5. The office of the President carries with it much

6. The President may grant

and pardons to persons convicted in Federal

courts.

7. The lawyers knew that

might happen.

AS YOU READ

1. Find out how a man becomes President. 2. Remember some of the duties and responsibilities of the President.

THE PRESIDENT-THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

In the 1600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, the District of Columbia, there is only one house. It is the White House, the home

of the President of the United States. In another country the home of the chief executive would be called a palace and the master of the house would have a title of nobility. Article I, Section 9, of the Constitution states that no person shall be granted a title of nobility by the United States. Therefore, it is "Mr. President," one of the citizens, who lives in the White House.

Article II of the Constitution gives the President the executive power to carry out the laws of the nation. It states that the President shall be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years of age, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. The Constitution also provides for the payment of a salary to him, and describes his duties and powers. It further declares that the President shall be elected by electors chosen in a manner provided by the state legislatures and shall serve for a term of 4 years. Amendment 22 states that no President shall be elected more than twice.

The Constitution also describes how the President may be removed from office and provides that upon his removal, or upon his death, his duties shall be carried out by the Vice President. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 provides that, in case of the death or removal from office of the President and Vice President, they shall be succeeded by (1) the Speaker of the House, (2) the President pro tempore of the Senate, and (3) the Cabinet members in the order, generally, in which their offices were created.

How a President Is Nominated

The nominating procedure is just as important in a democracy as the election procedure. The nomination of candidates answers the question, "Who will run for office?"

No single nominating procedure is used in the United States. Since 1840, however, the convention system has been used to nominate candidates for President and Vice President. During the summer of the year in which a President is to be elected, each political party holds a national convention. The members of the party in each state send delegates to the convention. They elect officers for the convention and agree on a party platform. The delegates are then ready to select the party's candidate for President.

There is first a roll call of the states. As the name of each state is called, a delegate from that state may offer the name of a person to represent the party as its candidate for President.

When the delegates of every state have had an opportunity to name their candidates, the roll of states is called again, and all of the delegates vote

to determine which one of the proposed candidates will receive the nomination. The candidate who receives a majority of the votes is nominated for the office of President.

The candidate for Vice President is chosen in the same way that the candidate for President is selected.

Candidates conduct their campaigns for the offices of President and Vice President until the election, which is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

How a President Is Elected

The chief executive is chosen officially by the Presidential electors from all the states. Every state is entitled to have as many electors as it has Senators and Representatives in Congress. When the citizens of a state vote for President, they actually vote for a group of electors who have promised to choose as President a particular candidate. The voters have the opportunity to vote

SOME DUTIES OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

for any one of the candidates because in every state there will be a group of electors for each candidate. The group of electors receiving the most votes becomes the electors for the state. After the citizens have voted, each group of electors chosen meets in its own state and votes for the President in accordance with the group's promise. By this indirect method, the voting citizens actually elect the President.

When Congress meets in January after the election, the members of the two Houses officially count the votes of the electors. The candidate who receives a majority of the total number of electoral votes is elected President. If no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes, the House of Representatives chooses the President from among the three candidates who received the highest number of votes.

The Vice President is elected in the same way, and for the same 4-year term of office. Should no candidate for Vice President receive a majority of the electoral votes, the Senate chooses as Vice

President one of the two candidates who received the highest number of votes.

Because the votes of the citizens actually elect the President, the people know who has been elected as soon as the votes for the electors have been counted. This is usually the day after the election.

The Presidential Inauguration

The day the President begins his term of office is known as Inauguration Day. On this day, the 20th of January following his election, the President takes the oath of office. It is administered to him by the Chief Justice of the United States.

The President repeats the oath which is required by the Constitution-the same oath taken by George Washington on April 30, 1789.

Following the oath, the new President makes a speech, called his inaugural address. In this speech he tells what he expects to do and what he would like to have done within the next four years. Many people hear this speech on the radio. Others watch the President take the oath and listen to his speech on the television. Some read the inaugural address in the newspapers. A great many people go to Washington to see and hear this impressive ceremony.

The Powers of the President

The President of the United States has the most important elective office in the world today. The Constitution gives him the executive power of the nation. He also has certain legislative and judicial powers.

As chief executive of the nation, the President's first duty is to see that Federal laws and treaties are properly enforced. In doing so, he issues necessary orders and instructions.

The Constitution provides that he shall be the commander in chief of the Army and the Navy, and of the militia of the various states when they are called into Federal service. He may send our armed forces to any part of the world.

The President's Authority to Appoint Federal Officers

The President has authority under the Constitution to appoint certain officers of the United States, but the Constitution states that the Senate

must approve these appointments. Using this authority, the President appoints the heads of the 11 executive departments and some of their branches, members of independent executive agencies, and other Federal officials. There are many of these officers in the government. Before making appointments to Federal jobs in a particular state, the President often consults the Senators from that state, especially if they are of his political party. This is called "Senatorial Courtesy."

The President's Authority to Work with Foreign Countries

The President directs foreign relations through his power to nominate the Secretary of State, and the ambassadors, ministers, and consular officials. who represent the United States abroad.

Government officers of foreign nations consider the President and his Secretary of State to be the representatives of the United States who are responsible for making and maintaining friendly relations with their countries. The President and his Secretary of State have the power to carry on all official contact with foreign nations, to arrange through the Department of State for the protection of our citizens who travel abroad, and to protect foreign persons traveling in the United States. The President receives representatives of foreign countries. He has the authority to recognize, or refuse to recognize, a new nation or a new government.

He has the power to negotiate and enter into treaties with other nations, with the approval of the Senate. He may make executive agreements, which do not need Senate approval, with foreign countries.

The Lawmaking Authority of the
President

The Constitution gives the President some control in lawmaking. You will remember that bills passed by Congress are sent to the President and that he may sign or veto them. Sometimes he will tell his party members in Congress that he intends to veto a certain bill and, as a result, Congress may not pass the bill. The President may even use his personal influence and prestige with members of Congress to obtain legislation.