President and Vice President The president of the

President and Vice President

“The president of the United States carries with it a responsibility so personal as to be without parallel…No one can make decisions for him…Even those closest to him…never know all the reasons why he does certain things and comes to certain conclusions. To be President of the United States is to be lonely, very lonely at times of great decisions. ” -Harry S. Truman

Article II Section I • Qualifications of President - Natural born citizen, 35 years old, 14 yr US resident • 22 nd Amendment – limits President’s tenure to two, four year terms • Oath of Office - oath swearing the President will uphold Constitution and done on inauguration day

Presidential Basics • Qualifications—Informal – Electability (moderates most electable) – Experience • Political/Military/Business – Religion – Money (personal and private donations) – Marital /Family Status – Gender – Race – Age

Presidential Benefits • Pay/Benefits – President’s Salary is fixed by Congress • Currently $400, 000 w/ $100, 000 expense account – – – – 132 room Mansion with gym, bowling alley, heated pool Suite of offices w/ large staff Fleet of automobiles and personal aircraft Camp David Finest health care Former Presidents get pension Secret Service Protection for life

Presidential Succession • 25 th Amendment - established Presidential succession in case of death, resignation or disability • President can resume powers when the disability no longer exists

Presidential Disability • Involuntary Disability – VP becomes acting president if President is incapacitated. • Disability disputes: – President gets his powers back once he informs Congress that there is no disability. – But, if VP and Majority of Congress challenge this within four days, President does not get powers back – Congress then has 21 days to decide. – Must be a 2/3 vote of both houses that President is unable to discharge duties.

Presidential Vacancy • 4 Presidents have died in office--William Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Warren Harding, and F. D. Roosevelt • 4 Presidents have been assassinated--William Mc. Kinley, Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, and John F. Kennedy • 1 President has resigned---Richard Nixon

The Vice Presidency • One-in-five Vice Presidents have become President because of death or resignation. (only 9 of 44) • Stepping stone to presidency - Five of our last 11 presidents have been vice presidents at some point • Main reason for Vice President being picked is to balance the presidential ticket to increase electability of President • $221, 000/year

View of the VP • John Adams (1 st VP) – “My country has contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived. ” • John Nance Gardner – “The vice presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm spit. ”

The VP’s Job • 1) 2) 3) The Constitution only gives the VP three Duties besides becoming president if the President is removed from Office: To preside over the Senate break ties in Senate votes To help decide the question of Presidential disability. • Today the VP often performs diplomatic and political chores for the president. He often introduces new ideas and attacks the opposition.