Transcript Article II
Article II The Executive Branch The President is the Chief Executive of the Executive Branch The Executive Branch Made up of • President • Vice President • Presidential Cabinet along with all the agencies and departments which are overseen by the Cabinet Secretaries Electing the President The President is not elected directly by the people – Elected by the electoral college – Each state has as many electors as it has senators and representatives combined (ND has 3 electors) – 270 of the 538 electoral votes are needed to become President The Electoral College: What is it? • Group of qualified voters from each state – “an assembly of respected figures who would exercise their judgment to bring forth deserving candidates for the nation’s highest office ” • Gather the first Wednesday after the second Monday Why do we have it? • Developed as part of the Great Compromise – Large states wanted to have more votes for President – Small states wanted equal say in determining President – Compromise combined the House and Senate numbers to determine the votes for the President • Delegates at the Constitutional Convention didn’t have faith in the general population’s ability to select a President. • The constitution does not mandate the winner-takesall feature – All states but Maine and Nebraska use it Do we still need it? • First contested in 1796 when John Adams defeated Thomas Jefferson by 3 votes • More constitutional amendments have been proposed to eliminate the electoral college than any other purpose – 1796-1889: 160 proposed constitutional amendments proposed – 1889-1946: 109 proposed constitutional amendments proposed – 1946-1968: 265 proposed constitutional amendments proposed Inauguration • The President serves a 4 year term (can not serve more than 2 terms – 22 Amendment) – He is inaugurated on January 20 – His salary is $400,000/ yr. plus $150,000 for “expenses, travel, and official entertainment” Line of Succession • If something happens to the President, the line of succession is: – Vice President – Speaker of the House – President Pro Tempore of the Senate – Secretary of State – Secretary of the Treasury – Secretary of Defense Qualifications 1. natural born citizen 2. 35 years old 3. live in the United States for 14 years Powers of the President Article I Section 2 Clauses 1-3 1.) Grant pardons to those convicted of federal crimes 2.) Make treaties with foreign nations – needs two-thirds approval from Senate 3.) Nominate ambassadors, Supreme Court Justices, and other officials – needs the majority of the Senate to approve 4.) Appoint cabinet members 5.) Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces Duties of the President Article II Section 3 • State of the Union Address – “He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the Union” – Jan 27th 8pm • Assignment: Watch the State of Union • Call Special Sessions of Congress if needed • Receive ambassadors and other public ministers