The President and Vice
President
American Government
Qualifications
According to Article II Section 1 of the Constitution, the formal requirements
to become president are
You must be a natural-born citizen of the U.S.
You must be at least 35 years old
You must have been a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years before taking office
These same requirements apply to the Vice President.
Informal Requirements
Here are some of the informal requirements to become president
Previous governmental experience
Previous Senator, Representative, Governor etc.
Access to large amounts of money
A more moderate political disposition
Mostly middle class, protestant
Salary and Benefits
Salary: $400,000
Travel Allowance: $100,000 (for official duties only)
Salary can not be changed during a presidents term.
Benefits
Air Force One, other planes, helicopters, and limos for transportation
Salary and Benefits
Benefits:
The president receives free health care
Lives in the White House
Has a cooking staff and domestic staff
Receives $148,000 a year for retirement
Is given free office space
Free mailing services
Up to $96,000 a year for office help
Roles of the President
The president is the Commander in Chief of the military
This means that the president is in supreme command of a country’s armed forces
The president is in charge of war and peacetime strategies of the armed forces
Another one of the main roles of the president, is as the country’s Chief of
State
This means the president represents the nation and performs many ceremonial
roles
I.E. visiting kings and queens, and other heads of government
Roles of the President
The president is also the nation’s Chief Executive
The president is responsible for executing the laws that are passed by Congress
The president may go as far as even using the military in order to enforce laws
passed by Congress and rulings handed down by the Supreme Court
Presidents are also considered to be the Chief of Party
As a party leader, presidents are involved in a system called patronage
Patronage is the power to appoint those who supported the president during the
election to political office
This can also be known as the spoils system or is termed as riding the presidential
coattails
Roles of the President
Roles of the President
As Chief Administrator, the president runs and directs the 2-7 million government
officials that work within the executive departments of the bureaucracy
This includes the 15 secretary departments, organizations such as the FBI and CIA, along
with various other governmental agencies
The presidents role as Chief Citizen means that the president represents all people
within the country
As Chief Diplomat, the president is responsible for setting foreign policy
It is in this role where the president:
Appoints ambassadors
Directs the Department of State
Dictates how we will deal with foreign countries
Makes Executive Agreements with foreign heads of state
Recognizes foreign countries
Roles of the President
The president is the Chief Legislator
The President plays the role of trying to influence the laws that will be passed by
Congress
The president can also use the bully pulpit to suggest, request, insist or demand
legislation
The president also lobbies and campaigns for certain bills to be passed
The president also officially signs laws into affect
When the president signs these laws in affect, he also releases a signing statement, or an
official recognition of the bill be signed into law
Presidential Succession
Presidential succession was established by the 25th
amendment.
President
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President pro tempore
Secretary of State
Secretary of Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Vice President
The Vice President is the president of the Senate.
Vice Presidents have very little if no authority at all.
Other than Senate duties, vice presidents are only involved as much as the resident
wants them to be involved.
0
