What kind of compensation does the president receive

Factoring in all of those other perks, and the power that comes with the position, why do the taxpayers pay the president directly? The reason is largely ideological.

The rationale, as described by the founding fathers in the Federalist Papers , is that the president's salary reinforces their status as an employee of and servant to the American public. A president who is not beholden to the people for his livelihood is more likely to act on their own interests.

Later generations may further argue that the presidential salary would be a necessity for any poorer citizens to get to the White House. There is no automatic process to adjust government salaries for inflation. Members of congress increase their pay by passing as a bill through Congress.

This poses a relatively firm restraint on the growth of executive pay in the United States. The president's salary has only been increased five times in U. Thanks to inflation , all previous presidents received more in buying power than the nation's top executive does today. The Former Presidents Act of ensures that U.

After he left office, he had many financial problems. The Act provides former presidents with a pension. They also receive funds for travel, office space, support staff, and mailing costs. The pay should equal that of a head of a federal government executive department. Ex-presidents also receive seven months of transition services.

It covers the costs of winding down the outgoing administration and briefing the incoming administration. They receive funds for office space and office staff. Former presidents and their spouses receive Secret Service protection for life. In , Congress reduced it to 10 years for presidents who entered office after But Congress reinstated lifetime protection in Children of former presidents receive Secret Service protection until they are 16 years old.

The salaries of ex-presidents are set by the Former Presidents Act. The amount is equivalent to the salary of the head of an executive department. The other costs vary according to each president's needs. The figures stated below are from the FY budget request:.

Jimmy Carter served from Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize. Carter imposed sanctions on Iran in response to the Nov. Iranian students took Americans hostage at the U. Embassy in Tehran. He also struggled to end the stagflation created by Richard Nixon. Carter added almost 10 million jobs while president , the fourth-largest increase. Carter created the Department of Education, deregulated oil prices as well as the trucking and airline industries.

Bill Clinton served from Clinton added about Homeownership was The poverty rate dropped to The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of raised taxes on the wealthy. He also cut spending by reforming welfare.

George W. Bush served from Bush fought the recession with the Bush tax cuts. Bush promoted the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Bush responded to Hurricane Katrina with billions to help with clean up. Blair House accommodates heads of state and other dignitaries when visiting the US, Insider previously reported.

The home includes four townhouses with rooms. Presidential perks last beyond four — or eight — years. The General Services Administration is required to provide a former president enough money to cover travel and business expenses. While serving a term, a White House doctor is always on call and medical staff accompany the president at all times.

He was treated at Walter Reed Medical Center which has a presidential suite. The White House also has its own clinic with exam rooms, medical equipment, and military doctors on staff, according to the LA Times. If a president serves five or more years of federal service, they receive priority health benefits and use of veterans hospitals.

The Former President Act determines how much compensation a president will receive after leaving the White House. In , Jimmy Carter, George H. Bush, George W. While presidential pensions are fixed rates, presidents can ask for additional funds from Congress to cover things like staff salaries and office space, according to MONEY. For example, George W. Transitioning one administration to the next is costly. A president's administration transition costs are covered up to six months after taking office.

This includes office space, staff compensation, communication services, and postage associated with transitioning, according to the Center for Presidential Transition.

Presidents and their immediate family are American icons and their legacies are preserved after death. When an immediate presidential family member dies, they are honored with a state funeral, which is reserved for heads of state.

A state funeral can last for seven to 10 days and is a three-stage event with full military honors. The presidential family gets a military escort and flyover with a gun salute, according to CBS News.

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