The InstitutionsThe Institutions
The PresidencyThe Presidency
The White HouseThe White House
Constitutional Constitutional QualificationsQualifications
Be at least 35 years oldBe at least 35 years old A natural-born citizen of the United A natural-born citizen of the United
StatesStates Lived in the U.S. for 14 yearsLived in the U.S. for 14 years Twelfth Amendment requires Vice Twelfth Amendment requires Vice
President to fulfill qualificationsPresident to fulfill qualifications
““Typical” QualificationsTypical” Qualifications Political experiencePolitical experience
Vice presidents, state governors, U.S. senators, U.S. Vice presidents, state governors, U.S. senators, U.S. representativesrepresentatives
Presidents with no prior elected office: Presidents with no prior elected office: Zachary Taylor (W), Ulysses S. Grant (R), William H. Taft (R), Herbert Hoover (R), Zachary Taylor (W), Ulysses S. Grant (R), William H. Taft (R), Herbert Hoover (R),
Dwight Eisenhower (R)Dwight Eisenhower (R)
Military serviceMilitary service 12 Presidents with no prior military service: 12 Presidents with no prior military service:
John Adams (F), John Quincy Adams (D-R, NR), Martin van Buren (D), Grover John Adams (F), John Quincy Adams (D-R, NR), Martin van Buren (D), Grover Cleveland (D), William Howard Taft (R), Woodrow Wilson (D), Warren Harding (R), Cleveland (D), William Howard Taft (R), Woodrow Wilson (D), Warren Harding (R), Calvin Coolidge (R), Herbert Hoover (R), Franklin Roosevelt (D), Bill Clinton (D), Calvin Coolidge (R), Herbert Hoover (R), Franklin Roosevelt (D), Bill Clinton (D), Barack Obama (D)Barack Obama (D)
White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP)White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) John F. Kennedy (D) was first Catholic president (1961-1963)John F. Kennedy (D) was first Catholic president (1961-1963) Barack Obama (D) was first black president (2009-Present)Barack Obama (D) was first black president (2009-Present)
CharismaticCharismatic OutsiderOutsider
Not involved in the “mess in Washington”Not involved in the “mess in Washington” Only two female vice-presidential major party candidatesOnly two female vice-presidential major party candidates
Geraldine Ferraro (D) (1984), Sarah Palin (R) (2008)Geraldine Ferraro (D) (1984), Sarah Palin (R) (2008) James Buchanan (R) was only president not married (1857-1861)James Buchanan (R) was only president not married (1857-1861)
John Tyler (W) (1841-1845) and Woodrow Wilson (D) (1913-1921) married during their John Tyler (W) (1841-1845) and Woodrow Wilson (D) (1913-1921) married during their termsterms
InaugurationInauguration ““I do solemnly swear (or I do solemnly swear (or
affirm) that I will faithfully affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of execute the Office of President of the United President of the United States, and will to the best States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the protect and defend the Constitution of the United Constitution of the United States.” – Oath of OfficeStates.” – Oath of Office
Twentieth Amendment Twentieth Amendment (1933) established January (1933) established January 2020thth as inauguration date as inauguration date Used to be on March 4Used to be on March 4thth
Since John Adams, the Chief Since John Adams, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Justice of the Supreme Court has administered the Court has administered the oathoath
Presidential Terms of Presidential Terms of OfficeOffice
Four-year termsFour-year terms Originally, no limit to number of terms Originally, no limit to number of terms
servedserved George Washington set George Washington set
precedent/tradition of two termsprecedent/tradition of two terms Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt
Elected to 4 terms (1932, 1936, 1940, 1944)Elected to 4 terms (1932, 1936, 1940, 1944) 22nd Amendment (1951)22nd Amendment (1951)
Limited president to two termsLimited president to two terms
Presidential BenefitsPresidential Benefits $400,000 annual salary$400,000 annual salary $50,000 annual tax-free expense account$50,000 annual tax-free expense account $100,000 annual tax-free travel allowance$100,000 annual tax-free travel allowance Taxable pension planTaxable pension plan Secret Service protectionSecret Service protection Support staffSupport staff White House staff of 400-500 peopleWhite House staff of 400-500 people Camp David, a countryside getawayCamp David, a countryside getaway Air Force One (plane) and Marine One Air Force One (plane) and Marine One
