Chapter 13 The President

CP Government

Roles (all at the same time)

Chief of StateChief

ExecutiveChief

AdministratorChief Diplomat

Commander in Chief

Chief Legislator

Chief of PartyChief Citizen

Constitutional Qualifications

1. Natural Born Citizen

2. 35 years old

3. 14 year resident of the United States

22nd Amendment—2 terms or 10 years

Benefits

$400,000 salary$200,000

retirement$50,000

expense accountHouseVacation home

AirForce 1 (2)HelicoptersLimousinesSecurity24 hour medicalYachtStaff

Succession

25th Amendment

Succession or disability

Page 359

Used 2 x’s in history of country

Vice-President

Kind of powerless

-has as much as the Pres. givesNo guarantee will become Pres.9 have taken overCannot be fired by the Pres.

Elections

Remember fundraising

($100,000 in 20 states)Presidential candidates are

selected by a ConventionActually elected by Electoral

College

Elections

Parties now control the primariesEach one selects delegates to

then select the Pres. CandidateStates choose date of primary

Candidate is officially selected at the convention

Presidential Conventions

Incumbent in Aug. challenger in July (suggested)

Lasts 4 days (a big party)Day 1/2 speeches and writing the

platformDay 3 voting for candidatesDay 4 acceptance speech

Conventions

Primaries pull a party apartThe convention is to put it back

together/re-unify

A motivational 4 days to get psyched up for the last few months of campaigning

Electoral College

2 votes by electorsMost votes=President; 2nd=V.P.Usually from opposing parties

Electors were “respectable” citizens chosen by people in states

Electoral College 2

After 1796 were chosen by parties

Election of 1800Electors were chosen with the

“understanding” they would vote by party line

Created a tie-Jefferson vs. Burr

The Duel

Needed 36 votes in the House to break the tie (pg. 367)

Hamilton (Federalist) helped Jefferson win

A few years later Burr-Hamilton duel (Burr wins)

The govt. decides voting for President should not cause duels/death

12th Amendment

Made electors cast separate votes for President and Vice-President

Parties would now provide a “ticket” to help with the vote

Electoral College 3

2 sets (D/R) of Electors chosen by state legislatures (party loyalists)

Vote in state capital on 1st Friday after the 2nd Wednesday in December

Counted in Senate on January 6th

Need a majority-270 or House decides

Electoral College 4

Flaws1. Electors do not have to vote as

popular election in their state did2. Winner of the popular vote may

not be President (2000)3. The House might decide the

outcome

Possible Alternatives

District plan (2)-same districts as

the HouseProportional plan-EC votes same

as % of popular (no winner take all)

Direct popular election

-count each voteBonus plan-keep EC as is and

add 102 bonus votes to popular vote winner