2. Presidential Elections
• Every 4 years
– Election Day: The 1st Tuesday after
the 1st Monday in November.
• Winner-Take-All System
– The Electoral College: 538 members
• Each state’s representation is based upon
membership in the Congress.
• Possible to win popular vote but not
Electoral College
– 1824, 1876, 1888, and 2000
3. Inauguration
• January 20th
– Oath of Office
• “I do solemnly swear, that I will
faithfully execute the office of the
President of the United States,
and will, to the best of my ability,
preserve, protect, and defend the
Constitution of the United
States.”
– Inaugural Address
– March from the Capitol
Building to White House
4. Qualifications
• Constitutional
– Natural Born Citizen
– 35 years old
– 14 year resident of U.S.
• Realistic
– Government Experience
– Money
– Political Beliefs
– Personality
– Speaking Ability
5. Term and Salary
• 22nd Amendment – passed in
1953
– 2 full terms of 4 years
– 10 years
• Salary
– $400,000 a year ($198,000 for
VP)
– $50,000 for expenses
connected with duties
6. Benefits
• $100,000 for Travel
Expenses
• Secret Service
• Air Force One, Limo,
Helicopters, ETC.
• Free medical, dental, and
surgical care
• Cleaning and Cooking Staff
• Entertainment Expense
Account
• Pension: $150,000 a year
8. The White House
• 132 rooms
• Pool
• bowling alley
• tennis court
• movie theatre
• Billiard Room
• Jogging Track
• Putting Green
9. Powers of the President
1. Mandate
• Power coming into office after
election
• The Will of the People (how
big did you win?)
2. Constitutional
• Commander of the nation’s
military and security
• Power of nomination
• Foreign Policy Direction
10. Powers of the President
3. Crisis Power
– What do you do when things go
bad?
• FDR: The Great Depression
• Bush: 9/11
• Jefferson: The Louisiana Purchase
• Lincoln: The Civil War
4. Mass Media Power
– Press Conferences
– State of the Union
– Inaugural Address
11. Limits to Presidential Power
• Congressional
– Congressional Override on Veto
– War Powers Act of 1973
• Limit of 60 days for troop
deployment without permission
of Congress
– Power of the Purse,
Impeachment, and Confirmation
Power
• Court
– Judicial Review of Legislation
and Power
12. Roles of the Presidency
1. Head of State
• Ceremonial Leader – Host
other leaders
2. Chief Legislator
• Presidential Plan for Better
America
• State of the Union
3. Chief Politician
• Leader of Political Party
13. Roles of the Presidency
1. Chief Diplomat
• Treaties with foreign governments pending
Congressional approval
• Executive Agreements
• Recognition of foreign governments (Cuba)
2. Commander in Chief
• Armed Forces commander
• President cannot declare war, only suggest it.
• Nuclear Power
• Protect from All Enemies – both foreign and
domestic
14. Roles of the Presidency
1. Chief Executive
• Executive Orders: have the rule of law
• Appointment Power: nomination to
positions
• Removal Power
• Impoundment: stop Congressional
funding
• Reprieves: postponement of legal
punishment
• Pardons: release from legal punishment
• Amnesty: group pardons (Vietnam draft
dodgers)
15. Role of Vice President
• Presides over the Senate
• Takes over the Presidency in
case of death or disability
• New Roles:
– Diplomatic Relations
– Support of Presidential Platform
– National Security Council member
Joe Biden
16. The Cabinet
• 15 Secretaries, VP and
other advisors
• How do you get in?
1. Must have expertise in the
area of policy
2. Usually different
demographically
– Geographic, Race, Gender,
Religion, etc.
3. Administrative Experience
4. Must be confirmed by
Congress
17. Support Staff
• Executive Office of the
President (EOP)
– People that directly assist in
the White House.
• White House Staff
– Press Secretary, Chief of
Staff
• Office of Management and
Budget (OMB)
– Largest Agency in the EOP
– Helps write, organize, and
manage the budget.
18. Support Staff
• National Security Council (NSC)
– Helps to Coordinate military and
foreign policy
– Joint Chiefs of Staff, VP,
Secretary of State + Defense
• Council of Economic Advisors
– Helps to organize economic
policies and answer the long-
range questions.
19. Why it is tough to be President
• Qualities necessary
1. New ideas must be bold and solve problems
2. Understanding the Public
3. Ability to Communicate
4. Sense of Timing
5. Openness to new ideas
6. Flexibility
7. Compromise with Congress
8. Courage to stand alone
9. Avoiding Isolation
