Did not exist under the Articles of Confederation

Americans wanted one elected person other countries could identify and respect

They didn’t want someone who would be more powerful than everyone else

Able to serve two successive four-year terms (per the 22nd Amendment in 1951)

The delegates of the Constitutional Convention created the Electoral College

They wanted only wise, politically experienced citizens electing the president

The institution that officially elects the PresidentEquals the number of members in Congress.

Ohio has 18 total representatives therefore we have 18 electors in the Electoral College

The candidate that receives the absolute majority (270) of electoral votes is elected to President

States with the largest numbers:California – 55 Texas – 38New York – 29Florida – 29

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cartogram%E2%80%942012_Electoral_Vote.svg

Be a natural-born citizen (or born to

American citizens in a foreign country)

Be at least 35 years oldHave lived in the US for at least 14

years (not necessarily right before the election)

Earns $400,000 a yearLives in the White House—rent

freeTravels for free via Air Force

OneReceives $191,300 each year

after leaving office

Command the Armed ForcesCommission armed forces officersPardon those guilty of some federal

crimesMake treatiesAppoint ambassadorsReceive ambassadors and other public

ministers

Appoint Supreme Court justicesAppoint people to jobs within the federal

governmentRecommend legislation to CongressConvene one or both houses of CongressEnforce the laws that Congress has

passed

Inherent: powers the president uses in foreign affairs that aren’t in the Constitution but are necessary

The executive order: to help interpret or carry out a law

Personal Influence: encourages people to listen to “the office”

We have the checks and balances between branches

The media continuously reports on the president’s actions

Active citizen participation

The Constitution establishes a process to impeach (bring charges against) and remove the president for “treason, bribery, or other crimes and misdemeanors”

The process:1.A majority of the members of the House of

Representatives must vote to impeach2.The Senate conducts the trial of the president; the

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides3.All senators vote4.If 2/3 vote guilty, the vice president becomes

president

Allows the Vice President to choose his own VP should he/she become president (due to death, assassination, impeachment, etc.)

Included provisions for determining disability of a president, when power shifts to the VP, and how the president may regain power

1. Vice President2. Speaker of the House3. Senate President Pro-

Tempore4. Secretary of State5. Secretary of the

Treasury6. Secretary of Defense7. Attorney General8. Secretary of Interior9. Secretary of Agriculture10. Secretary of Commerce

11. Secretary of Labor12. Secretary of Health and

Human Resources13. Secretary of Housing

and Urban Development14. Secretary of

Transportation15. Secretary of Energy16. Secretary of Education17. Secretary of Veterans

Affairs18. Secretary of Homeland

Security

Serves as president of the SenateSucceeds the president in the event of death,

resignation, or a disabilityNine vice presidents have assumed the office

Excluding the last 20 years, the presidential candidates chose running mates for their vote-getting appeal more than their abilities

Presidents rely on aides, advisors, and entire agencies for help

Divided into over 100 agencies, departments, boards, and commissions

Has more than three million employeesDivided into three parts

1. White House Office Staff2. Executive Office of the President3. Cabinet

500 aides and advisorsHelp with daily affairs—scheduling,

appointments, and public relations

Established in 1939, has 15 staff agencies to help the PresidentOffice of Management and Budget (OMB)

Prepares and oversees the executive budgetCouncil of Economic Advisors

Created by the Employment Act of 1946Prepares the annual economic report to Congress

National Security Council (NSC)Created in 1947Develops policy for national security and foreign

affairs

A multi-agency advisory council to the President

Heads of the agencies are called secretaries (except the head of the Department of Justice—that’s the Attorney General)

The Agencies:Justice State Treasury Interior Agriculture

Commerce Labor Defense Health and Human Services

Housing and Urban

Development

Transportation

Energy Education Veterans’ Affairs

Homeland Security

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