Key Dates:

Mon 11/30: The Presidency HW: Powers of Pres.Weds 12/2: The Electoral College

Fri 12/4: Ch 13 & 14 Test The Judicial Branch HW: Guided Reading Questions Ch 19 Civil Liberties Video Assignment Study for Constitution Test on Tues.

Key Dates:

Tues 12/8 – Constitution Test -Ch 19: 1st Amendment -Work on Video projectHW: Ch 19/20 Guided Reading questions -Video project assignment

Thurs 12/10: Make videos (Room 404) -Ch 19/20 GR questions due

Mon 12/14 – Quiz Ch 19 & 20 -2nd -8th Am & Videos

HW: Semester Exam Study guide due Thurs.

Turkey Pardon Tradition

1. TOTUS ?

2. Which turkey was pardoned?

3. What role does the losing turkey play?

4. Can Turkeys fly?

Does the President have the Constitutional power to pardon a turkey?

What is President Obama referring to re: question 3?

Did the Bears beat the Packers this past weekend?

THE PRESIDENCY

Chapter 13 & 14

Requirements of the Office

Set up by the Constitution Article II

Same requirements apply to the Vice President

Constitutional Requirements

Presidential Qualification #1 Constitution says

in Article 2, Section 1, “No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution…”

You must be a natural born citizen

What does “natural born” mean?

Do you think that we shouldn’t have any foreign born presidents?

Eight presidents were born British subjects, so how did they become president?

Presidential Qualification #2 Constitution says

in Article 2, Section 1, “…neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years…”

You must be at least 35 years old Why did the

Framers put this qualification in the Constitution?

Who was the youngest President?

Who was the oldest President?

Youngest/ Oldest Presidents

JFK- 43 (Elected) Ronald Reagan – 69 (elected)

Teddy Roosevelt- 42 (Inaugurated)

Presidential Qualification #3 Constitution

says in Article 2, Section 1, “…and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.”

You must live in the U.S. for 14 years Why would the

Framers put this qualification in the Constitution?

Informal (Unwritten) Requirements

Presidential Term

*Constitution= Term of 4 years

*George Washington established the tradition of only serving two terms.

•22nd Amendment (1951) limits the President to having a maximum of two 4-year terms or a maximum of 10 years.

•20th Am= Takes office on Jan 20th.

Presidential Salary

Constitution leaves salary to Congress to decide May NOT adjust pay

during a President’s term

Money is NOT the reason why individuals seek the job.

$400,000/yearCurrent Salary

Presidential “Perks”

Presidents enjoy many benefits while in office.

Official Expense Account ($50k) Travel Account ($100k) Lux Transportation

Air Force One, Limos, Helicopters Entertainment Account ($19k) Free Medical, Dental, & Health Care Secret Service Protection Free Rent

White House Lifelong Pension (Spouses Too) Free Office Space & Mail Services in

Retirement

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

“The People’s House”

The White House

Inside the White House

132 Rooms Swimming Pool Bowling Alley Private Movie

Theater Tennis & Basketball

Courts West Wing Private Living

Quarters

Domestic Staff Chefs Maids Assistants Personal

Shoppers Concierge

The Framers’ Vision

Weren’t clear on role of President when drafting the Constitution

Established broad powers Balanced by

Congress & the Courts

Had 1 man in mind for job…

George Washington’s Legacy

Set many precedents

Wanted to be called “Mr. President” Opposed “His

Excellency” & “His Mightiness”

Started tradition of serving 2 terms

George Washington’s Legacy

Only President to be elected unanimously by the Electoral College TWICE!

Set the precedent of assembling a Cabinet of Advisors Selected best minds

of the day

The President’s Right Hand Man

The Vice Presidency

Constitutional Role of the V.P.

Presidential Disability

Many Presidents have become “disabled” during their terms Highly stressful job

25th Amendment sets forth rules… V.P. assumes duties

if Congress is informed President is unable to perform duties

Shot in 1881, lingered between life & death for 80 days—no one assumed Presidential duties

James Garfield

Suffered a stroke in 1919—Mrs. Wilson performed his duties

Woodrow Wilson

Had a heart attack in 1955, was only able to perform limited duties for 20 weeks—Assistants & V.P. took care of his responsibilities

Dwight Eisenhower

The Vice President’s Role

Constitution only gives the Vice President 2 duties

The remaining responsibilities (if any) are granted by the President

Evolution of the Vice Presidency Since Eisenhower’s

term, responsibilities have increased V.P.s were largely

ignored before 1953

V.P.s are usually experienced politicians Presidents today

utilize their expertise

Modern Role of the V.P.

