Executive Branch: The President & Presidential Powers

You will remember from our discussion about Congress that the Speaker of the House is the most powerful person in the entire United States Congress and is, perhaps, the second most powerful person in the entire United States government.
Well, that is the 2nd most powerful to the President of the United States of America as this clip from the television show The West Wing highlights for us.

What does the President do? What are the roles of the President of the United States?

Official Roles - Head of Government
- Chief Executive
- Chief Administrator
- Commander in Chief
- Chief Diplomat
- Chief Agenda Setter

Unofficial Roles - Head of State
- Chief of State
- Party Chief
- Chief Citizen

Formal Qualifications to be President of the United States
- minimum 35 years of age
- resident of US for minimum of 14 years
- natural-born US citizen

Unofficial qualifications??

- wealthy
- male
- WASP
- prior executive experience
- good communicator
- charisma

A bit cheesy but the info is solid.

How does the President get elected?
Win the electoral college (not the popular vote....though it doesn't hurt to win that one too)
See graphic on p.165

The electoral college explained

Presidential succession was defined by both the Presidential Succession Act (1947) and the 25th Amendment.  (See chart on p.166)
- Vice President
- Speaker of the House
- President Pro Tempore of the Senate
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of the Treasury

Presidential Power

Presidential Powers
Unique Executive Powers
- appointment & removal powers
- executive orders
- executive privilege

Diplomatic & Military Powers
- make treaties with foreign nations
- diplomatic recognition
- Commander in Chief

Legislative & Judicial Powers
- set the agenda
- propose legislation
- veto
- nominate federal judges
- alter sentences (reprieve, pardon, amnesty, commute)





Informal Powers

- access to media
- party leader








In order to keep the press "on his side" so that he can maximize that informal power, the White House annually holds a Correspondent's Dinner. Wine & Dine them so they will say nice things about you.