President Donald Trump is taking a different approach to the presidency, at least when it comes to the size of his paycheck. He has pledged to donate the equivalent of a month’s salary, at least, to charity. Whether he is able to claim it as a tax deduction or not is another story.
While the debate is still underway, it’s clear that the government is in the business of paying presidents a check, whether it’s the one-time or the many. Although the government can’t take the credit, they have the power to ensure that the president isn’t getting more than the government can afford. As of June 2016, the president’s paycheck was a little over $557 million, according to the FEC.
Luckily, the government isn’t the only party that’s offering the president some monetary incentive. On the state level, some First Spouses are trading in lucrative careers for the presidency. A recent study found that some First Spouses have sacrificed upwards of $1 million in income to secure their gilded perch.
What are 5 Things the President Cannot Do?
The president is the leader of the country. He appoints Cabinet members, heads federal departments, and negotiates treaties. It is the president’s responsibility to faithfully execute the laws. Among his duties, the president has the power to veto a bill passed by Congress. However, a two-thirds vote by the House of Representatives overrides the veto.
Article II of the United States Constitution outlines the President’s responsibilities. This includes the appointment of ambassadors and members of the federal courts. If the president appoints someone to one of these positions, it must be approved by a simple majority of Senators.
The President can order the armed forces to engage in a military conflict for constitutional reasons. As commander in chief, the President can call on the National Guards of states to aid the nation.
The President has the authority to sign treaties and ratify them with two-thirds of the Senate. In addition, the President has the power to appoint executive officers, grant pardons, and grant reprieves. These powers are listed in Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution.
Can the President Change His Salary?
Presidents come with a salary, and it’s not the kind of thing you can just decline. The Constitution dictates that presidents receive a set amount of money, and they cannot get a raise while in office. But they can donate a portion of their salary to a worthy cause.
Donald Trump has made a splash by donating some of his earnings to several federal agencies. However, it’s not clear whether or not he will continue to make the charitable contribution in 2020. This is especially true given that he has been in the presidency for almost two years.
Trump has donated a lot of his earnings to various organizations and federal agencies, including the National Park Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Small Business Administration, the Treasury Department, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Some of his earnings are even being used to help contain the opioid epidemic.
Despite his generosity, it is unclear whether or not he will be able to take home a sizable tax break for his contributions. While he has been known to take the most minimal federal income tax deductions, he is not required to.
Who Sets the Salary of the President?
The salary of the President of the United States is set by Congress. In the past, the president’s salary has fluctuated based on inflation. Today, the President is paid around $400,000 a year. However, the salary hasn’t been increased since 2001.
In 1789, the salary of the president was $25,000 a year. This was raised to $75,000 in 1909. After this, the salary was increased again to $100,000 in 1949. And it was raised to $200,000 in 1969.
The president’s salary isn’t just a fixed amount; it also includes a $50,000 expense allowance. It’s a way of giving the president extra money for expenses, travel, and entertainment.
Since the Constitution prohibits the President from requesting a pay raise while in office, the president has to wait until the end of his term to request a salary increase. If the president doesn’t want a raise, he can veto the change.
The highest-paid staffer in the administration is the president’s director of public health policy. Some other assistants make $41,000 a year.
Are Presidents Above the Law?
There are those who believe that presidents are above the law. However, this claim is not supported by any real case law.
The argument is that since presidents are in office, they have no obligation to comply with conflict of interest laws. Consequently, they can run roughshod over sensitive people.
The Office of Legal Counsel, which advises the executive branch on constitutional issues, issued a memo in 2000 stating that the president is not immune from criminal prosecution while in office. At the time of Watergate, Attorney General Elliot Richardson pushed for a similar ruling.
While there is no actual statute or rule prohibiting the indictment of a sitting president, the Department of Justice has adopted a policy against indicting those in office. This rule was first advanced in 1973 when Attorney General Elliot Richardson wanted to prosecute Vice President Agnew for cash kickbacks he had taken from Maryland contractors.
During the Trump administration, the Department of Justice has not prosecuted a sitting president for any criminal conduct. This is in part due to the department’s belief that the president is immune from criminal prosecution.
What Can Remove a President From Office?
The US Constitution gives Congress the power to remove a president from office. However, the requirements to remove a president are fairly demanding.
Articles 1.2 and 1.3 of the Constitution grant the House of Representatives and the Senate powers to impeach a president. In addition, Article 2.4 states that a president is serving at the pleasure of Congress.
To remove a president from office, Congress has to first find a constitutionally legal reason. These reasons can be based on a number of things. For example, a president could be removed for mental incapacity or for violation of the Appointments Clause.
The most common way to remove a president is to impeach him. This is done by submitting articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives. Each article of impeachment must contain a specific charge against the president. Once the House of Representatives passes the articles, the President’s trial will follow.
During the impeachment process, the vice president serves as the acting president. If the congress agrees, the vice president doesn’t have to give up his or her position.
Who Can Override a President?
When it comes to overriding a president’s veto, you’re probably asking yourself, “Is it possible?” And yes it is. In fact, Congress has the power to override a veto.
This is not an easy feat. A two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate is required to override a presidential veto. Nevertheless, Congress has done it successfully a number of times.
The presidential veto is a very important aspect of American politics. For instance, President George W. Bush issued 12 vetoes in his second term. However, President Barack Obama used the veto only twice.
There are several ways to override a presidential veto. First, you can try to convince your fellow lawmakers to change the law. You can also pass a bill to block the issuance of executive orders. Or you can declare a law to be unconstitutional.
However, there are no guarantees that your proposed legislation will get passed into law. Even if you convince your senators and representatives to change a bill, it may not make it through the House of Representatives.
Who Was the Only Catholic President?
The first Catholic to be elected president of the United States was John F. Kennedy. Although many Americans believe Kennedy was skeptic about his religious beliefs, he reassured voters that his faith would not impact his decisions in the Oval Office.
In the 1960 presidential election, anti-Catholic prejudice was widespread. It was a serious obstacle for Kennedy to overcome. He faced accusations of dual loyalty to the Vatican and the United States.
Despite the controversy, Kennedy managed to get a majority of the Catholic vote. Religion also played a role in his wins in several industrial states.
Catholics are the largest religious group in the U.S., with 70 million members. Their numbers have been growing. Since the turn of the century, the Roman Catholic Church has become more diverse.
While the Roman Catholic Church has had a number of internal battles, including over abortion, the church is currently undergoing a major growth period. President Joe Biden is a devout Catholic.
However, the Catholic vote has flipped between the two major parties in recent years. In 2008, the Catholic vote backed Obama. But in 2012, the Catholic vote sided with Romney.
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