AP Gov Presidency

• Great Expectations


  Americans want a president who is powerful and who can do good, but at the same time, they don't want the president to get too powerful since they are individualistic and skeptical of authority
• Formal requirements to be President

  • Must be 35 years old
  • Must be a natural-born citizen
  • Must have resided in U.S. for 14 years
• Informal "requirements" to be President

  • White
  • Male
  • Protestant
• All manner of professions, but mostly political ones (former state governors, for example)
• President's pay


  First set at $25,000 a year, currently $400,000 a year
• President's expense allowance


  Currently $50,000 a year
• Benefits of being President

  • Live in the 132-room mansion called the White House
  • Large suite of offices
  • Staff
  • Use of Air Force One
  • Many other fringe benefits
• Congress determines the President's salary, and this salary cannot be changed during a presidential term
• Elections


  The normal road to the White House, with a term of four years
• In 1951, the 22nd Amendment limited the number of terms to two
• Most Presidents have been elected to office
• Succession and Impeachment


  • Vice-President succeeds if the president leaves office due to death, resignation, or removal
  • Impeachment is investigated by the House, and if impeached, tried by the Senate with the Chief Justice presiding
  • Only 3 presidents have been impeached: A. Johnson, Clinton, & Trump - none were convicted
  • The 25th Amendment clarifies what happens if the president becomes disabled
• Presidential succession


  The plan by which a presidential vacancy is filled

  
• The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, made it clear that the Vice President will become President if the President is removed from office
• The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 set the order of succession following the Vice President

  
• The Expansion of Power

  • Presidents may develop new roles for the office
  • Presidents may expand the power of the office
• Perspectives on Presidential Power

  • Through the 50's & 60's a powerful President was perceived as good
  • From the 70's on, presidential power was checked and distrusted by the public
• The Vice President


  • Basically just "waits" for things to do
  • Recent presidents have given their VPs important jobs
• The Cabinet


  • Presidential advisors, not in Constitution
  • Made up of the top executives of the Federal Departments, confirmed by the Senate
• The Executive Office


  • Made up of several policymaking and advisory bodies
  • Three principle groups: NSC, CEA, OMB
• The White House Staff


  • Chief aides and staff for the president - some are more for the White House than the president
  • Presidents rely on their information and effort
• The First Lady


  • No official government position, but many get involved politically
  • Recent ones focus on a single issue
• The President's Roles


  • Head of State
  • Chief Executive
  • Chief Administrator
  • Chief Diplomat
• More Roles of the President

  • Commander in Chief
  • Chief Legislator
  • Chief of Party
  • Chief Citizen
• Veto


  Sending a bill back to Congress with his reasons for rejecting it. Can be overridden.
• Pocket Veto


  Letting a bill die by not signing it - only works when Congress is adjourned.
• Line Item Veto: The ability to veto parts of a bill. Some state governors have it, but not the president.
• Vetoes are most used to prevent legislation.
• The Bonds of Party


  The psychological bond of being in the president's party
• Slippage in Party Support

  Presidents cannot always count on party support, especially on controversial issues
• Leading the Party


  • Presidents can offer party candidates support and punishment by withholding favors
  • Presidential coattails occur when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the president's party because they support the president
• Public Approval


  • Operates mostly in the background
  • Public approval gives the president leverage, not command
• Mandates


  • Perception that the voters strongly support the president's character and policies
  • Mandates are infrequent, but presidents may claim a mandate anyway
• Legislative Skills


  • Variety of forms: bargaining, making personal appeals, consulting with Congress, setting priorities, etc.
  • Most important is bargaining with Congress
  • Presidents can use their "honeymoon" period to their advantage
  • Nation's key agenda builder
• Chief Diplomat


  • Negotiates treaties with other countries
  • Treaties must be approved by the Senate
  • Use executive agreements to take care of routine matters with other countries
  • May negotiate for peace between other countries
  • Lead U.S. allies in defense & economic issues
• Commander in Chief


  • Writers of the constitution wanted civilian control of the military
  • Presidents often make important military decisions
  • Presidents command a standing military and nuclear arsenal - unthinkable 200 years ago
• War Powers


  • Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, but presidents can commit troops and equipment in conflicts
  • War Powers Resolution was intended to limit the president's use of the military - but may be unconstitutional
  • Presidents continue to test the limits of using the military in foreign conflicts
• Crisis Manager


  • A crisis is a sudden, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous event
  • The role the president plays can help or hurt the presidential image
  • With current technology, the president can act much faster than Congress to resolve a crisis
• Working with Congress


  • President has lead role in foreign affairs
  • Presidents still have to work with Congress for support and funding of foreign policies
• Going Public


  • Public support is perhaps the greatest source of influence a president has
  • Presidential appearances are staged to get the public's attention
  • As head of state, presidents often perform many ceremonial functions, which usually result in favorable press coverage