The President’s Job Description

Chapter 13Section 1

Key Terms

• Chief of State• Chief Executive• Chief Administrator• Chief Diplomat

• Commander In Chief• Chief Legislator• Chief of Party• Chief citizen

Presidential Roles

• Chief of State- ceremonial head of the government

• He or she is the symbol of the country

• “The personal embodiment and representative of their dignity and majesty”

• Some countries the chief of state does not rule– Queens of England,

Denmark and the Netherlands

– Kings of Norway, Sweden and Belgium

– Emperor of Japan– President of Italy and

Germany

Chief Executive

• Vested with “the executive power” by the Constitution

• Power is broad in both foreign and domestic affairs

• There are constitutional checks

Chief Administrator

• The director of the huge executive branch

• Is the head of one of the largest governments in the world

• Employs 2.7 million civilians and spends 3 trillion dollars a year

Chief Diplomat

• The main architect of American foreign policy

• Nation’s chief spokesman to the world

• Truman states “I make foreign policy”

• Everything they do is followed closely abroad

Commander in Chief

• The head of the armed forces given by the constitution

• Head of 1.4 million men and woman in uniform

• President has direct and immediate control

Chief Legislator

• The principle author of public policies

• The president usually sets the legislative agenda

• Working with Congress occupies a lot of the president’s time

Chief of Party

• The acknowledged leader of their political party

• Virtually unchallengeable

• Much of the president’s comes from how they play this role

Chief Citizen

• Expected to be the representative of all people

• Expected to take the high road and champion interests

• “The Presidency” says Roosevelt ,”Is not merely a public office. It is preeminently, a place of moral leadership”

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Chief Citizen

• The way the president plays any one role can have a real effect on the ability to play another

• Johnson– The way he handles the

Viet Nam War damaged him

• Nixon– The scandal of

Watergate

Formal Qualifications

• Be a natural born citizen

• Have attained the age of 35 years

• Theodore Roosevelt the youngest at 42

• Ronald Regan the oldest at 69

• Most chief executives were in their 50’s

Formal Qualifications

• Lived in the United States for 14 years

• Both Hoover and Eisenhower spent many years outside the United States.

• It is any 14 years

The Presidential Term

• Four year term with the ability to be elected to a second term

• Until 1951 there was no constitutional limit for re-election

• From Washington until FDR no President ran for more than two terms

The Presidential Term

• Truman, Eisenhower, Reagan have called for a repeal of the 22 Amendment

• Several President’s have urged a single six year term

• Free president from campaigning for a second term

Pay and Benefits

• Congress determines the President’s pay

• First President paid $25,000. Pay now $400,000

• $50,000 in expenses

Pay and Benefits

• White house (132 room mansion)

• Fleet of Cars• Air Force One• Helicopters• Camp David• Finest medical and

dental care• Generous

entertainment funds