Represent President overseas

Attend state funerals Carry out ceremonial

functions Diplomatic role Visit Heads of State Serve as important

Advisor to the President

Presidential Succession

Set up by the Succession Act of 1947

Added to the Constitution by the 25th Amendment (1967) Set up order to

assume Presidency

8 Presidents have died in office

Those Who Died in Office…

Presidential Succession

Roles of the President

The President’s Job Description

Formal & Informal

Informal-

•*Leader of the free world

•*Chief of State

•*Election mandates

•*Head of party

Formal= Constitutional Powers1. Commander in Chief

2. Grant pardons & Reprieves

3. Make treaties

4. Appointment

5. Recommend / veto legislation

6. Special sessions of Congress or adjournment

7. Receive Ambassadors

8. Ensure that the “laws be faithfully executed”

Chief/Head of State

Represent nation to the world

Symbol of the people of the USA

Perform ceremonial duties

Xfederalism-Governors represent “state”

Chief Executive

Enforces federal laws, treaties, court decisions.

“…laws be faithfully executed”

Tools… Executive Order Executive

Agreements Appoint/Remove

Officials

X= Congress approves appts. -X=Treaties can override Ex Agreements. X=Congress funds laws/ programs.

Chief Administrator

Oversees a huge bureaucracies in the world.

Employs 2.7 Million civilians & spends over 3 trillion $

Ex: State Dept. Dept. of

Defensealso Independent Agencies: IRS,

FEC, NASA*Senate Approves

appointments & budgets.

Chief Diplomat

Makes key decisions about U.S. foreign relations.

Has access to top secret intelligence FBI, CIA, State Dept.

Appoints ambassadors

Power to make treaties & executive agreements

Recognizes foreign govts.

X= Senate approves appointments.X- Senate ratifies treaties

Commander in Chief

Head of armed forces (Civilian authority) Backs up foreign policy

with military force

Power to make warX=War Powers ResolutionCongress declares war

Responsible for key military decisions & strategies

Chief Legislator

Outlines legislative proposals.

First 100 Days= Honeymoon period – “Mandate”

2nd yr= mid-term elections

2nd term= lame duck State of the Union

Address

Suggest annual reports & shape public policies

Can call Congress into special sessions

*Veto Power

X -2/3 Congress overrides vetoX- Congress does not have to pass President’s proposals.X- Congress can limit law through funding.

Chief of Party

Expected to be leader of their political party

Political patronage22nd Am= Only President for two terms.

Party structure is de-centralized(county- state – national levels)

Chief Jurist

Grants pardons, reprieves, commutations.

Appoints all Federal Judges

X= Senate approves all judicial appointments

Chief Economist

Role has grown rapidly since F.D.R.’s “New Deal”

Prepares federal budget each year

Congress must allocate $$$

President canImpound the funds!

(Impoundment = refuse to issue ex order to spend the funds)

The Path to the Presidency (p. 382)

1. Announce Candidacy-”test the waters” 2. Raise A LOT of $$$$$$$$ 3. Win party primary elections or Caucuses in each state. (to secure the party nomination) 4. Formal nomination at Party Convention. 5. General election= win electors!

6. Win 270 votes in the Electoral College

How do we elect the President?The Electoral College Nov: Each state chooses electors. # of electors = # of H/Rep + 2 Senate= min of 3 (23rd Am- gave Washington D.C. 3 electors) Dec: Electors cast 1 vote for Pres & 1 vote for VP (12Th Am.- separated the votes.) Jan 6th : Electoral votes are counted.

Winner= first candidate to win a majority of votes. If no candidate wins the majority – - House of Rep ----President (Each state= I vote) - Senate -------------VP Jan 20th – President is inaugurated.

Step 1: Choosing Electors

The General ElectionWhen? =First Tuesday, following the first

Monday in November……..How? Each State holds a popular election to

choose electors. How many electors per state? = # House of Rep. + 2 Senate = Min. of 3 Total # of electors= 538

(435 House + 100 Senate + 3 D.C. ( 23rd Am)

How are electors chosen?

48 states & D.C. = “winner take all” system

1. Each party has a “slate of electors”2. Winner of the plurality of the vote wins

100% of the electoral votes. Their slate of electors are chosen! **************

Nebraska & Maine= elector chosen by

districts. (1 elector per district)

Step 2: Electors cast their votes.

Step 2 Electors meet in the State capitals on “the first Monday following the

second Weds in December.”

Certificates from each elector are sent to Washington, DC

Step 3: When are the electoral votes officially counted? January 6th

Electoral votes are formally counted in a joint session of congress.

