roles of power
Executive Branch
The branch of government responsible for enforcing the nations laws.
Informal Qualifications
Personal qualities or experiences voters commonly look for in a presidential years.
Resignation
The formal act of voluntarily leaving an office or position.
20th Amendment
The amendment establishing January 20 at noon as the beginning end of presidential and vice presidential terms.
Elector
A person selected to cast an official electoral college vote for president and vice president.
President
The head of the executive branch and the leader of the United States government.
Term of Office
The amount of time an elected official is authorized to serve. A presidential duty when the president cannot serve
Impeachment
The house of representative's formal accusation that a federal official committed serious misconduct. Impeachment alone does not remove the official.
22nd Amendment
The Amendment limiting a person to being elected president twice.
Electoral Vote
An official vote cast by an elector for president or vice president.
Vice President
The official who becomes president if the president dies resigns is removed or is permanently unable to serve.
Presidential Succession
The legal process that determines who assumes the presidency when both the president and vice president cannot serve.
Removal from office
The process of forcing an official to leave office which can occur after the senate convicts the official following impeachment.
25th Amendment
The amendment explaining presidential succession presidential disability and how a vacancy in the vice presidency is filled.
Popular Vote
Votes cast directly by the people during an election.
Formal Qualifications
The constitutional requirements a person must meet to serve as president.
Vacancy
An elected or appointed position that is temporarily unoccupied.
Ratified
Formally approved. A constitution amendment must ratified by three fourths of the states.
12th Amendment
The amendment requiring electors to cast separate votes for president and vice president.
Majority
More than half of the total votes. A presidential candidate currently needs at least 70of 538 electoral votes to win.
Natural Born Citizen
A person who was a united states citizen at birth.
Incapacitated
Unable to perform official duties because of a serious illness injury or other condition.
Amendment
An official addition or change to the United States Constitution.
Electoral College
The constitutional system through which electors formally elect the president and vice president.
General Election
The election in which voters choose among candidates for public office.