(helicopter)(helicopter) Considered the most powerful person in the Considered the most powerful person in the
worldworld Leader of the Free WorldLeader of the Free World
The Many Hats of the The Many Hats of the PresidentPresident
Chief ExecutiveChief Executive Execute laws, appoint executive officialsExecute laws, appoint executive officials
Chief LegislatorChief Legislator Propose legislation, veto power, State of the UnionPropose legislation, veto power, State of the Union
Commander-in-ChiefCommander-in-Chief In charge of armed forcesIn charge of armed forces
Head of StateHead of State Ceremonies, receive foreign leaders, official dinnersCeremonies, receive foreign leaders, official dinners
Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat Negotiate treaties/alliances, develop foreign policies, Negotiate treaties/alliances, develop foreign policies,
appoint ambassadorsappoint ambassadors Head of Political PartyHead of Political Party
Agenda setting, coattails, patronageAgenda setting, coattails, patronage
Chief ExecutiveChief Executive
Presidential Appointments Presidential Appointments (FORMAL POWER)(FORMAL POWER)
* - * - The president cannot remove from officeThe president cannot remove from office
Executive department heads Executive department heads (i.e. Secretary of State)(i.e. Secretary of State)
Heads of independent regulatory Heads of independent regulatory agencies agencies
(i.e. Federal Reserve (i.e. Federal Reserve Chairperson)*Chairperson)*
Federal judiciary Federal judiciary (including U.S. Supreme Court)*(including U.S. Supreme Court)*
U.S. marshals and attorneysU.S. marshals and attorneys AmbassadorsAmbassadors Requires U.S. Senate approval Requires U.S. Senate approval
(simple majority)(simple majority) Recess appointments (FORMAL Recess appointments (FORMAL
POWER)POWER) Executive AppointmentsExecutive Appointments
* Informal powers* Informal powers White House StaffWhite House Staff Executive Office of President Executive Office of President
(EOP)(EOP) Some positions need U.S. Senate Some positions need U.S. Senate
approvalapproval
“…“…take care that the laws be faithfully take care that the laws be faithfully executed”executed”
EXECUTIVE ORDERS (INFORMAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS (INFORMAL POWER)POWER)
A presidential directive to an executive A presidential directive to an executive agency to implement or interpret a agency to implement or interpret a federal statute or constitutional federal statute or constitutional provisionprovision
Specie CircularSpecie Circular Ex parte MerrymanEx parte Merryman Emancipation ProclamationEmancipation Proclamation Korematsu v. United States Korematsu v. United States (E.O. 9066)(E.O. 9066) Desegregation of U.S. military (E.O. 9981)Desegregation of U.S. military (E.O. 9981) Little Rock Nine (E.O. 10730)Little Rock Nine (E.O. 10730)
EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE (INFORMAL POWER)(INFORMAL POWER)
Power to refuse appearing before or refusing to provide information to Congress or the Supreme Court
Presidents argue for it based on separation of powers
Washington and the House on treaties United States v. Nixon (1974)
Evidence may not be withheld in criminal proceedings
Clinton v. Jones (1997) Presidency cannot protect from civil
litigation on actions before becoming president
Chief LegislatorChief Legislator Veto PowerVeto Power
Sign bills into law Sign bills into law (FORMAL POWER)(FORMAL POWER)
Signing Statements Signing Statements (INFORMAL POWER)(INFORMAL POWER)
Veto bills (FORMAL Veto bills (FORMAL POWER)POWER)
Congressional override Congressional override (2/3 majority of both (2/3 majority of both houses)houses)
Less than 10% of vetoes Less than 10% of vetoes ever overridden ever overridden
POCKET VETO POCKET VETO (FORMAL POWER)(FORMAL POWER)
LINE-ITEM VETOLINE-ITEM VETO Clinton v. City of New Clinton v. City of New
YorkYork State of the Union State of the Union
Address (FORMAL Address (FORMAL POWER)POWER)
