Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Executive Branch
this branch. It is their duty to see that the laws of our nation are carried out.
The President is the only person in our
Electing Presidents
Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2: Each state shall appoint a number of electors.
of the voting power, so we have a buffer. The Electoral College is an indirect election of the president.
We tell the Electoral College who to vote for with our vote.
Electoral Math
Article 2, Section 2, Clause 2 cont: equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress
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When you vote for Obama or McCain, youre not really voting for them. Youre voting for the 21 electors that are loyal to them. In December, they cast their vote according to ours.
How many Electoral Votes in all? Need 270 win. Winner take all
Are some states more important than others? Which would you go after first? How many states would you need to get 270?
These are called faithless electors. However, the people chosen as electors are very loyal to that candidate. What do they do if their candidate dies?
1. The President is immediately replaced by the Vice President. 2. In the even that both President/VP are eliminated, the Speaker of the House would assume the Presidency. 3. In the event all 3 are gone, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate assumes the Presidency. 4. If all four are eliminated, replacement is done by the Presidents Cabinet (in order of inception) .
President John F. Kennedy Minutes before his Assassination (November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas).
President names his/her VP, and fills any vacancies in the Cabinet.
Who is the only President to NEVER have been elected, because of events related to this process?
There is always a
Designated Survivor at the State of the Union and such large public gatherings of government.
William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Abraham Lincoln (A), James Garfield (A), William McKinley (A), Warren G. Harding, Franklin Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy (A) are the 8 Presidents who have died in office.
Other Details
Article 2, Section 1, Clauses 7 and 8: Salary and Oath of Office
The President makes $400,000. Only Congress can change that. Oath of Office is the culminating event of
Chief Justice of Supreme Court does this. 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.
Presidential Powers
Article 2, Section 2, Clause 1 & 2: The President shall be commander in chief seek opinions grant reprieves and pardons also: advice and consent clause.
Allows the President to release anyone from jail that hed like. Very, very controversial.
Negotiate treaties and agreements with nations. 2/3 of the Senate must approve, however. Appoint judges and ambassadors With Senate approval, of course.
Clause 1: deliver the state of the union. Can motivate or inspire Congress to write/pass laws. Or, he can just tell them to (this makes him a legislator, of sorts). Clause 2: call for a special session of Congress. Only if they fail to do their job in a timely fashion (only happened 27 times in history, and not since 1948). Clause 3: represent our country in discussions with other
Clause 4: faithfully execute our nations laws. He can adjust the budget at times. Can also suspend habeas corpus, though rare. Executive Order has come from this: The Presidents power to issue directives, which are basically laws coming from the President, without Congressional approval.
The Cabinet
Article 2, Section 2, Clause 2: advice and consent clause.
The members of the cabinet are his closest advisors experts in a particular area that can help the President make decisions that affect our country. While not directly in the Constitution, its impossible for the President to carry out his duties without their aid.
The President chooses these to help him/her make the best decisions possible. Think of them as the assistant coaches or supporting cast.
State) Department of Treasury Department of Defense Department of Justice (Attorney General) Department of Interior Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce Department of Labor Department of Health and Human Services Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of Transportation Department of Energy Department of Education Department of Veterans Affairs Department of Homeland Security *Created in 2002!
Chief of Staff (The Gatekeeper) Environmental Protection Agency Office of Management and Budget National Drug Control Policy
Presidential Perks
Just for fun not on the Test!
Air Force One, Navy One, Marine One, Coast Guard One, Army
One, and Cadillac One! Secret Service protection (from serious candidacy until death) Bowling alley, pool, movie theatre, jogging track, putting green. Personal Gourmet Chef, 24/7 Lifetime of benefits (pension, health care, home). Bill Clinton gets $1.2 million worth of benefits per year!