ARTICLE II
THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH
The President
The Vice President
The Cabinet
Executive Depts. & Bureaucracy
Qualifications for
Pres. & V.P.
Must
be 35 years old
Must be a natural born
citizen
Must have lived in the U.S.
the last 14 years
Term of office:
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The President and V-P. are
elected to four year terms
The 22nd amendment limits the
president to two terms or no
more than 10 years
Compensation
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Salary
$400,000(2001)
$50,000 for
expenses
$100,000 for
travel
White House 132
rooms and office
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Camp David
Resort
Medical &
Dental Care
Secret service
protection-life
Pension
Transportation
Presidential Succession
Act
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1. Vice-President of the U.S.
2. Speaker of the House
3. President pro tem
4. Cabinet secretaries in order
of department origin (State,
Treasury, Defense)
25th Amendment 1967
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If President cannot complete
his term, the V.P. becomes
President
If V.P. office is vacant, the
President appoints one w/
Senate approval.
RICHARD NIXON & 25th
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Nixon elected 1968 & 1972
1ST V. P. Spiro Agnew resigned b/c of
income tax evasion
Nixon appointed Gerald Ford VP
Nixon Resigned b/c of Watergate
scandal
Ford is President
Ford appoints Nelson Rockefeller VP
Richard Nixon
Watergate
http://watergate.info/
John Kennedy & MLK
Rise of Political Parties
No Parties in Constitution
1796 J. Adams-Federalist
T. Jefferson-Republican

Adams Pres- won most Elector
votes
Jefferson-VP- 2nd most
Thomas Jefferson-- Aaron Burr
Election of 1800
Adams vs. Jefferson
 Chose V.P. candidates to run
with them
Adams---Thomas Pinkney
Jefferson—Aaron Burr
 Electors voted twice. Jefferson
and Burr tied. Who is
President?

Tie Goes to the House
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House votes 35 times. Hamilton
convinces them to vote for
Jefferson.
Jefferson becomes 3rd President
Aaron Burr is V.P.
Later Burr will kill Hamilton in a
duel.
Changes in Pres. Elections
1.
2.
3.
Candidates select running
mates.
Electors pledged to parties,
not candidates; They vote
for PARTY.
12th Amendment added—
Electors designate their
vote as Pres. or V.P.
The Electoral college
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Each state will have electors = to
the number of senators +
representatives given to that state
Electors may not hold any other
office
Electors will be appointed by state
legislature
Electors will determine the pres. And
vice-pres.
2000 Census
Amendment

23rd Amendment gave the
District of Columbia 3
electors
Total 435+100+3=538 Elector
votes
Jimmy Carter-Oval office
PRESIDENTIAL POWERS

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Commander in Chief of the
Armed Forces
Grant reprieves & pardons for
federal offenses
Call special session of Congress
Receive ambassadors
Execute laws
Appoint officials to lesser
offices
Powers Shared w/ Senate
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Make Treaties
Appoint Ambassadors,
Judges, & high officials
Powers shared w/
Congress
Approve
legislation
Secretary of Homeland Security
The Oval Office
White House Office
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“West Wing”
Closest to the Pres.
#1 person is Chief of Staff
Press Secretary
Many others with various
names—Who is closest to the
Oval Office?
Removal of President

The president and vice
president may be removed from
office upon conviction of
impeachment for high crimes
and misdemeanors