The Executive Branch President Qualifications for President 1

The Executive Branch/ President

Qualifications for President • 1. At least 35 years old • 2. Born in the US • 3. lived in US for 14 years

Almost all Presidents • Have been white, Protestant-Christian men

Presidential Firsts • 1 st Catholic President: John F. Kennedy (1960) • 1 st Woman for VP: Geraldine Ferraro (1984) • 1 st Jewish candidate for VP: Joseph Lieberman (2000) • 1 st African American President: Barack Obama (2008)

Electing a President • Take place every 4 years • Electoral College: system of electing the President • Each state gets Electors with the number of Senators and Representatives • (538 in total- plus 3 for Washington DC) • “winner take all”candidate wins entire state

2008 Electoral College

Term of Office • Serve 4 year terms • Amendment 22: President cant serve more than 2 terms

Salary and Benefits • $400, 000 per year, plus money for travel expenses • White House: (don’t write) – Movie theatre – Gym – Bowling alley – Heated pool – 80 caretakers • Camp David: – Retreat and place to take foreign leaders • Air Force One

White House

Camp David

Vice President • President of the Senate • No real power

Vice President • “I am the Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may become everything. ” -John Adams

25 th Amendment • If the President dies, the Vice President takes over

The President’s Job

Powers in the Constitution • Article II – Veto, reject bills passed by Congress – Call Congress into special session – Commander in chief of armed forces – Receive leaders of foreign countries – Make treaties (w/ Senate approval) – Appoint heads of agencies, federal court judges, ambassadors, – Pardon

Roles of the President • • Chief Executive Chief Diplomat Commander in Chief Legislative Leader Head of State Economic Leader Party Leader

Chief Executive • Enforcing Laws by Congress • Executive Order- rule or command that has the power of law – Used to integrate army • Appoint heads of agencies (CIA, FBI, etc. )

Chief Executive • Pardon- declaration of forgiveness from a crime • Amnesty- pardon for a group of people • Reprieve- order to delay a punishment

Chief Diplomat • Face of the Nation • Meets with foreign leaders

Commander in Chief • Top leader of all armed forces of US • Congress declares war, but President controls army • US declared war 5 times, • President sent troops over 150 times since 1789 • War Powers Act: President can only send troops for 60 days w/out Congress approval

Legislative Leader • Power to suggest laws to Congress • Veto

Head of State • Face of the Nation • Inspiring example for the American people • Awarding medals • Lighting National Christmas Tree

Economic Leader • Does NOT run the Economy, but tries to help it run smoothly

Party Leader • Gives speeches to help other members of the political party to get elected • Helps party to raise money

Making Foreign Policy

President and Foreign Policy • Implied power of President: dealing with Foreign Policy • Foreign Policy- nation’s plan for dealing with other nations

Goals of Foreign Policy (in order) • 1. National Security- ability to keep a country safe • 2. International Trade • 3. World Peace • 4. Promote Democracy

Question: (do not write) • How do we accomplish these goals?

Tools of Foreign Policy • • • Treaties Ambassadors Foreign Aid International Trade Military Force

Treaties/Executive Agreements • Treaty- formal agreements between 2 countries – NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization • Executive Agreementagreement between the president and another leader

Appointing Ambassadors • Ambassador- official representative of a country’s government • Only countries we recognize

Foreign Aid • Food, money, military assistance, whatever poor countries need • Can withhold aid if they don’t do what we want

International Trade • US biggest trading partner for most of world’s countries • Can withhold trade • Trade sanctions- punish another nation by not trading with them • Embargo- agreement among nations to not trade with one country – Iran

Military Force • Last Resort