president: the executive branch
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PRESIDENT: The Executive Branch. LESSON 9. Who can be the President of the United States?. Selecting a Candidate Requirements 35 years of age Native-born citizen of United States Resident for at least 14 years. How do we nominate candidates?. Traditional Nominating Procedure - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
THE PRESIDENCY:The Executive Branch
LESSON 9
Who can be the President of the United States?I. Selecting a
CandidateA. Requirement
s 35 years of
age Native-born
citizen of United States
Resident for at least 14 years
How do we nominate candidates?II. Traditional
Nominating Procedure
A. Caucus System1. “KING CAUCUS”:
Small group of party leaders selected candidates
2. Used until 1828B. Nominating
Convention1. Used since 18282. Large groups of
party members 3. More democratic
How do we nominate candidates?
III.Nominating Procedures Today
A. State Conventions• Not used due to
cost and time concerns
• Worry that state party “bosses” would have considerable control over selecting nominees
How do we nominate candidates?
B. Presidential Primaries & Caucuses• All states now use
this procedure• Delegates chosen
by primaries• Most democratic,
but… Low voter turnout Expensive to run
How do we nominate candidates? C. National
Conventions• Held summer
before the election• “Political circus”• Purposes
Unite the party Introduce the party
platform Nominate
presidential and vice presidential candidates
How do candidates get their message out to the people?IV. The Election
CampaignA. The candidate
must appeal to the voters “go to the people”
Travel, dinners, speeches, TV, etc.
Campaigns cost millions of dollars
B. Campaign finance laws
1972: People’s donations must be made public
1974: Government will provide matching funds
Why doesn’t the popular vote end the election?V. Electoral College System
A. Electoral votes =
B. People vote for “electors for…”
HOUSE 435SENATE 100WASH, DC 3TOTAL 538NEEDED TO WIN 270
Why doesn’t the popular vote end the election?
C. The winning candidate is the one that receives the majority (plurality) of the popular votes in a state; the winner of the state receives all of the state’s electoral votes.
D. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win a Presidential election.
HOUSE 435SENATE 100WASH, DC 3TOTAL 538NEEDED TO WIN 270
“WINNER-TAKE-ALL” SYSTEM
How does the Electoral College affect Presidential elections?
VI. Effects of the Electoral College System
A. Distorts the popular vote
1980: Reagan v. Carter
2000: Bush v. GoreB. Candidate could lose
small states overwhelmingly in popular vote, but carry large states by small margins
1888: Cleveland v. Harrison
2000: Bush v. Gore
How does the Electoral College affect Presidential elections?
C. Discourages minor parties only Democrats and Republicans have legitimate chance to win
D. Affects the way candidates campaign focus on large states with many electoral votes and ignore small states
When does the President-elect actually start their new job? VII.Presidential Inauguration
January 20th (following Election Day) formerly March 4th when travel was harder…
How long does the President serve?VIII.Presidential
Term of OfficeA. PRECEDENT: Two-
term tradition until 1940
B. 1940: Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) broke the two-term precedent elected 4 times, but only served 3 full terms!
C. 1951: 22nd Amendment passed after FDR’s death limits President to 2 full terms or 10 years total
GEORGE WASHINGTON: He refused to run for a third term in 1796…
Who set the precedent?
If something happens to the President, then…IX. Presidential
SuccessionA. Original
Constitution: Vice President assumes the powers of the President for any reason (death, removal, resignation, etc.)
B. Presidential Succession Act (1947)
1. Vice President2. Speaker of the House3. President Pro Tempore
(Senate)4. Cabinet Members
(starts with Secretary of State)
If something happens to the President, then…
C. 25th Amendment (1967) Presidential Disabilities and Succession Act1.Vice Presidency
vacant? President nominates new VP to be approved by majority of Congress (both houses)
2.President disabled? Vice President shall serve as President
What’s the need for the President’s “right-hand man”?X. The Vice
PresidencyA. Requirements:
Same as Presidency (35/native/14)
B. Powers1. Presides over the
Senate2. Votes on Senate
deadlocks (50-50 ties)
3. Takes over for President under following conditions Resignation Removal Death
What has limited the President from becoming a tyrant?XII.Limitations on the Powers of
the President• Senate must approve all presidential
appointments• Congress can override a presidential veto• Supreme Court can challenge executive
orders• Senate has to approve all federal judges• President can not declare war• President can not recruit an army• House of Representatives can impeach a
President
Who helps the President?
XIII.Presidential Advisors and Assistants
A. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS: The President’s Cabinet has grown from 3 positions to 15 today
Who helps the President?
B. PRESIDENT’S CABINET: George Washington began practice of having department heads and advisors meet with President developed through precedent• THOMAS JEFFERSON:
Secretary of State• ALEXANDER HAMILTON:
Secretary of Treasury• HENRY KNOX:
Secretary of War• EDMUND RANDOLPH:
Attorney General
How has the President expanded his power throughout history?XIV.The Unwritten Constitution
UNWRITTEN CONSTITUTION: Concepts not specifically written in the Constitution, but developed through precedent and time
A. The President’s “elastic clause”: Events and laws that result from Presidential action (ex: Louisiana Purchase)
B. CabinetC. Political parties