Executive Leadership and Qualifications
The branch of government responsible for enforcing the nation's laws.
Executive Branch
The amount of time an elected official is authorized to serve. A presidential term is four years.
Term of Office
Personal qualities or experiences voters commonly look for in a presidential candidate, although they are not required by the Constitution.
Informal Qualifications
An official addition or change to the United States Constitution.
Amendment
The constitutional system through which electors formally elect the President and Vice President.
Electoral College
The head of the executive branch and the leader of the United States government.
President
The legal process that determines who assumes presidential duties when the President cannot serve.
Presidential Succession
The formal act of voluntarily leaving an office or position.
Resignation
The amendment establishing January 20 at noon as the beginning and end of presidential and vice-presidential terms.
20th Amendment
A person selected to cast an official Electoral College vote for President and Vice President.
Elector
The official who becomes President if the President dies, resigns, is removed, or is permanently unable to serve.
Vice President
The official order of individuals who may assume the presidency when both the President and Vice President cannot serve.
Line of Succession
The House of Representatives' formal accusation that a federal official committed serious misconduct. Impeachment alone does not remove the official.
Impeachment
The amendment limiting a person to being elected President twice.
22nd Amendment
An official vote cast by an elector for President or Vice President.
Electoral Vote
The constitutional requirements a person must meet to serve as President.
Formal Qualifications
An elected or appointed position that is temporarily unoccupied.
Vacancy
The process of forcing an official to leave office, which can occur after the Senate convicts the official following impeachment.
Removal from Office
The amendment explaining presidential succession, presidential disability, and how a vacancy in the vice presidency is filled.
25th Amendment
Votes cast directly by the people during an election.
Popular Vote
A person who was a United States citizen at birth.
Natural-Born Citizen
Unable to perform official duties because of a serious illness, injury, or other condition.
Incapacitated
Formally approved. A constitutional amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
Ratified
The amendment requiring electors to cast separate votes for President and Vice President.
12th Amendment
More than half of the total votes. A presidential candidate currently needs at least 270 of 538 electoral votes to win.
Majority