Article 2

1. Article 2 The Executive Branch

2. roles of the President Chief Executive Chief Diplomat Chief Administer Chief Legislator Head of the Political Party Head of State Chief Citizen

3. Qualifications for President Age 35 years or older Natural Born Citizen Living within the United States for 14 years Length of service pre 22 amendment was as many four year as he could get elected • All presidents followed George Washington’s example and was elected to only two term, except for FDR who ran for four terms. • Post 22 amendment – 2 terms and or one day less than 10 years

4. Perks of the Job $400,000 a year pay $50,000 expense account (taxable income) Secret Service protection • Last 10 years after being president 18 acre mansion Flying Command center/mansion Free Health Care for life A pension for life

5. 25 Amendment If the president is removed for any reason, the VP becomes president. After the VP, the line of succession is as follows as per the Presidential Succession Act of 1947: • Speaker of the House of Representatives • President Pro Temp of the Senate • Secretary of State • Secretary of the Treasury • Secretary of Defense • Attorney General • Secretary of the Interior • Secretary of Agriculture • Secretary of Commerce • Secretary of Labor • Secretary of Health and Human Services • Secretary of Housing and Urban Development • Secretary of Transportation • Secretary of Energy • Secretary of Education • Secretary of Veteran Affairs • Secretary of Homeland Security

6. The Vice President Constitutionally the VP only has two duties • Preside over the Senate • Decide if the President if able to execute his duties. The VP is picked by the candidate for President usually in order to bring additional voting power the ticket. In most presidencies, the office of VP has been the butt of jokes but a few, the VP has been very public and/or powerful.

7. Electoral college This system elects the President of the United States The way MOST states work the college is that a candidate who wins the state wins all of the electoral votes for that state. They show up at their state capitals on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December. • They vote for each candidate, President and Vice President. The votes are then sent in a sealed container to D.C. • Formal election day is January 6thwhen the votes are counted by the President of the Senate. • If there is a tie for President, the House decides. • If there is a tie for VP, the Senate decides

8. Issues with the College • Popular vote victory in November does not mean the candidate wins the state’s electoral votes • There is nothing in the Constitution that states the electors have to vote the way the people of the State does. • The potential for the House of Representatives deciding who is President is present in every election.

9. Potential tweaks to the college #1 District Plan - District Plan – the electors would be chosen in each State in the same way as members of the Congress are chosen. • Two electors (one for each Senator)would be chosen from each State and their vote would be decided by a Statewide popular election • The other electors would be elected in each congressional district, and would vote in accordance with the popular vote in each district • Pros • Winner-take-all idea would be gone • More reflect the results of the popular election • Cons • Wouldn’t get rid of the possibility of a losing candidate in the popular election winning the electoral college

10. Potential tweaks to the college #2 Proportional Plan – each presidential candidate would receive the same share of a State’s electoral vote as he or she received in the State’s popular vote. • Pros • Winner-take-all idea would be gone • Faithless electors would be eliminated • Cons • Its still possible to have a losing candidate win the electoral college • Because the small States are overweighed by the 2 electors for each Senator. • Increase in the number of minority parties • Increase in distribution of electoral votes would mean more elections going to the House of Representatives to decide who becomes President.

11. Potential tweaks to the college #3 Direct Popular Election – to do away with the Electoral College for the President • Pros • Supports the ideas of democracy • Always be a majority or “plurality” choice • Easily understood process • Cons • Requires a Constitutional Amendment to change. • Would probably be opposed by the smaller States who would lose power in a direct election • It would weaken the federal system • Cause Candidates to campaign in each and every State (very hard) and this would cost money, time, and effort, thus causing even more to be eliminated from running and make it an almost unmanageable situation. • In plenty of States, the election depends on the actions of specific members of the Electorate

12. Potential tweaks to the college #4 National Bonus Plan – a national pool of 102 electoral votes would be awarded, automatically to the winner of the national popular vote, combined with what the winner of the popular vote would receive should add up to roughly 321 electoral votes. • This would be more than enough to win the Presidency • In the very unlikely event that there wouldn’t be a majority, then there would be a run off election between the top two candidates held by the popular vote style.