Constitutional Requirements
To be the President of the United States, the first requirement is to be a Natural Born Citizen. This means you must have been born a U.S citizen either on U.S soil, or to parents that are U.S citizens. Without this first requirement, you can be in the Senate or House of Representatives, and even Governor. But you can not obtain the presidency. (US Constitution Article II Section I)
Along with being born a Natural Born Citizen, the US Constitution also requires you to be at least thirty-five years of age before becoming the President, as well as having lived in the US for at least fourteen years. This is to ensure you know the United States well enough to perform as President what is in the best interest of citizens of the country.
Along with being born a Natural Born Citizen, the US Constitution also requires you to be at least thirty-five years of age before becoming the President, as well as having lived in the US for at least fourteen years. This is to ensure you know the United States well enough to perform as President what is in the best interest of citizens of the country.
The Unwritten Rules
Up until 2008, every President of the US has been white, male, and around the age of 54. Most of the former presidents have come from money, as well as gone to an Ivy league School such as Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, etc. Maybe even more than one Ivy League School. It helps to be Protestant, not Catholic. Although we have had one Catholic president, JFK, it is uncommon.
Terms and Pay
The term of office for the President of the United States is 4 years. Because of the 22nd amendment in the US Constitution, there is a 2 term limit after Franklin D. Roosevelt served for 4 terms (16 years). This means the president can serve for only 8 years total.
The Presidents salary is $400,000 per year. However, this does not include the expense account, entertainment, or travel budget, which amounts to $169,000 more per year.
The Presidents salary is $400,000 per year. However, this does not include the expense account, entertainment, or travel budget, which amounts to $169,000 more per year.
Roles of the President
The constitutional, administrative, and Judical powers are the three Presidential powers.
Being the President of the United States means that you have certain constitutional powers. The President is the Commander in Chief of the Armed forces, meaning they have control of all military forces. They are also able to make treaties with other Nations, along with two- thirds of Senate approval. Constitutional powers also allow them to nominate all ambassadors to foreign countries and receive ambassadors of other nations.
As well as constitutional powers, the President also has what are called administrative powers. This part of the Presidence ensures the laws are being upheld in the United States. These admistrative powers allow the President to request written opinions of administrative officials and fill open spots during recesses in congress.
The other power the President is provided with is Judicial powers. As the President, they can provide pardons for any crime someone has committed. They also nomiate federal judges to the bench, as long as they are confirmed in the Senate. To be confirmed, they must get a majority of the 100 votes. The biggest desire for a President is to nominate someone to the Supreme Court.
Being the President of the United States means that you have certain constitutional powers. The President is the Commander in Chief of the Armed forces, meaning they have control of all military forces. They are also able to make treaties with other Nations, along with two- thirds of Senate approval. Constitutional powers also allow them to nominate all ambassadors to foreign countries and receive ambassadors of other nations.
As well as constitutional powers, the President also has what are called administrative powers. This part of the Presidence ensures the laws are being upheld in the United States. These admistrative powers allow the President to request written opinions of administrative officials and fill open spots during recesses in congress.
The other power the President is provided with is Judicial powers. As the President, they can provide pardons for any crime someone has committed. They also nomiate federal judges to the bench, as long as they are confirmed in the Senate. To be confirmed, they must get a majority of the 100 votes. The biggest desire for a President is to nominate someone to the Supreme Court.
Office of the Vice President
As the Vice President, you have little Constitutional requirements. The Constitution states that the Vice President presides over the Senate and votes in a tire. Recently, Presidents are involving them more in policy discussion. The Vice President is usually chosen to fill a Presidents weakness, such as Foreign policy.
Presidential Succession
If something were to happen to the President, either death or a situation where the President can not lead the country, there would be a new President set in place. The following are the individuals that would run the country.
1. Vice President (Joe Biden)
2.Speaker of the House (John Boehner)
3.President pro tempore of the Senate (Patrick Leahy)
4.Secretary of State (Hillary Clinton)
5.Secretary of Treasury (Timothy Geithner)
6.Secretary of Defense (Leon Panetta)
7.Attorney General (Eric Holder)
8.Secretary of the Interior (Ken Salazar)
9.Secretary of Agriculture (Tom Vilsack)
10.Secretary of Commerce (Rebecca Blank)
1. Vice President (Joe Biden)
2.Speaker of the House (John Boehner)
3.President pro tempore of the Senate (Patrick Leahy)
4.Secretary of State (Hillary Clinton)
5.Secretary of Treasury (Timothy Geithner)
6.Secretary of Defense (Leon Panetta)
7.Attorney General (Eric Holder)
8.Secretary of the Interior (Ken Salazar)
9.Secretary of Agriculture (Tom Vilsack)
10.Secretary of Commerce (Rebecca Blank)
The Electoral College
By definition, the Electoral College is basically the selection of a President based on electors, instead of a popular or majority vote. Each state has the same amount of votes as it has Senators and Representatives. For example, Wisconsin has two senators and eight representatives, therefore, having 10 votes in the electoral college.
Most of the stats in the US say that the 'winner takes all' of the electoral votes. Meaning that whoever got the popular vote in the state collects all of their electoral votes, instead of being split based on the percentage of votes each candidate received.
If there is a tie in the Electoral College, the decision goes to the House of Representatives, giving each state one vote for the Presidency, each.
Most of the stats in the US say that the 'winner takes all' of the electoral votes. Meaning that whoever got the popular vote in the state collects all of their electoral votes, instead of being split based on the percentage of votes each candidate received.
If there is a tie in the Electoral College, the decision goes to the House of Representatives, giving each state one vote for the Presidency, each.