Article II & Presidential Roles
This is a required constitutional qualification to seek the office of President of the United States.
What is being a natural-born citizen (or being at least 35 years old / residing in the U.S. for 14 years)
The President's constitutional authority to appoint federal judges and Cabinet members is checked by this specific Senate action.
What is Senate confirmation (by majority vote)?
The total number of electors allocated to each state in the Electoral College equals the sum of these two groups in Congress.
What are its U.S. Senators and Representatives?
This constitutional privilege gives the President the implicit right to withhold confidential communications from Congress or the courts.
What is executive privilege?
Under the U.S. Constitution, this body holds the sole power to impeach a President, while this body conducts the trial.
What are the House of Representatives (impeaches) and the Senate (conducts trial)?
When the President issues a rule or directive that has the force of law without requiring congressional approval, it is known by this term.
What is an Executive Order?
This constitutional responsibility requires the President to address Congress annually regarding the condition of the nation.
What is delivering the State of the Union address?
The President can check the legislative power of Congress during the lawmaking process by exercising this power.
What is a presidential veto?
If no presidential candidate receives a 270-vote majority in the Electoral College, this body elects the President.
What is the House of Representatives (with each state getting one vote)?
This amendment established term limits restricting a President to serving a maximum of two terms or ten years.
What is the 22nd Amendment?
To convict a President during an impeachment trial in the Senate, this fraction of votes from members present is required.
What is a two-thirds majority?
Directing military operations during an emergency defense response demonstrates the President's constitutional authority under this specific role.
What is Commander in Chief?
This constitutional power allows the President to completely forgive an individual of a federal crime and restore their civil rights.
What is the pardon power?
This term describes an elector in the Electoral College who casts a vote that does not match the candidate they pledged to support.
What is a faithless elector?
This amendment established formal protocols for presidential succession and handling executive disability.
What is the 25th Amendment?
This independent regulatory agency is tasked with regulating communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.
What is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)?
When a President hosts foreign heads of state at official White House functions, they are fulfilling this primary role.
What is Head of State?
Under the U.S. Constitution, treaties negotiated by the President must be formally ratified by this congressional vote.
What is a two-thirds vote of the Senate?
These powers are claimed by the President, not explicitly stated in the Constitution, but inferred from the executive power clause.
What are inherent/implied powers?
This amendment altered the presidential election process by requiring electors to cast separate ballots for President and Vice President.
What is the 12th Amendment?
A major constitutional debate over independent regulatory agencies centers on non-elected officials creating rules that hold this status.
What is the force of law?
Non Elected officials have the ability to establish Federal Policy
Campaigning for congressional candidates of their political party is an example of the President acting in this role.
What is the Chief of Party?
The Judicial Branch checks the power of the Executive Branch primarily through this action regarding executive orders.
What is declaring an executive order unconstitutional (judicial review)?
Passed in 1973, this law was enacted by Congress primarily to limit the President's ability to deploy armed forces abroad without congressional approval.
What is the War Powers Resolution (or War Powers Act)?
This amendment shortened the "lame duck" period by moving Inauguration Day from March 4 to January 20.
What is the 20th Amendment?
Unlike the President on a federal level, state governors and local mayors function by executing and enforcing laws at these two levels.
What are state laws and local ordinances?