The Constitution

1
The Constitution the President

• Introduction to
• Chapter 14

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Contrast Between Presidents Prime Ministers
-No set term
-4 year term
-Elected by indirect voting of people
-Chosen by members of Parliament
-Both Chief Execs. -Both appoint Cabinet. -Both
are the Commander in Chief -Both have
legis.agendas
-Found mainly in the Americas
-Found mainly in Europe
-Cabinet outside of Congress
-Cabinet from Parliament
-Run as an outsider
-Always inside Parliament
-No guarantee of Legis. majority
-Always has Legis. majority
-Runs as individual
-Runs for the Party
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Discussion of Reading

• Discuss Unified Government.
• Define.
• Pros?
• Ease of tackling legislative agenda
• Quick, decisive action-few filibusters w/ 60
• Cons?
• Lack of consideration of law impact
• Exs. Patriot Act, Affordable Care Act
• Tyranny of the majority

4
Discussion of Reading

• Discuss Divided Government.
• Define.
• Cons?
• Gridlock
• Define
• Good, bad or both?
• Filibuster
• How do you stop the minority?
• Pros?
• Deliberative Legislation via compromise?
• Safety valve for the losers of the other branch?

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The Most Controversial Laws of the Last 100 Years 
http//www.theatlantic.com/
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The Most Controversial Laws of the Last 100 Years 
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(No Transcript)
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Controversial Laws Passed in Unified vs. Divided
Govt
Law President House House Difference Senate Senate Difference
Federal Reserve Act Wilson Democrats 58 Democrats 86
Tariff Act Hoover Republicans 82 Republicans 69
Medicaid Amendments Johnson Democrats 38 Democrats 41
Welfare Reform Act Clinton Republicans 49 Republicans 46
Bush Tax Cuts George W. Bush Republicans 85 Republicans 68
Affordable Care Act Obama Democrats 87 Democrats 100
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Peaceful Transition

• Fears of Presidency
• Jefferson Bad edition of the Polish king.
• Randolph Foetus of a monarchy
• What fears did the Constitution try to solve? How
  did they resolve them?
• Domination by Senate over foreign policy
• Election
• Term of Office
• 44x with a peaceful transition
• http//abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/inauguration-
  2013-president-obama-takes-oath-office-18273470

10
The Office of the President

• Constitutional Requirements (2.1.5)
• No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a
  Citizen of the United States at the time of the
  Adoption of this Constitution, 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.
• Impeachment (2.4, 1.2, 1.3)
• Andrew Johnson impeached by HOR, acquitted by
  Senate by 1 vote
• Richard Nixon resigned after House Judiciary
  recommended impeachment
• Bill Clinton impeached by HOR, acquitted by Senate

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Amendments Affecting President (12)
12
Amendments Affecting President (20)

• Important vocabulary Lame Duck President

1st Monday in March
January 20th at Noon
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Amendments Affecting President (22)
1932 1936 1940 1944
14
Amendments Affecting President (25)
What Now?? President? Acting Pres.?
Disability
Discuss the Act of Succession 1947
15
Assignment Due Monday!

• Read pp. 372-378, including inset on Bush v. Gore
  handout on the Electoral College.
• Complete questions about the system to refresh
  details and develop a position.
• Be ready to debate the politics, outcomes, and
  effects of Bush v. Gore.