The VP conducts the session. If no candidate wins the majority of

electoral votes (270) = H/Rep – chooses the president Senate – chooses the VP

Does your vote count?http://ed.ted.com/lessons/does-your-vote-count-the-electoral-college-explained-christina-greer#digdeeper

1. Art I Sec 1 Clause 2 :2. Why 538?3. Census:4. 270:5. 39 v 11:6. Small States :7. Safe states8. Swing states

Problems……

3Defects of the

electoral college system

The Electoral College

1. Winner of popular vote can loose the electoral vote.

2. “faithless elector”

3. Election decided by the House of Representatives.

1. District Plan2. Proportional Plan3. Direct popular

election4. National popular

vote plan

Flaws Proposed Reforms

Proposals for change

1.Which defect would it fix?2. Who would oppose it? large states? Or small states? 3. Would it require a constitutional amendment to go into effect? If so, who would oppose it?4. Any other concerns or objections to this idea/

#1-Winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed the presidency. “Winner take all” is designed to give 1

candidate a clear win. Each electoral vote does not represent the

same total of popular votes. (1 vote Ca= 615,848 1 vote Wyoming=

164,594) Popular vote winner has lost electoral

college vote 4 times (1824,1876,1888, 2000)

Gives a distorted view of the outcome. (15 elected without a majority of the

popular vote)

#2- Electors are not required to vote in accord with the popular vote. There is no legal requirement for

electors to live up to their pledge.

“faithless elector” has occurred 9 times.

(Most recently in 2000)

#3- Any election might have to be decided in the House of Representatives Has only happened twice- 1800 & 1824 Concern today - Rise of 3rd party candidates increases the

possibility that 1 candidate will not receive a majority of the electoral college vote.

Problems with election in the House?1. Each State has only 1 vote. States with small population will have

as much influence as States with large population.

2. If a majority of representatives from a State cannot agree on who to vote for, the state looses their vote.

3. To win a candidate would have to receive 26 votes- a majority of the States. A strong 3rd party candidate would prevent a majority winner. Presidency may not be decided by inauguration day .

(Electoral college votes are counted on Jan 6th- Inauguration is Jan 20th)

Proposed Reforms #1 & #2

1. District Plan= would eliminate “winner take all”, but not the possibility that the loser of the popular vote could still win the electoral vote.

2.Proportional Plan= would eliminate faithless electors and “winner take all”, and strengthen role of 3rd parties but would increase chance that no candidate would win a majority of electoral votes.

Proposed Reforms #3

2. Direct Popular Election-Would require a Constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College in favor of direct popular vote.

Opposed by/ concern= - Small States, Federalists/ States rights

advocates- cost of campaign to have to campaign

in every State, could lead to voter fraud and lengthy challenges.

3. National Popular Vote Plan-Each State would cast 100% of electoral votes for winner of the national popular vote.*Guarantees the popular vote winner wins the presidency. *direct popular election of the President without a constitutional amendment. (States would enter into an interstate compact)

Proposed Reforms #4

National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

10 states + D.C. have agreed to cast 100% of their electoral votes

for the winner of the national popular vote.

136 electoral votes

Will go into effect once the total # of states in the compact represent

at least 270 electoral votes.

Advantages of Electoral College System

1. It is a known process. A new process could have unknown defects that would surface once adopted.

2. It identifies the winner of the presidential election quickly and certainly.

3. It promotes the two-party system. (Stability / organization of govt.)

Ch 13 The Electoral College

•5. Do you think the Electoral College system should be abolished? Why or why not?

1.Why was the 12th Amendment necessary? How did it change the Electoral College?

2. The Electoral College is a “winner take all” system. What does that mean?

3. Explain 3 weaknesses of the Electoral College system.

4. List and explain three solutions to the Electoral College System.

Short Answer Question #1

The Electoral College

Discuss the major defects of the electoral college system.Which proposed solution to the Electoral College system do you think is best?Why? Who would support it? Who would oppose it? What do you think is the best advantage of the electoral system?

Short Answer question #2

The powers & roles of the President.

1.What makes a great President?

Discuss the presidential powers and roles and the qualities a great president needs in order to fulfill all of the various roles and the powers that go with each.

Ch 14 Discussion Questions

1. What is the difference between the view of presidential power held by Pres. Teddy Roosevelt and the view held by Willam H. Taft?2. How does the President’s ordinance power influence the meaning of a law?3. What is the “practical effect” of senatorial courtesy?4. What is the check on the President’s power of appointment?

Ch 14 discussion questions

5. Why did the Framers choose the Senate to be the body responsible for giving “advice and consent” to any treaty made by the President?6. Why is the President’s power of recognition so powerful?7. How does Congress check the President’s power as Commander-in-chief?8. What is the benefit of giving the President line-item veto power? What is the potential problem with it?9. What powers of the President serve as a check on the judicial branch?