Address.

Sends messages to Congress about bills.

Congress expects presidents to offer policy changes/ideas for laws.

 

5-Explain the 22nd Amendment. President limited to two terms [4 years/term].

A vice-president that takes over the presidency may serve as many as 10 years as president.

Why was this amendment created?Reaction to FDR being elected to 4 terms as president

6-What is the president’s yearly salary?

$400,000 

 

7-List the benefits of being president:•Air Force One.

•Free medical and dental care.

•Live in White House.

•Doesn’t have to Cook, shop or clean.

•Life-time pension of $148,400/year at retirement.

•Spouses eligible for pension of $20,000/year when president’s die.

8-What are the Constitutional requirements for president?

Citizenship: Natural-Born Age: 35 years Residency: 14 years  

Same for VP  .

 

 9-Why was the 25th Amendment ratified?

To clarify the succession to the presidency and vice presidency. 

 10-Summarize sections 1 and 2 of the 25th Amendment.

 Section 1In case of removal, death or resignation, the vice president becomes President. Section 2If there is a vacancy in the office of VP, The president shall nominate a replacement and a majority of both Houses of Congress most confirm the nomination.

11-What did The Succession Act of 1947 accomplish?

It established the order of presidential succession.  

 12-After the vice president, Speaker and president pro tempore, how are the14 department heads ranked in terms of presidential succession? 

The order in which Congress created them:1-State2-Treasury3-Defense

14-Homeland Security

 13-What does the 25th Amendment say about presidential disability?VP becomes “acting” president if

1- if the president informs Congress of an inability to perform in officeor

2- if the VP and a majority of the cabinet informs Congress the president is disabled.  

If the president wants to return to office: President informs Congress that a disability no longer exists If the VP and a majority of the cabinet disagree, Congress has 21 days to decide: 2/3 of both houses must vote to keep the president from returning to office.  

14-Provide your opinion to the following: Given the fact that most of the people who seek the presidency can make much more money than what a president makes [see your answer to number 6], why do so many people want to become president?