Facts about the Presidency UNIT 4 Executive Branch

Facts about the Presidency UNIT 4: Executive Branch Chapter 8 – Section 1

Main Duty § Executive branch responsibilities are spelled out in the US Constitution under Article II § Main duty of the branch: § To enforce laws and regulations passed along to them from the Legislative branch

Presidential terms § Traditional - Two, four-year terms (if re-elected) § 2 x 4=8 § Does the Constitution state anything about term limits? § NO! The norm was that every President only served two terms, the precedent for this was set by George Washington § Who changed this tradition? § Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) was elected to four consecutive terms § Passed away at beginning of fourth term at the very end of WWII

22 nd Amendment § The problem with four consecutive terms was finally addressed with the passage of the 22 nd Amendment § Placed limits on presidential terms to two, four year terms § No more than ten maximum years – HOW? ? ?

Ten maximum years? ? § If V. P. has to replace a President before the halfway point of a term (January 20 th or earlier) then V. P. would get credit for that term, and could only serve one more term (6 max years); § If V. P. takes over after halfway point of a term than he finishes that term, but not counted as his, then gets two more consecutive terms (max. of 10 years)

Presidential and & Vice Presidential Qualifications Constitutional § 35 years or older § Natural born citizen § 14 consecutive years of residency Non-Constitutional § Government experience (governor, mayor, senator, etc. ) § Fundraising ability: be able to raise money § Political ideology: moderate in being liberal or conservative § Background: older, wealthy, charisma and speaking ability § Inner-personal: have great strengths, moral character, with as little weakness as possible

25 th Amendment § What happens if a President is assassinated, has a heart attack and cannot finish the term?

25 th Amendment continued… § What if he is temporarily ill and cannot carry out the duties of the office fully? § Voluntarily: § Can tell V. P. to take over. When he is well, can announce his return.

25 th Amendment continued… § What if others are noticing his illness is affecting his job performance, but he does not want to step aside? : § If V. P. and majority of Cabinet agrees he needs to take time off, then HE MUST! § Upon wanting to return if they still think he needs time off then Congress with a majority vote must decide, but if Congress sides with V. P. and cabinet the vote needs to be 2/3 in both houses

Duties of Vice President Constitutional § President of Senate and only vote when Senate vote is tied § 1 st in line Presidential succession Non-Constitutional § Participate in policy (law making) decisions § Be at special assignments at requests of President § Involved in diplomatic assignments (abroad) § Member of national security council § Anything else the President requests of him