Download The Great American President

The Great American President
What you need to know to
understand what he does!
You want to be the President…
• To be a president you must have:
– 35 years of age
– Be a “natural born citizen”
– 14 years as a resident in the United States
• Unofficially:
– Most presidents are:
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White
Male
Over 40 years old
RICH
A political/law background
Why do we pay him so much?
The President
serves 8 roles as
President
» $400,000 per year
Chief of State
Ceremonial Head of the Government
“the personal embodiment and
representative of their dignity and majesty”
Chief Executive
• Head of the Executive Branch
– Vested with all the powers of the executive
branch into one person
• “Most powerful office in the world”
Chief Administrator
• As leader of the Executive Branch, the
Chief Administrator is the head of all jobs
employed by the bureaucracy
• 2.7 million employees
– Harry Truman complained that he spent too much time,
“flattering, kissing, and kicking people to get them to do what
they were supposed to do anyways.”
Chief Diplomat
• As the Chief Diplomat, the President of the
United States dictates the foreign policy
for the United States.
– Determines which countries the U.S. interacts
with and at what level.
Commander in Chief
• Commands and leads the 1.4 million
troops in the U.S. military
• “Man on the red button”
Chief Legislator
• The President sets the agenda for
Congress to address.
– Determines what issues will be discussed
• The President also serves to rally and
organize Congress when it comes to
passing legislation he has put forward.
Chief of Party
• Unofficial position
• Leads the political party as the most
visible and powerful member
Chief Citizen
• Unofficial role
• “representative of all the people”
• “not merely an administrative office. That
is the least of it. It is preeminently a place
of moral leadership.”
What does the president do?
• In 4 years, the President of the United
States is supposed to serve as:
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Chief of State
Chief Executive
Chief Administrator
Chief Diplomat
Commander in Chief
Chief Legislator
Chief of Party
Chief Citizen