Roles and Powers of the U.S. President

• The Executive Branch is responsible for enforcing laws.

Roles of the President

• The President is the ceremonial head of the government, representing the U.S. at major events.
• The President is in charge of enforcing the law (but not making the laws).
• The President leads the federal bureaucracy, overseeing 3 million government workers.
• The President directs all foreign policy negotiations and decisions.
• The President controls the military and can deploy troops independently.
• The President initiates most laws and influences Congress using veto power.
• The President leads their political party and wields significant influence.
• The President serves as a moral leader, using the "bully pulpit" to lead.
• People hold the President responsible for the state of the economy.

Qualifications, Pay, and Benefits

• Must be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and a resident for 14 years.
• Political experience is an informal qualification.
• The President earns a $400,000 salary, plus allowances for expenses, travel, and entertainment, including $50,000 for expenses, $100,000 for travel, and $19,000 for entertainment.
• Benefits include the White House, Air Force One, Marine One, limousines, and Camp David.

Term, Disability, and Succession

• The 22nd Amendment limits the President to two terms.
• The 25th Amendment allows for temporary transfer of power and appointment of a new VP if there is a vacancy.
• The 25th Amendment was used when Ford became President.
• Order of succession: VP, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tem, Secretary of State, then other Cabinet members.

Vice Presidency

• The Vice President serves as President of the Senate.
• Primarily a "President in Waiting," ready to assume the presidency if needed.
• Recently, the role has evolved into more of an "Assistant President."

Presidential Selection

• Winning a party nomination is the first step, determined by presidential primaries.
• Primaries lead to a convention where the party nominates the President and VP candidates and adopts a party platform.
• A majority (270) of Electoral College votes is required to win the Presidency.
• The 12th Amendment separated the election of the President and VP.
• Most states follow a winner-take-all system in the Electoral College, except Nebraska and Maine, which can split votes.
• Flaws in the Electoral College: the popular vote can lose, electors may not be committed, and the House chooses if there is no majority.
• Reform proposals include the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.

Growth of Presidential Power

• The Presidency is more powerful relative to Congress.
• The President can act quicker than Congress.
• The Federal Government is more powerful relative to states.
• The Government is more involved in daily lives.
• The United States is more powerful globally.
• The unity of the Presidency allows one person to act quicker than 535 members of Congress.

Constitutional Powers – Article II

• Mandates that the President ensures laws are faithfully executed.
• The President has the power to issue Executive Orders.
• The President appoints officials (department heads, judges) and can remove department heads.
• The President has the power to make treaties and enter into executive agreements.
• The President can lead undeclared wars.
• Recent wars haven't been declared but were authorized by Congressional resolutions.
• The War Powers Act of 1973 limits undeclared wars to 60 or 90 days.
• The Executive Branch suggests most bills that later become laws.
• The President uses the veto power to influence legislation.
• The President appoints all Federal Judges and has the power to grant pardons, reprieves, and commutations.

The Federal Bureaucracy

• Features include:
  • Hierarchy
  • Job Specialization
  • Formal Rules

Five Levels of Bureaucracy

• Executive Office of the President
  • Closest advisors to the President
  • Do not need Senate approval
  • Includes the White House Office (West Wing staff like Chief of Staff, Communications Director, Press Secretary, White House Counsel)
  • Includes NSC, OMB, Council of Economic Advisors
• Executive Departments
  • Largest agencies
  • Need Senate approval of Secretaries and assistants
  • Leaders form the Cabinet (e.g., State, Defense, Treasury, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, HHS, HUD, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security)
• Executive Agencies
  • Smaller and less prominent
  • Usually need Senate Approval of heads of agencies (e.g., CIA, EPA, SSA, NASA, OPM, and GSA)
• Independent Agencies and Regulatory Commissions
  • Headed by commissions with set terms, members cannot be fired
  • President appoints, Senate approves, but they don’t take orders from the President (e.g., Federal Reserve, NLRB, FCC, FTC, SEC, and FEC)
• Government Corporations
  • Run businesses
  • Headed by boards appointed to set terms (e.g., Post Office, AMTRAK, FDIC, TVA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac)

Civil Service

• In the 1800s, the "Spoils System" was prevelant, with jobs given to donors and supporters.
• The Pendleton Act of 1883 established the "Classified Service."
• Jobs in the "Classified Service" are awarded based on qualifications, often through Civil Service Exams.
• Jobs are given to the person who does best on the Civil Service Exam.
• The Office of Personnel Management oversees hiring for most jobs based on exam performance.
• The number of Federal Bureaucrats has remained steady at around 3 million.
• There has been an increase in the use of Independent Contractors.

Explore the multifaceted roles of the U.S. President, including Chief of State, Executive, Diplomat, and Commander-in-Chief. Learn about the qualifications, compensation, and significant influence of the President.