6. 6
Qualifications
Article II of the Constitution
ā Formal
ā natural born citizen
ā at least 35 years of age
ā resident of the US 14 years prior to
the election
8. 8
Term and Tenure
ā Single Executive, indirectly elected
through an electoral college for a 4
year term.
ā 1951 - 22nd Amendment
ā Limits president to two elected
terms
9. 9
Succession and Disability
ā The Constitution provides that if the
president can no longer serve in office,
the vice president will carry out the
duties and powers of the office
ā 25th Amendment - states that the vice
president becomes president if the
office becomes vacant or unable to
perform duties, and provides for the
nomination of a new vice president
10. 10
Impeachment and Removal
ā The Constitution allows for the
removal of the president through the
impeachment process
ā The House of Representatives brings
charges of wrongdoing
ā The Senate sits in judgment, the
chief justice of the Supreme Court
presides
ā Conviction requires a 2/3 vote of the
Senate
11. 11
The Road to the White House
ā Succession
ā Election
ā Constitution and 12th Amendment
give an electoral college the power
to elect the president
ā Electoral College - HOR + Senators
+ DC
ā Need 270 or HOR chooses
13. 13
The Vice Presidency
ā Choice influenced by desire to
balance the ticket
ā Constitutionally
ā preside over Senate, cast tie-
breaking vote
ā help determine presidential
disability under the 25th
Amendment
ā terms not limited
15. 15
Executive Powers
ā Enforce laws, treaties, court
decisions
ā issue executive orders to carry out
policies
ā appoints / removes officials
ā assumes emergency powers
ā presides over the cabinet and
executive branch
16. 16
Legislative Powers
ā Gives annual State of the Union
ā Issues annual budget and economic
report
ā Signs or vetoes bills
ā Proposes legislation and uses
influence to get it passed
ā Calls for special sessions of Congress
17. 17
Diplomatic Powers
ā Appoints ambassadors and other
diplomats
ā Negotiates treaties and executive
agreements
ā Meets with foreign leaders at
international conferences
ā Accords diplomatic recognition to
foreign governments
ā Receives foreign dignitaries
18. 18
Military Powers
ā Serves as commander-in-chief of the
armed forces
ā Has final decision-making authority
in matters of national and foreign
defense
ā Provides for domestic order
20. 20
Party Powers
ā Recognized leader of the party
ā Chooses Vice-Presidential nominee
ā Strengthens the party by helping
members get elected (coattails)
ā Appoints party members to
government positions (patronage)
ā Influences policies and platform of
the party
22. 22
Limitations
ā Congressional Checks
ā override vetoes (2/3)
ā power of the purse (appropriations)
ā impeachment
ā appointment approval
ā legislation to limit (War Powers Act -
limit presidentās ability to use military
force)
ā legislative veto (unconstitutional
1983)
23. 23
Limitations
ā Judicial - Judicial Review
ā Political Checks
ā public opinion
ā media attention
ā popularity
24. 24
The Bureaucracy
ā A systematic way of organizing a
complex and large administrative
structure
ā hierarchical - like pyramid, those at
top have authority over those below
ā job specialization - defined duties and
responsibilities, division of labor
ā formal rules - established regulations
and procedures
25. 25
History and Growth
ā spoils system - giving offices and
government favors to political
supporters and friends
ā reform movement - competitive
exams were tried but failed due to
inadequate funding from Congress
ā Pendleton Act - Civil Service Act of
1883, replaces spoils system with
merit system
26. 26
History and Growth
ā Hatch Act of 1939, amended 1993 -
prohibits government employees
from engaging political activities
while on duty, running for office or
seeking political funding while off
duty
ā Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 -
created the Office of Personnel
Management to recruit, train, classify
federal employees
27. 27
Organization
ā Cabinet Departments - 15 executive
departments created to advice the
president and operate specific policy
ā Independent Executive Agencies - similar
to departments but without cabinet status
ā Independent Regulatory Agencies -
independent from executive, to regulate
or police
ā Government Corporations - business
activities, charge for services
29. 29
Influences
ā Executive - appointing the right
people, issuing executive orders,
affecting the agencyās budget
ā Congressional - hearings,
legislations, approve appointments,
affect budget
30. 30
Influences
ā Iron Triangle - alliance between
bureaucratic agencies, interest
groups, and congressional
committees
ā Issue Networks - interest groups,
Congressional staff, think tanks,
universities, media that discuss and
advocate public policy
31. 31
Executive Office of the
President
ā Established 1939
ā Includes closest advisors to the
president
ā White House Office
ā National Security Council
ā Office of Management and Budget
ā Office of the Vice-President