Transcript The President

Revision
Answer the following questions:
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How can American federalism be defined?
When was the American Constitution
adopted?
Which are exclusively national powers?
What is the importance of the Tenth
Amendment?
Vocabulary revision
Translate the following phrases:
 Allocation of powers
 Concurrent powers
 To declare war
 Bicameral legislator
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Allocation of powers – dioba ovlasti
Concurrent powers – zajedničke (paralelne)
ovlasti
To declare war – objaviti rat
Bicameral legislator – dvodomno
zakonodavno tijelo
Complete the text:
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Constitutional, American, certain, weak, federal, national,
specific, state
Federalism and the federal system define the basic structure of
___________ government. There were many disagreements at
the ___________ Convention. Many delegates feared a
____________ government that was too strong and many
delegates feared that states' rights would merely continue the
_________ form of government under the Articles. The
Constitution created a ______________ system of government
(federalism) as a compromise. Under federalism, power is
shared and divided between national and ___________
governments. Each has ___________ powers unto themselves
while they also share _____________ powers.
Answer key
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Federalism and the federal system define the basic
structure of American government. There were many
disagreements at the Constitutional Convention.
Many delegates feared a national government that
was too strong and many delegates feared that
states' rights would merely continue the weak form of
government under the Articles. The Constitution
created a federal system of government (federalism)
as a compromise. Under federalism, power is shared
and divided between national and state
governments. Each has specific powers unto
themselves while they also share certain powers.
Complete the following statements:
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The first colony on the New continent was
_______________, established in _____.
The Virginia plan proposed a ________
state.
The Declaration of Independence was mainly
written by _________ in _______.
Bill of Rights is the name for
_________________.
Answer key
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The first colony on the New continent was
Virginia, established in 1607.
The Virginia plan proposed a unitary state.
The Declaration of Independence was mainly
written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776.
Bill of Rights is the name for the first ten
amendments to the US Constitution.
The American Presidency
The office of the President
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One of the most powerful offices of its kind in
the world.
The president, the Constitution says, must
"take care that the laws be faithfully
executed." To carry out this responsibility,
the president presides over the executive
branch of the federal government (about 4
million people, including 1 million active-duty
military personnel)
Requirements
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Who can become the President?
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“No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the
United States… shall be eligible to the office of President;
neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not
have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen
years a resident within the United States.”
The Constitution, Article II, Section One
Inauguration
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Election every 4 years.
Inauguration Day – taking the oath:
“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute
the Office of President of the United States, and
will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution of the United
States.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdhrulf
Xib4
Powers of the President
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Executive
Legislative
Judicial
Executive powers
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Head of the government
The President nominates — and the Senate
confirms — the heads of all executive
departments and agencies, together with
hundreds of other high-ranking federal
officials.
He is responsible for preparing the budget of
the United States, although the Congress
must approve it
Executive powers cont.
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Within the executive branch itself, the
president has broad powers to manage
national affairs and the workings of the
federal government. The president can issue
rules, regulations, and instructions called
executive orders, which have the binding
force of law upon federal agencies but do not
require congressional approval.
Military powers
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Commander-in-chief of the armed forces
In times of war or national emergency, the
Congress may grant the president even
broader powers to manage the national
economy and protect the security of the
United States.
Legislative powers
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The president can veto any bill passed by
Congress and, unless two-thirds of the
members of each house vote to override the
veto, the bill does not become law.
May propose legislation to Congress - in
annual and special messages to Congress,
the president may propose legislation he
believes is necessary.
May call Congress for special session
Judicial powers
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May appoint important public officials.
Presidential nomination of federal judges,
including members of the Supreme Court, is
subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Another significant power is that of granting a
full or conditional pardon to anyone convicted
of breaking a federal law — except in a case
of impeachment.
Powers in foreign affairs
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Under the Constitution, the president is the
federal official primarily responsible for the
relations of the USA with foreign nations. The
president appoints ambassadors, ministers,
and consuls (subject to confirmation by the
Senate) and receives foreign ambassadors
and other public officials. With the secretary
of state, the president manages all official
contacts with foreign governments.
What can remove the President from
office?
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Death
Impeachment
Inability (when Vice President takes over)
Grounds for impeachment
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Treason
Bribery
Other high crimes and misdemeanors
Article II, Section Four
Who has been impeached?
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Andrew Johnson in 1868
Richard Nixon in 1974 (resigned from office
due to the Watergate affair)
Bill Clinton in 1998
None of them was convicted
Impeachment of A. Johnson
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1868, the House of Representatives voted to
impeach President Andrew Johnson for dismissing
his Secretary of War Stanton against the order of the
Tenure of Office Act which had passed in 1867. He
became the first president to be impeached while in
office.
Upon impeachment, the Senate is required to vote to
decide if a president should be removed from office.
The Senate voted against removing Johnson by only
one vote.
Impeachment of B. Clinton
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Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States, was
impeached by the House of Representatives on two charges,
one of perjury and one of obstruction of justice, on December
19, 1998. Two other impeachment articles, a second perjury
charge and a charge of abuse of power, failed in the House.
The charges arose from the Lewinsky scandal and the Paula
Jones lawsuit.
Clinton was acquitted by the Senate on February 12, 1999.
With a two-thirds majority required for conviction (i.e., 67
senators), only 45 senators (out of 100) voted guilty on the
perjury charge and 50 on the obstruction charge. Clinton was,
thus, 17 votes shy of being removed from office on the latter
charge
The process of impeachment
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The House of Representatives passes by
vote Articles of Impeachment (an indictment)
The Senate tries all impeachments
Presiding officer is the Vice President
If the President is impeached, presiding
officer is Chief Justice
Thank you for your attention!