Transcript The President

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 activeduty military personnel)
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Who can become the President?
“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.”
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The Constitution, Article II, Section
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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.”
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cESC0Ra
VnM&list=PLF6C5ABE020EE90E7
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Executive
Legislative
Judicial
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head of the government
nominates — and the Senate confirms —
the heads of all executive departments
and agencies, together with hundreds of
other high-ranking federal officials.
responsible for preparing the budget of
the United States, although the Congress
must approve it
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Death
Impeachment
Inability (when Vice President takes over)
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Treason
Bribery
Other crimes and misdemeanors
Article II, Section Four
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Removing an official from office requires two
steps: (1) a formal accusation, or
impeachment, by the House of
Representatives, and (2) a trial and conviction
by the Senate.
Impeachment requires a majority vote of the
House; conviction is more difficult, requiring
a two-thirds vote by the Senate.
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Andrew Johnson in 1868 – one vote short
Richard Nixon in 1974 - resigned
Bill Clinton in 1998
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None convicted
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The political backing to begin impeachment
proceedings against the president came when
Johnson breached the Tenure of Office Act by
removing Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War,
from the cabinet. The Tenure of Office Act,
passed over Johnson's veto in 1867, stated
that a president could not dismiss appointed
officials without the consent of Congress.
Johnson believed the Tenure of Office Act was
unconstitutional
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President Johnson was impeached by the House
of Representatives on February 24, 1868 and the
Senate tried the case in a trial that lasted from
March to May 1868. In the end, the Senate voted
to acquit President Andrew Johnson by a margin
of 35 guilty to 19 not guilty - one vote short of
the two-thirds needed to convict.
In a 1926 case, the Supreme Court declared that
the Tenure of Office Act had been invalid.
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After five men hired by Nixon's reelection
committee were caught burglarizing
Democratic party headquarters at the
Watergate Complex on June 17, 1972,
President Nixon's subsequent behavior—his
cover-up of the burglary and refusal to turn
over evidence—led the House Judiciary
Committee to issue three articles of
impeachment on July 30, 1974.
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The document also indicted Nixon for illegal
wiretapping, misuse of the CIA, perjury,
bribery, obstruction of justice, and other
abuses of executive power.
Nixon resigned from office on August 9,
1974
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http://www.history.com/videos/richardnixons-resignation-speech#richard-nixonsresignation-speech
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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.
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He was acquitted by the Senate on February
12, 1999. Requiring a two-thirds majority for
a conviction, only 50 senators (out of 100)
voted guilty on the obstruction charge and 45
on the perjury charge. The Senate was 17
votes short of removing Clinton from office
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The House of Representatives passes by
vote Articles of Impeachment
The Senate tries all impeachments
Presiding officer is the Vice President
If the President is impeached, presiding
officer is Chief Justice