THE U.S. PRESIDENT

Inauguration of Ronald Reagan

U.S. PRESIDENT

 One of the most powerful elective offices in world today  Serves as head of Executive Branch  ENFORCES & ADMINISTERS LAWS  Created by delegates to Constitutional Convention as a compromise

EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT  Described in Article II  President/Vice President  Federal Bureaucracy

President

 Formal Qualifications as outlined in Constitution  NATURAL BORN Citizen (someone who is a citizen by birth  At least 35 years old  Be a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years prior to the election

INFORMAL QUALIFICATIONS

Experience in Government & Politics Well-known Public Figures Political Acceptability

9 “RULES” for Presidential Hopefuls  1. Rule of Political Talent: Successful experience in government, in either appointed or elected office. (Victorious generals can ignore this rule if they choose.)  2. Rule of Governors: Nominating conventions frequently choose their candidates from among the state governors. Governors control state delegations and they normally do not take vote losing stands on controversial issues as do members of Congress

 3. Rule of big “Swing States”: Candidates from big states have a better chance, particularly if they don’t come from one party states. They can usually carry their own states and go to the national convention and sway others

 4. Rule of Multiple Interests: Conventions choose candidates who can command support from many different economic interests-----agriculture, labor, commerce and industry  5. Rule of Happy Family Life: Candidates must appear to lead ideal family lives. Showing off a photogenic spouse and wholesome looking children also helps.

 6. Rule of Character: Candidates’ personal qualities are just as important as their policies. Presidents can and do change their policies but the public believes that it is much harder for them to change their characters.

 7. Rule of British stock: Candidates with British ancestors have been preferred. Most of the Presidents have been able to trace their ancestry to the British Isles.

 8. Rule of Protestantism: Only one non Protestant has held office, despite the Constitution’s ban on religious tests for holding any office

 9. Rule of being Male: As of this date, no major party has nominated a woman for President.

Facts:

 No one under 40 has ever been elected President. Most Presidents have been in their fifties or sixties when elected  Youngest President elected - Kennedy  All Presidents have been male  All but two have been married  Only one has been divorced  2/3rds have had legal training

ROLES OF THE PRESIDENT

1. CHIEF OF STATE

 Performs ceremonial duties  Stands as symbol of U. S.

 Represents the nation to the rest of the world

2. CHIEF DIPLOMAT

Directs Foreign Policy U. S. Representative in relations with other nations Writes treaties, grants recognition to new governments

3. CHIEF EXECUTIVE

 Carries out and enforces laws of the U.S.

 Administers Government programs  Supervises government employees  Names top-ranking officers  Grants reprieves, pardons and amnesty

4. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

 Heads all armed forces  Determines military strategy

5. CHIEF POLITICIAN

 Heads political party  Executes party’s platform  Provides “coattail advantage”

6. CHIEF LEGISLATOR

 Informs Congress about the condition of the country  Proposes Legislation  Reports to congress  Urges passage of needed bills

COMPENSATION:

 $400,000 PER YEAR SALARY *FIXED BY CONGRESS BUT CANNOT BE INCREASED NOR DECREASED DURING A TERM  LIVE IN WHITE HOUSE (132 ROOMS) WITH STAFF  $50,000 EXPENSE ACCOUNT (TAXABLE)

 SUITE OF OFFICES WITH STAFF  YACHT  FLEET OF AUTOMOBILES  AIR FORCE ONE  CAMP DAVID – RESORT HIDEAWAY  FINEST MEDICAL , DENTAL AND HEALTH CARE

 PROTECTION FROM SECRET SERVICE  LIFETIME PENSION OF $143,800 PER YEAR  PRESIDENTIAL WIDOW RECEIVES PENSION OF $20,000 PER YEAR  TRAVEL AND ENTERTAINMENT FUNDS

 TOTAL COST TO RUN VAST OPERATIONS OF WHITEHOUSE INCLUDING SALARIES OF ADMINISTRATIVE, DOMESTIC AND SECURITY STAFF AND EXPENSES FOR SUPPLIES



38.9 MILLION DOLLARS



PLUS



$9.5 MILLION TO MAINTAIN WHITE HOUSE

VICE PRESIDENT

 DUTIES: PRESIDE OVER SENATE – ONLY DUTY SPECIFIED IN CONSTITUTION  HELP DECIDE IF PRES. IS DISABLED AND ASSUME OFFICE OF PRESIDENT IF NECESSARY

 CHOSEN TO HELP PRESIDENT WIN THE ELECTION – “BALANCE THE TICKET”  ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE PRESIDENT SEES FIT  ONLY EXECUTIVE OFFICE THAT CANNOT BE FIRED BY THE PRESIDENT

QUALIFICATIONS FOR V. P.

 SAME AS PRESIDENT  SALARY: $192,600  OTHER COMPENSATION:  $10,000 EXPENSE ACCOUNT  LIVE IN HOUSE AT NAVAL OBSERVATORY  ACCESS TO AIR FORCE TWO  LIMOSINE SERVICE  SECRET SERVICE PROTECTION

PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION & VICE PRESIDENCY  25 TH AMENDMENT  PROVIDES FOR SUCCESSION   VICE PRESIDENT SPEAKER OF HOUSE  PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF SENATE  SECRETARY OF STATE  EACH OF THE OTHER HEADS OF THE CABINET DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT  COMPLEX OF SEVERAL SEPARATE AGENCIES STAFFED BY THE PRESIDENT’S MOST TRUSTED ADVISERS AND ASSISTANTS

WHITE HOUSE OFFICE

 KEY PERSONAL AND POLITICAL STAFF  CHIEF OF STAFF  PRESS SECRETARY  ASSISTANTS  CHIEF OF STAFF TO FIRST LADY  PRESS SECRETARY FOR FIRST LADY  OVER 400 PEOPLE WORK IN WHO

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL  ADVISE IN ALL DOMESTIC, FOREIGN AND MILITARY MATTERS  V. PRESIDENT  SECRETARY OF STATE  SECRETARY OF DEFENSE  DIRECTOR OF CIA

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET  PREPARE FEDERAL BUDGET

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY  ADVISORY OFFICE AND PLANNING AGENCY ON DRUG PROBLEM IN U.S.

COUN CIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS  INFORM AND ADVISE PRESIDENT ON NATION’S ECONOMY