Special Sessions of Special Sessions of Congress (FORMAL Congress (FORMAL POWER)POWER)
Prepare and propose federal budget to Congress (INFORMAL POWER) Per the Budget and Accounting Per the Budget and Accounting
Act of 1921Act of 1921 Congressional Budget and Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act Impoundment Control Act (1974)(1974)
Denied president right to Denied president right to refuse spending appropriated refuse spending appropriated fundsfunds
Office of Management and Office of Management and Budget (OMB)Budget (OMB)
Agenda Setting and Power Agenda Setting and Power of Persuasionof Persuasion National leader and National leader and
representative (INFORMAL representative (INFORMAL POWER)POWER)
Head of the party (INFORMAL Head of the party (INFORMAL POWER)POWER)
Bully pulpit (INFORMAL Bully pulpit (INFORMAL POWER)POWER)
Presidential approval ratings Presidential approval ratings (INFORMAL POWER)(INFORMAL POWER)
Veto threat (FORMAL POWER)Veto threat (FORMAL POWER)
Formal Judicial Powers of the Formal Judicial Powers of the PresidentPresident
Appoint justices to the U.S. Appoint justices to the U.S. Supreme Court and lower Supreme Court and lower federal courtsfederal courts Litmus testLitmus test Requires U.S. Senate Requires U.S. Senate
approval (simple majority)approval (simple majority) Senatorial courtesy*Senatorial courtesy*
Grants reprieves, pardons, Grants reprieves, pardons, amnestyamnesty Pardons forgive a crime and Pardons forgive a crime and
cancel the punishmentcancel the punishment Gerald Ford’s blanket pardon Gerald Ford’s blanket pardon
of Nixon for Watergate of Nixon for Watergate Reprieves postpone a Reprieves postpone a
sentence allowing for appealssentence allowing for appeals Amnesty is to forget the crime Amnesty is to forget the crime
in lieu of testimony or supportin lieu of testimony or support
Chief DiplomatChief Diplomat Congress delegates diplomatic powers Congress delegates diplomatic powers
to Presidentto President Appoints ambassadors (FORMAL Appoints ambassadors (FORMAL
POWER)POWER) U.S. Senate approval (simple majority)U.S. Senate approval (simple majority)
Receives foreign dignitaries (FORMAL Receives foreign dignitaries (FORMAL POWER)POWER)
Recognize nations (FORMAL POWER)Recognize nations (FORMAL POWER) Treaties and PactsTreaties and Pacts
Negotiates Treaties (FORMAL POWER)Negotiates Treaties (FORMAL POWER) Legally bindingLegally binding Requires advice and consent of 2/3 majority Requires advice and consent of 2/3 majority
of U.S. Senateof U.S. Senate Woodrow Wilson and Treaty of Woodrow Wilson and Treaty of
Versailles/League of Nations DenialVersailles/League of Nations Denial EXECUTIVE AGREEMENTS EXECUTIVE AGREEMENTS
(INFORMAL POWER)(INFORMAL POWER) An agreement between heads of An agreement between heads of
governmentgovernment Politically bindingPolitically binding Does not require Senate approvalDoes not require Senate approval Must be re-consented by each new Must be re-consented by each new
presidentpresident North American Free Trade Agreement North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA)(NAFTA)
Commander-in-ChiefCommander-in-Chief Commander-in-ChiefCommander-in-Chief
Over all armed forcesOver all armed forces Appoints Joint Chiefs of Staff Appoints Joint Chiefs of Staff
(military advisors)(military advisors) Wages warWages war Troop deploymentTroop deployment
Provides for domestic orderProvides for domestic order Call up the National Guard in Call up the National Guard in
affected state/localityaffected state/locality Crisis Manager (INFORMAL Crisis Manager (INFORMAL
POWER)POWER) War Powers Resolution War Powers Resolution
(1973)(1973) President notifies Congress 48 President notifies Congress 48
hours in advance of combathours in advance of combat Armed forces for 60 days and Armed forces for 60 days and
30-day withdrawal period30-day withdrawal period Congress may extend military Congress may extend military
use, declare war, or authorize use, declare war, or authorize use of militaryuse of military
Impeachment May be charged with treason, bribery,
high crimes and misdemeanors House of Representatives impeaches
(indicts/charges/accuses) Simple majority required (218 votes)
Senate tries (acquit or convict) Presided over by Chief Justice of the
U.S. Supreme Court 2/3 majority required for conviction (67
