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GPSolo Magazine

GPSolo September/October 2024: Election Law

Presidential Perks

Julie T Houth

Summary

  • In honor of the 2024 presidential election cycle, this article gives a brief overview of the role of the president—and the perks that come with it.
  • While being president is one of the most difficult occupations in the world, the presidential perks seem to provide some incentive!
  • Life after being the president has its perks, too. The Former Presidents Act of 1958 provides several benefits and perks that are available to presidents after they leave office.
Presidential Perks
Allan Baxter via Getty Images

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The year 2024 marks another presidential election for the United States. In honor of another election cycle, this article attempts to briefly cover the role of the president and the perks that come with it.

Requirements for Presidential Candidates

Legal requirements for presidential candidates have remained the same since the election of our first president, George Washington. Under the U.S. Constitution, a presidential candidate must be at least 35 years of age, must be a natural-born citizen, and must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. Anyone who meets these requirements can declare their candidacy for president.

In the modern era, candidates must register with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) once they raise or spend more than $5,000 for their campaign. This includes naming a principal campaign committee to raise and spend campaign funds.

Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. Voters can vote in person before or on Election Day or vote by mail-in ballot by Election Day, depending on the jurisdiction. When citizens cast their ballots for president in the popular vote, they elect a sale of electors. Electors then cast the votes that decide who becomes president. In December, electors cast their vote for president in the Electoral College. Electoral votes often align with the popular vote in an election, but not always. There have been times when the person who ended up being president did not receive the most popular votes. (Learn more about the history and timeline of the Electoral College from the Library of Congress.) In early January of the next calendar year, Congress counts the electoral votes, and presidential inauguration day is on January 20.

Being the President of the United States

While living and working in the White House, the president has many roles. The president serves as commander-in-chief, chief administrator, chief executive, chief legislator, chief diplomat, chief of party, chief of state, and chief citizen.

Roles of the President and Presidential Powers

The president has the power to negotiate and sign treaties (which the Senate then chooses whether to ratify). The president can also issue executive orders and has the power to extend pardons and clemencies (for federal crimes only). Although Congress may override a veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses, the president has the power either to sign legislation into law or to veto bills enacted by Congress. According to the official website of the White House:

Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress. Fifteen executive departments—each led by an appointed member of the President’s Cabinet—carry out the day-to-day administration of the federal government. They are joined in this by other executive agencies such as the CIA and Environmental Protection Agency, the heads of which are not part of the Cabinet, but who are under the full authority of the President. The President also appoints the heads of more than 50 independent federal commissions, such as the Federal Reserve Board or the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as federal judges, ambassadors, and other federal offices. The Executive Office of the President (EOP) consists of the immediate staff to the President, along with entities such as the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Presidential Perks

Being president of the United States is arguably one of the toughest jobs in the world. While it is a challenge, the president does get some nice perks. The president receives a salary of $400,000 a year, paid monthly, and has an expense allowance of $50,000. Presidents also travel in style in their personal plane, also known as Air Force One, and their personal helicopter, also known as Marine One. Presidents also get their own motorcade and special car. There is also a special bullet-proof car specifically for the president to ride in called the Beast.

A known perk is that the president and his family get to live in the White House. A fun historical fact is that it was not until the Adams administration in 1880 that the president and the president’s family began living there. The White House has six stories, 132 rooms, and 35 bathrooms. It also has a tennis court, a movie theater, a bowling alley, a billiard room, a basketball court, and a swimming pool. The president has an allowance of $100,000 paid by the government to redecorate the White House. The presidential family is assisted in the White House by nearly 100 permanent residential staff members, including maids, cooks, butlers, plumbers, engineers, and florists. The government gets the bill for anything the presidential family needs to move into the White House (office space, communication services, etc.) for up to six months. If they so desire, presidents can choose to dine in the West Wing’s formal dining room, called the Navy Mess and Ward Room.

The president can also retreat to Camp David, a quiet country residence in Catoctin Mountain Park, Frederick County, Maryland, which is the president’s vacation home. Originally known as Hi-Catoctin, it was built by the Works Progress Administration in 1939 as a retreat for federal government agents and their families. It was converted in 1942 into a presidential retreat for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who renamed it Shangri-La, after the fictional Himalayan paradise. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower renamed this residence after his father and grandson, both named David.

The president’s salary also includes a non-taxable vacation fund, a stipend of $100,000 to travel wherever they desire. The president’s guests, political or personal, get their own home, too. The Blair House, located not far from the White House, is a residence where the president’s guests can enjoy their stay comfortably. The president also has an entertainment allowance of $19,000, which can go toward such things as watching a Broadway show or a sporting event. Wellness is an important consideration in any job, and the presidency is no exception. In fact, presidents get their own personal fitness trainer if requested.

Presidential Perks Post-Presidency

Life after being the president has its perks, too. The Former Presidents Act of 1958 provides several benefits and perks that are available to presidents after they leave office. Former presidents are entitled to Secret Service protection, medical care and health insurance, staff and office expenses, and a pension. Presidents receive state funerals upon their death. In addition to having the coffin wrapped in an American flag and a military salute at the Arlington National Cemetery, the funeral will be attended by dignitaries, former presidents, and foreign leaders. Widows of former presidents are eligible for a $20,000 annual pension, but this is optional. In the past, Betty Ford and Nancy Reagan waived this benefit. Widows of former presidents are also entitled to postal franking privileges that allow for free postage for official correspondence.

Presidents who are removed from office through the impeachment process are no longer eligible for the pension and benefits provided in the Former Presidents Act of 1958. Lifetime Secret Service protection is provided under a separate law, so this benefit would not be impacted by removal from office.

Jimmy Carter has received post-presidential benefits and perks longer than any other former president. He is also the oldest living former president and the longest-lived president in U.S. history (he turned 100 on October 1, 2024).

Being the president of the United States is one of the most prestigious and difficult occupations in the world. While the U.S. presidency poses many challenges, the presidential perks during the job and afterward seem to provide some incentive!

This article and issue are dedicated to Eleanor Southers, a long-standing ABA and GPSolo Division member who passed away in early September. Eleanor was an essential member of the GPSolo Magazine Editorial Board. She was a retired lawyer and a brilliant writer and speaker. She dedicated her time to our board and was a bright light for our team. She was always willing to help in whatever way she could. The magazine board’s success would not have been possible without her efforts and support. Loss and grief never get easier. I will miss her greatly and find solace in the fact that she lived her life to the fullest in the happiest, most impactful way. From Eleanor’s GPSolo family, we love you, Eleanor, and will miss you so much.

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