Transcript The President and Vice President

The President and Vice
President
American Government
Qualifications
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According to Article II Section 1 of the Constitution, the formal requirements
to become president are
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You must be a natural-born citizen of the U.S.
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You must be at least 35 years old
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You must have been a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years before taking office

These same requirements apply to the Vice President.
Informal Requirements
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Here are some of the informal requirements to become president
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Previous governmental experience
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Previous Senator, Representative, Governor etc.
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Access to large amounts of money
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A more moderate political disposition
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Mostly middle class, protestant
Salary and Benefits

Salary: $400,000

Travel Allowance: $100,000 (for official duties only)

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Salary can not be changed during a presidents term.
Benefits

Air Force One, other planes, helicopters, and limos for transportation
Salary and Benefits

Benefits:

The president receives free health care
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Lives in the White House
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Has a cooking staff and domestic staff
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Receives $148,000 a year for retirement
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Is given free office space
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Free mailing services
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Up to $96,000 a year for office help
Roles of the President

The president is the Commander in Chief of the military
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This means that the president is in supreme command of a country’s armed forces

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The president is in charge of war and peacetime strategies of the armed forces
Another one of the main roles of the president, is as the country’s Chief of
State

This means the president represents the nation and performs many ceremonial
roles

I.E. visiting kings and queens, and other heads of government
Roles of the President


The president is also the nation’s Chief Executive

The president is responsible for executing the laws that are passed by Congress

The president may go as far as even using the military in order to enforce laws
passed by Congress and rulings handed down by the Supreme Court
Presidents are also considered to be the Chief of Party

As a party leader, presidents are involved in a system called patronage

Patronage is the power to appoint those who supported the president during the
election to political office

This can also be known as the spoils system or is termed as riding the presidential
coattails
Roles of the President
Roles of the President

As Chief Administrator, the president runs and directs the 2-7 million government
officials that work within the executive departments of the bureaucracy

This includes the 15 secretary departments, organizations such as the FBI and CIA, along
with various other governmental agencies

The presidents role as Chief Citizen means that the president represents all people
within the country

As Chief Diplomat, the president is responsible for setting foreign policy

It is in this role where the president:

Appoints ambassadors
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Directs the Department of State
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Dictates how we will deal with foreign countries
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Makes Executive Agreements with foreign heads of state
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Recognizes foreign countries
Roles of the President
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The president is the Chief Legislator

The President plays the role of trying to influence the laws that will be passed by
Congress

The president can also use the bully pulpit to suggest, request, insist or demand
legislation

The president also lobbies and campaigns for certain bills to be passed

The president also officially signs laws into affect

When the president signs these laws in affect, he also releases a signing statement, or an
official recognition of the bill be signed into law
Presidential Succession

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Presidential succession was established by the 25th
amendment.
President

Vice President
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Speaker of the House
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President pro tempore
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Secretary of State
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Secretary of Treasury
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Secretary of Defense
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Attorney General
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Secretary of the Interior
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Secretary of Agriculture
Vice President

The Vice President is the president of the Senate.
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Vice Presidents have very little if no authority at all.
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Other than Senate duties, vice presidents are only involved as much as the resident
wants them to be involved.