Senators) Historical Events
Andrew Johnson Democrat president dealing with Radical
Republicans during Reconstruction Acquitted by 1 vote on 2 charges
Bill Clinton Democrat president involved in affair and
impeached by GOP-dominated House for perjury and obstruction of justice
Charged with perjury and obstruction of justice
Overwhelmingly acquitted by GOP Senate Richard Nixon*
House Judiciary Committee was in process of drafting impeachment articles before Nixon resigned
Vice PresidentVice President Selection of a Vice PresidentSelection of a Vice President
Balance the ticketBalance the ticket More widespread appeal for the ticketMore widespread appeal for the ticket Selected based on different party faction, Selected based on different party faction,
geographical region, political experiencegeographical region, political experience John F. Kennedy/Lyndon B. Johnson (1960 John F. Kennedy/Lyndon B. Johnson (1960
Election)Election) Constitutional ResponsibilitiesConstitutional Responsibilities
Preside over the Senate as President of Preside over the Senate as President of the Senatethe Senate
Break voting ties in the SenateBreak voting ties in the Senate Preside and present counting of Preside and present counting of
Electoral College votesElectoral College votes Assume presidency upon death, Assume presidency upon death,
infirmity, disability, removal from office infirmity, disability, removal from office of presidentof president
Duties of a Vice PresidentDuties of a Vice President Attend Cabinet meetings alongside the Attend Cabinet meetings alongside the
presidentpresident Serve on National Security CouncilServe on National Security Council Delegated presidential dutiesDelegated presidential duties
Vice President VacancyVice President Vacancy 2525thth Amendment requires majority vote Amendment requires majority vote
from both houses of Congress to from both houses of Congress to approve a VP appointmentapprove a VP appointment
Only five Vice Presidents have been Only five Vice Presidents have been elected Presidentelected President
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Martin van John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Martin van Buren, Richard Nixon, George H.W. BushBuren, Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush
“My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.” – John Adams
Presidential SuccessionPresidential Succession Vice president succeeds Vice president succeeds
president upon death, president upon death, removal from office, removal from office, disability, infirmitydisability, infirmity Article IIArticle II Twentieth AmendmentTwentieth Amendment Twenty-Fifth AmendmentTwenty-Fifth Amendment
Presidential Succession Presidential Succession Act of 1947Act of 1947 Vice PresidentVice President Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House President Pro TemporePresident Pro Tempore Secretary of StateSecretary of State Secretary of TreasurySecretary of Treasury Secretary of DefenseSecretary of Defense Attorney GeneralAttorney General
Presidential Succession Presidential Succession (cont.)(cont.) Based on chronological order Based on chronological order
of executive departmentof executive department Secretary of InteriorSecretary of Interior Secretary of AgricultureSecretary of Agriculture Secretary of CommerceSecretary of Commerce Secretary of LaborSecretary of Labor Secretary of Health and Secretary of Health and
Human ServicesHuman Services Secretary of Housing and Secretary of Housing and
Urban DevelopmentUrban Development Secretary of TransportationSecretary of Transportation Secretary of EnergySecretary of Energy Secretary of EducationSecretary of Education Secretary of Veterans’ Secretary of Veterans’
AffairsAffairs Secretary of Homeland Secretary of Homeland
SecuritySecurity
White House Office StaffWhite House Office Staff May be hired and fired at will; no U.S. Senate May be hired and fired at will; no U.S. Senate
approval necessaryapproval necessary Part of the Executive Office of the President (EOP)Part of the Executive Office of the President (EOP) Chief of StaffChief of Staff
Administers the White House staffAdministers the White House staff Usually a personal or close friend/allyUsually a personal or close friend/ally May possess a certain policy expertise or political May possess a certain policy expertise or political
