Presidential Transition Presidential Transition (page 391)(page 391)

• Only one President has served more than two terms…thanks to the 22nd Amendment.

• Only about 1/3rd of Presidents since G. Washington have served a second term.

• 8 presidents have died in officeo Four were assassinated

The Vice PresidentThe Vice President• Only 3 VPs have successfully been elected

President.

• An empty job?

• Despite the jokes, Candidates still fightfeverishly for.

“The most insignificant

office that ever the invention of man contrived

or his imagination conceived.”

The Vice PresidentThe Vice President• The only official task is to preside over the

Senate and vote in the case of a tie.

• VP’s leadership powers in the Senate are weak. o Especially if there is a divided house.

o After 9/11 Bush was on an airplane so VP Cheney was quickly hidden away in a secret, secure, location and stayed there for many months.

o At best, the Vice President is only an advisor to the President.

President Pro tempore

Problems of Problems of SuccessionSuccession

• What happens if the president should die in office?

• What if he becomes seriously ill?

• If the VP does not step up, who will?!?!?!??

• The Succession Act of 1886: Designated the secretary of state as next in line for the presidency after the VP, followed by the other cabinet officers in order seniority.

• In 1947, the law was changed to make the Speaker of the House and then the president pro tempore of the Senate the next in line after the VP.

• 1967 25th Amendment: Deals with disability by allowing the CP to serve as “acting president” whenever the prez declares he cannot discharge his duties.

ImpeachmentImpeachment• Besides death, disability or resignation the only

way the President can leave office is impeachment.

• Charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives.

ImpeachmentImpeachment• It is similar to a criminal trial:

o The President is charged and the House of Representatives cotes.

o To be removed from office, the impeached officer must be convicted by a two-thirds vote of the Senate, which sits as a court, precided over by the Chief Justice.

o 16 people have been impeached by the house and seven convicted by Senate.

ImpeachmentImpeachment• Only two presidents have been impeached:

o Andrew Johnson in 1868o Bill Clinton in 1998

o Richard Nixon, in 1974, would have surely been impeached had he not resigned.

Impeachment of Impeachment of Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson

• The case against Johnson was entirely political, Radical Republicans wished to punish the South after the Civil War.

• They were angry at Johnson, a southerner, who had soft policies toward the South.

The Impeachment of The Impeachment of Bill ClintonBill Clinton

• He was charged with perjury (lying under oath), obstruction of justice and abuse of power.

• The vote was passed by the House along Party lines

• A majority, but not two-thirds, of the Senate voted to convict.

• Why did he survive?o He was likable, economy was strong, nation was at peace,

he was a centrist.

Impeachment Impeachment • Some Founders thought it would be used

frequently against presidents.

• Helps legitimize the office.

• Military succession has always been peaceful.

How Powerful is the How Powerful is the President?President?

• One page typed due tomorrow.