Term
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Definition
| The president has the power to carry out laws made by Congress, called the executive power. He or she serves in office for a four-year term after election. The 22nd Amendment limits the number of times a person may be elected president. |
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Term
| 1:2 Choosing Electors from Each State |
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Definition
| The "lectors" are known more commonly as the "electoral college." The president is elected by electors - that is, representatives chosen by the people - rather than by the people directly. |
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Term
| 1:3 The Former System of Elections |
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Definition
| The original method of selecting the president and vice president was replaced by the 12th Amendment. Apparently, the framers did not anticipate the rise of political parties and the development of primaries and conventions. |
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Term
| 1:4 The Time of Elections |
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Definition
| Congress set the Tuesday after the first Monday in November every fourth year as the date for choosing electors. The electors cast their votes on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December of that year. |
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Term
| 1:5 Qualifications for President |
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Definition
| The president must be a natural-born citizen, be at least thirty-five years of age when taking office, and have been a resident within the United States for at least 14 years. |
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Term
| 1:6 Succession of the Vice President |
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Definition
| This former section provided for the method by which the vice president was to succeed to the presidency, but its wording is ambiguous. It was replaced by the 25th Amendment. |
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Term
| 1:7 The President's Salary |
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Definition
| The president maintins the same salary during each four-year term. Moreover, she or he may not receive additional cash payments from the government. Originally set at $25,000 per year, it is currently $200,000 a year plus a $50,000 taxable expense account. |
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Term
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Definition
| The president is "sworn in" prior to beginning the duties of the office. Currently, the taking of the oath of office occurs on January 20, following the November election. The ceremony is called the inauguration. The oath of office is administered by the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court. |
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Term
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Definition
| The armed forces are placed under civilian control because the president is a civilian, but still commander in chief of the military. The president may ask for the help of the heads of each of the executive departments (thereby creating the cabinet). The cabinet members are chosen by the president with the consent of the Senate, but they can be removed without Senate approval. The president's clemency powers extend only to federal cases. In those cases, he or she may grant a full or conditional pardon, or reduce a preison term or fine. |
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Term
| 2:2 Treaties and Appointment |
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Definition
| Many of the major powers of the president are identified in this clause, including the power to make treaites with foreign governments (with the approval of the Senate by a 2/3 vote) and the power to appoint ambassadors. Supreme Court justices, and other government officials. Most such appointments require Senate approval. |
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Term
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Definition
| The president has the power to appoint temporary officials to fill vacant federal officers without Senate approval if the Congress is not in session. Such appointments expire automatically at the end of Congress's next term. |
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Term
| 3 Duties of the President |
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Definition
| Annually, the president reporst on the state of the union to Congree, recommends legislative measures, and proposes a federal budget. The State of the Union speech is a statement not only to Congress but also the the American people. After it is given, the president proposes a federal budget and presents and economic report. At any time he or she so chooses, the president may send special messages to Congress while it is in session. The president has the power to call special sessions, to adjourn Congress when its two houses do not agree for that purpose, to receive diplomatic representatives of other governments, and to ensure the proper execution of all federl laws. The president further has the ability to empower federal officers to hold their positions and to perform their duties. |
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Term
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Definition
| Treason denotes giving aid to the nation's enemies. The definition of high crimes and misdemeanors is usually given as serious abuses of political power. In either case, the president or vice president may be accused by the House (called an impeachment) and then removed from office if convicted by the Senate. (Note that impeachment does not mean removal, but rather the condition of being accused of treason or high crimes and misdemeanors.) |
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