connectionsconnections Press Secretary – “Voice of the President”Press Secretary – “Voice of the President”
Disseminate and provide information to the president, Disseminate and provide information to the president, the White House staff, and the mass mediathe White House staff, and the mass media
Facilitates news briefings and news conferences with Facilitates news briefings and news conferences with the White House Press Corpthe White House Press Corp
CommunicationsCommunications Develop and promote the president’s agenda; speech-Develop and promote the president’s agenda; speech-
writingwriting White House CounselWhite House Counsel Organizational StructuresOrganizational Structures
PyramidPyramid Hierarchal structure reports to the Chief of StaffHierarchal structure reports to the Chief of Staff
CircularCircular Members and aides all directly report to the presidentMembers and aides all directly report to the president
Ad-hocAd-hoc Task forces, committees, informal groups of advisors and Task forces, committees, informal groups of advisors and
friends report to the presidentfriends report to the president
Executive Office of the Executive Office of the PresidentPresident
Policy advisors and Policy advisors and experts who directly experts who directly report to and serve report to and serve at the pleasure of at the pleasure of the Presidentthe President
Some officials Some officials require Senate require Senate approvalapproval
White House OfficeWhite House Office
Office of Management and Office of Management and Budget (OMB)Budget (OMB) Assist in developing federal Assist in developing federal
budget proposalbudget proposal Monitor supervision of Monitor supervision of
executive agenciesexecutive agencies Council of Economic Council of Economic
AdvisersAdvisers National Security CouncilNational Security Council
National Security AdvisorNational Security Advisor Office of the U.S. Trade Office of the U.S. Trade
RepresentativeRepresentative Office of National Drug Office of National Drug
Control PolicyControl Policy Office of Science and Office of Science and
Technology PolicyTechnology Policy
The Cabinet Administrators, or
secretaries, of the executive departments
Appointed by president and approval from Senate
Selection by President Usually an expert in
department appointed with some political and private experience
In most cases, the person barely has any personal or political relationship to the president, if any
Some may be chosen for image of diversity
Department Loyalty Policy expertise over
partisanship, administration Some in-fighting with EOP
and White House Staff
The Executive Departments State
Treasury United States Mint/Bureau of
Engraving and Printing Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Defense (“The Pentagon”) National Security Agency (NSA) Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
Justice Federal Bureau of Investigations
(FBI) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and
Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) U.S. Marshals Service Office of the Solicitor General
Interior National Park Service Bureau of Indian Affairs
Agriculture (USDA) Commerce
Bureau of the Census National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of the Surgeon General Medicare
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Transportation (DOT)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration Education
Federal Student Aid Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Homeland Security
United States Coast Guard Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) U.S. Customs and Border Protection United States Secret Service Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
The First Lady First and foremost as
White House hostess Attends social events and
ceremonies with or representing president
Modern First Ladies usually coordinate politically safe valence issues and initiatives Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No
To Drugs” Strong First Ladies
Dolly Madison Eleanor Roosevelt
Civil rights issues, campaigned for FDR
Hillary Clinton Given direct policy role for
national health care initiative
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