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LIVING CONSTITUTION
COMPARING
Roles of the President
There are various roles that a president
must play. He or she may be more skilled at
some roles than others. For example, John
F. Kennedy was known as a skilled diplomat
and chief executive, but struggled as a
legislative leader to get his agenda passed.
President Ulysses Grant was an outstanding
military leader but did not understand the
role of Chief Executive well or function
well as the head of the Republican Party.
President Woodrow Wilson was a wellrespected international leader but was
unable to persuade U.S. politicians to
support his ideas.
COMPARING
Roles of the President
Chief Executive
Like a business executive, the president
solves problems and makes key decisions.
President George W. Bush is shown in the
oval office in 2006.
Commander in Chief
As a military leader, President Abraham Lincoln
meets with General McClellan during the Civil War.
Head of a Political Party
President Andrew Jackson on his way to Washington, D.C.
for his inauguration in 1829. Jackson was a founder of the
Democratic-Republican Party—the forerunner of today’s
Democratic Party.
• Which role do you think is most
important? (Possible Answers: Commander
in Chief during time of war, legislative
leader to get important laws passed,
diplomat and Chief of State to manage
international relations)
CRITICAL THINKING ANSWERS
Chief Diplomat and Chief of State
As a foreign policy maker, President Ronald Reagan visits
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1984.
1. Make Inferences Possible Answer:
Civilian control over the military
is important because it could be
dangerous to give someone other than a
responsible political leader that kind of
power.
Legislative Leader
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social
Security Bill of 1935. All modern presidents have
legislative programs they want Congress to pass.
2. Connect to Today Possible Answer:
The United States and Britain are
historically and economically linked and
share a common language.
CRITICAL THINKING
1. Make Inferences Why is it important that the commander in chief
of the armed forces of the United States be a civilian (the president)
rather than a military commander?
2.
More About . . .
Presidents Heading Political
Parties
Andrew Jackson was the first president to
take a clear and active role as the head of
a political party. Jackson fought against
the Second Bank of the United States,
which was a private corporation that
enjoyed a government monopoly. Jackson
led the Democratic Party in opposition to
it and portrayed the party as supporting
the common people rather than the rich
banking interests. He was successful in his
battle and in winning re-election. Jackson
also supported the successful election of his
vice-president, Martin Van Buren.
278 • The Living Constitution
Connect to Today
Why do you think the United States
enjoys close relations with Britain?
278 The
Living
Chapter
0 Constitution
DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION
Gifted & Talented
Pre-AP
Speech on One of the
Presidential Roles
Define Skills Needed for
Different Roles
Have each student review the
presidential roles shown on this page and
select one. Then have the student create
and present a short speech a president
might give in that particular role. For
example, the president might welcome
a foreign dignitary who is considering a
trade agreement with the United States,
rally supporters of a political party, or try
to persuade Congress of the importance
of a piece of legislation.
Have students analyze each of the roles
shown on this page and think about the
skills and knowledge needed to fulfill
that role successfully. Then have them
construct a chart that lists the roles and
the most important skills and knowledge
for each. Students should present their
chart to the class and, after explaining
it, note which of their own skills they
would want to be strongest if they were
president.
2. Treaties, Appointments He shall have power, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the
Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public
ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers
of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law; but the Congress may by
law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in
the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.
3. Vacancies The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that
may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions
which shall expire at the end of their next session.
SECTION 3.
Presidential Duties
He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the State
of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as
he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement
between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn
them to such time as he shall think proper; he shall receive ambassadors
and other public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully
executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States.
SECTION 4.
Impeachment
The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States shall
be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason,
misdemeanors.
bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors
BACKGROUND
VOCABULARY
reprieves delays or
cancellations of punishment
convene call together
misdemeanors violations of
the law
Appointments
Constitution Handbook
opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices,
and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against
the United States, except in cases of impeachment.
Recent presidents have used
their power of appointment to
add minorities and women to the
Supreme Court. In 1967, President
Lyndon Johnson appointed the first
African-American justice, Thurgood
Marshall. In 1981, President
Ronald Reagan appointed the first
woman, Sandra Day O’Connor.
11. What do you think
influences a president’s
choice for a Supreme Court
justice?
2
More About . . .
Appointments
Over the years, the “advice and consent”
of the Senate has not always been given
to Supreme Court nominees. In 1987,
President Reagan nominated Robert Bork,
and the confirmation hearings took a long
and confrontational turn. In the end, the
Senate rejected Bork. Bork had often taken
controversial positions on issues outside of
cases in his own courtroom.
Connect to Today
State of the Union
Connect to Today
State of the Union Major TV
networks broadcast the State of
the Union address to the whole
nation. In this yearly message,
the president urges Congress to
achieve certain lawmaking goals.
The president’s speech also must
gain the attention of TV viewers.
12. Why is the president’s
power to persuade an
important political skill?
Article
LIVING CONSTITUTION
Currently, the State of the Union message is
delivered either in January or early February.
Some early presidents issued a written
statement, but since radio and television
were able to broadcast the event, it has
been used as an occasion to present the
president’s achievements and platform for
the coming year.
• Why is the State of the Union message
important? (It allows people to see
the president in person and assess his
programs and goals.)
Assessment
MAIN IDEAS
1. What is the chief purpose of the executive branch?
2. What are the requirements for becoming president?
3. How does the Constitution limit the president’s
power to make appointments and treaties?
CRITICAL THINKING
4. Analyze Issues Why do you think the Constitution
states that the president must seek approval from the
Senate for most political appointments and treaties?
Think about
• the abuse of power
• the will of the voters
Constitution Handbook 279
ONGOING ASSESSMENT ANSWERS
Main Ideas
1. to enforce the laws
2. being a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years
old, a resident of the United States for 14 years
or more
3. Many presidential appointments and all treaties
with foreign powers require the approval of the
Senate.
Critical Thinking
4. Possible Answer: It is one of the checks and
balances within the Constitution. It limits
the power of the president in making foreign
policy and appointing important government
officials. The will of the voters may be indirectly
expressed by the Senate’s vote.
SIDEBAR ANSWERS
11. Possible Answer: A candidate often
shares the president’s basic political
views, values, and ideas. Usually
the candidate is widely respected in
the legal community, with previous
judicial experience. The candidate
should also be one who can win
Senate confirmation.
12. Possible Answer: To lead a nation, a
president needs widespread support.
Effective presidents need to use
persuasion to “sell” their programs
and policies to a wide range of people.
Teacher’s Edition • 279