Part II – THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
1. Who is the leader of the executive branch of government in the United States?
_____________________________
2. What are the requirements to be the President and Vice President of the United States?
President
Vice President
Age
Citizenship
Residency
3. How are the President and Vice President elected? _________________________
4. The Electoral College System
 Each state has as many ___________________________ votes as the number of U.S.
________________________ and _________________________ it has in Congress.
 There is a total of _____________ electoral votes: ______ members in the House of Representatives + _______
members in the Senate + _____ electoral votes for _____________________ = _________
o 23rd Amendment – Gave 2 DC 3 electoral votes
 To win the Presidential election requires a majority of electoral votes: _________
o If no candidate wins a majority then the ___________________________ votes to determine the
winner.
 Winner-take-all System – in every state except Nebraska and Maine which ever candidate wins the
____________________ vote wins all of the states electoral vote.
o One criticism of this system is that a candidate can win the election by winning only ______ states.
5. How long is a term for the President and Vice President? ___________________
6. How many terms may the President and Vice President serve?
o President _______________ or __________________ maximum
 George Washington refused to serve more than ____ terms which became a standard other
presidents followed.
 Franklin Delano Roosevelt served _______ terms from 1933-1945 which prompted Congress to
pass the 22nd Amendment.
 22nd Amendment - (1951) No president may be elected to more than ______ terms or serve
more than ______ years if began serving during another presidents’ term.
o Vice President _____________________________________________
7. What happens if the President dies or cannot perform his job due to illness or resignation?
 The Constitution says the __________________________ should assume the powers and duties of the
President.
 The Presidential Succession Act (1947) – Indicates the line of succession if both the President and Vice President
should be unable to serve.
o ________________________________________________
o ________________________________________________
o ________________________________________________ - 1st non-elected position.
o Other executive department secretaries in the order they were created.
 The 25th Amendment:
o Officially makes the _________________ the President should the current President die or leave office.
o The new president then chooses another __________________________
o The new vice president needs approval by both the __________________ and
_____________________________________.
Roles of the President
Research your assigned duty that the President carries out and be prepared to present it to the class.
Chief Executive
Description
Example
Executive Orders (216)
Appoint Officials (217)
Pardons, Reprieves, Amnesty (217)
Commander in Chief
In charge of: (217)
Description
Example
Description
1.
2.
3.
4.
Example
Checks and Balances on Pres. Power
to use troops (217)
War Powers Resolution (217)
Foreign Policy
Goals of Foreign Policy (220)
Treaties, Executive Agreements (222)
Foreign Aid (223)
Trade Sanctions, Embargo (223)
Military Force (223)
Other duties of President
Head of State (218)
Description
Example
Party Leader (218)
Economic (218)
Conclusion:
1. Which of the President’s jobs do you think is the most important? Why?
2. Which do think is the least important? Why?
3. Congress members do not have to be native born. Why do think this requirement is different for the President?