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The President. Qualifications.

How
Elected.

(3) Impeaching the President, Vice President, and all other civil officers of the United States for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

The executive officer of the United States is the President. His term of office is four years.

The qualifications of a President are:

(1) He must be a native-born citizen of the United
States.

(2) He must be at least thirty-five years of age.
(3) He must have been for fourteen years a resident
of the United States.

It is a peculiarity of our form of government that we do not vote directly for President, but for electors who choose the President. This plan was adopted in the belief that the people themselves would not make a wise selection. The electors are not legally required to vote for a particular person, but they are morally bound to vote for the person for whom their party elects them to vote.

On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every fourth year the voters of each state choose as many presidential electors as it has senators and representatives in Congress. The whole number of electors from the various states now is 531 and constitutes what is called the Electoral College. The electors in each state meet at a place designated by the state legislature, usually the state capitol, on the second Monday of January

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and cast their ballots for President and Vice President. Three certified copies of the result of the balloting are made; one is then sent to the President of the Senate at Washington by personal messenger; a second by registered mail; and the third is filed for record with the federal court in the district where the electors meet. After this is accomplished the "electoral college" has no further legal existence. On the second Wednesday in February the returns from all the states are opened and counted in the presence of Congress; i.e., the Senate and House of Representatives jointly assembled. The President of the Senate, who is usually the Vice President, is the presiding officer. The person receiving a majority of the whole number of electoral votes is then declared President. In case there is no choice, the House of Representatives then chooses the

Duties.

President. Balloting is then limited to the three candidates who have received the highest number of electoral votes. The representatives cannot vote individually but as a unit, each state having one vote. A majority of all the states is necessary for a choice. Two Presidents-Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams have been elected by the House. If no candidate receives a majority vote by March 4, the newly elected Vice President acts as President. If no Vice President has a majority of the electoral vote, the Senate chooses a Vice President from the two highest candidates. A majority vote is also required in this case.

The President's oath of office requires him to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." He is invested with large powers, which may be roughly classified as follows: Executive (a) To see that the laws are faithfully executed. (b) To appoint officers, judges, postmasters, ministers to foreign powers, etc., subject to the approval of the Senate, and in order that he may have sufficient power to carry out his oath he is made commander-in-chief of the army and the navy.

Powers.

Legis

lative Powers.

(c) To grant pardons, except in cases of impeach

ment.

In addition to the foregoing executive powers, the President has certain important legislative powers classified as follows:

(a) To advise Congress as to the state of the Union, and to recommend such legislation as he thinks proper.

(b) To call extra sessions of Congress when he deems it necessary.

(c) To approve or disapprove laws enacted by Con

gress.

(d) To make treaties with foreign powers, subject

to the approval of the Senate.

The Vice President must possess the same quali- The Vice fications as the President, and is elected in the same President. manner. In case the electoral college fails to choose

a Vice President, the Senate has power to elect. The duties of the Vice President are:

(a) To preside over the Senate.

(b) To succeed to the Presidency in case of a vacancy in that office.

The duties of the executive are so many that it is The impossible for the President personally to attend to Cabinet. them all. The executive branch, therefore, is divided into ten departments, each having a head selected by the President, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The heads of these departments manage the affairs of their respective departments and act as advisers to the President, although he is not bound by any law to follow their advice. Collectively, they constitute what is called the cabinet. These officers in order of creation are as follows:

(1) Secretary of State, who: Negotiates treaties.

Administers foreign affairs.

Has custody of great documents, treaties,
and federal laws.

Keeps and affixes the Great Seal.

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