Transcript Article II Power Point

YOUR CONSTITUTION
Article 2 – The Executive Branch
Section 1 - President & VicePresident
• The President is responsible for carrying
out the laws made by congress and for
upholding the Constitution.
• The term of office for President and VicePresident is four years.
Electors
• Our President and Vice-President are
picked by an indirect system called the
Electoral College.
• When people vote, they actually choose
electors.
• Each state has as many electors as they
have members of Congress (Senators +
Representatives = Electors).
Election of President & Vice
President
• The original method for choosing the
President and Vice-President did not work
very well.
• In 1804 the 12th Amendment to the
constitution changed the method of picking
these offices.
• There are two separate ballots for
President and Vice-President. Electors
vote separately for each office.
Time of Election
• The date set for public elections is the
Tuesday after the first Monday in
November.
• The Electoral College meets in December.
• A new President and Vice-President begin
their term in January.
Qualifications
• Must have been born a citizen of the U.S.
• Must be at least 35 years old.
• Must have lived in the U.S. for at least 14
years.
Vacancy in the Office of President
• If the President is unable to carry out his duties
(death, resignation, impeachment), the VicePresident takes over.
• The Presidential Succession Act lists who will
succeed (replace) the president:
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Vice-President
Speaker of the House
President pro tempore of the Senate
Secretary of State
Other members of the President’s Cabinet in an order
defined by the act
Salary
• The President is paid $400,000 per year.
– He also has a $50,000 expense account and
is given money for travel and official
entertaining.
• The Vice-President is paid $181,400 per
year and $10,000 for expenses.
• The salary cannot be changed during a
President’s term.
Oath of Office
• Before officially taking office the President
must be sworn in.
– The oath of office states: “I do solemnly
swear that I will faithfully execute the office of
President of the United States, and will to the
best of my ability, preserve, protect, and
defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Sections 2 & 3– Powers & Duties of
the President
• The President wears many hats!
– (He has many jobs.)
Chief Executive
• The President is responsible for carrying
out the nation’s laws.
• The President may also grant reprieves
(delay punishment) or pardons (excuse
crimes).
• Many executive departments and
agencies assist the President with this job.
Chief Diplomat
• The President:
– directs foreign policy
– appoints ambassadors (with Senate
approval).
– negotiates treaties with other nations (must be
approved by 2/3 vote of Senate)
Commander-In-Chief
• The President is the supreme commander
of the armed forces.
• The President CANNOT declare war, but
he can send troops to other parts of the
world for 60 days.
• Congress must approve longer troop
deployments.
Chief of State
• The President represents the American
people.
• He hosts foreign ambassadors, visits
foreign nations, and bestows honors on
Americans.
Legislative Leader
• The President proposes laws to Congress
and works for their passage.
• In the annual State of the Union address,
the President presents his goals for the
country.
Section 4 – Impeachment of
Federal Officers
• Any Federal official can be impeached
(charged with wrongdoing) by the House
of Representatives.
• The Senate acts as the court to determine
guilt.