Article II 1) What is the biggest problem with the Electoral College? 2) What does Article II focus on almost exclusively? The President shall be removed from office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, __________, _________, or other _________ _______ and ____________. 3) How often must the President give information to the Congress on the State of the Union? 4) Why does Congressman John Lewis believe your vote does not count in presidential elections? 5) Under what circumstances could a person have been elected or served as President of the United States and not been a natural born citizen of the United States? 6) Can a President be sued while serving Office? If so, for what? 7) What did Alexander Hamilton think with regard to “term of office,” for the President of the United States? What did George Washington believe? How many terms can a president serve in office? Which President served the most terms ? 8) In 1973, Congress passed the War Powers Resolution. What is its significance? 9) Define: Advice and Consent as it relates to the U.S. Senate and the President. 10) Define: Impeachment 11) Define: President’s Cabinet
 

Question one

The biggest problem with the Electoral College is that it ignores the will of the people. In a country with a population of over 300 million people, only 358 people get to decide who the next president will be through the electoral vote. A presidential candidate may win the popular vote but fail to become the president if he or she loses the electoral vote.

Question two

Article II focuses exclusively on the powers of the president by establishing the fact that the president is the commander in chief of the armed forces. It also discusses the procedures used in electing the president and the reasons for impeachment.

The President shall be removed from office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Question three

According to Article II of the constitution, the president shall give information to the congress on the State of the Union from time to time. He shall also recommend to Congress any measures he deems necessary and convenient.

Question four

Congressman John Lewis believes that your vote doesn’t count in presidential elections because the fate of the presidency lies in the electoral vote. Although a candidate may win the popular vote, the Electors decide who will become the next president through the electoral vote. If there is more than one presidential candidate with a majority of the electoral votes, the House of Representatives chuses by ballot (U.S. Const.  Art. 2.). If there is no candidate with a majority, then the House of Representatives will choose by ballot from the five highest in the list. This means that the vote of ordinary citizens has very little impact on who will be the next president.

Question five

The only circumstance where a person could be elected or served as the president of the United States and was not born on a US soil  is if he or she is a citizen of the United States, reached the age of thirty-five years, and has been a US resident for fourteen years.

Question six

The president of the United States cannot be sued for just anything because they have immunity from being liable in a personal capacity while executing official acts or exercising their executive power. However, the president can be subjected to civil lawsuits that concerns private issues in the state court.

Question seven

According to Alexander Hamilton, the term of office for the president of the United States should have no limit. This is why him and James Madison opposed the setting of term limits for the congress and the president. He claimed that a presidential term that is too short will make the president have no incentive to perform his duties properly.

According to George Washington, he believed that two presidential terms were enough. He did not run for president for a third term. He wrote a letter to Trumbull claiming that he didn’t want to be charged with concealed ambition.

Question eight

The 1973 War Powers Resolution is a resolution by the congress that limits the president of the US ability to initiate military actions or escape them while abroad. The significance of this resolution is that it prevents the abuse of presidential powers in sanctioning wars.

Question nine

In Article II, Section 2 of the American constitution, the senate has been given the exclusive privilege and right to consent and advise the president with regard to both nominations and treaties. This provision, according to Alexander Hamilton, provided a necessary means of checks and balances. Treaties that the executive branch negotiates need to be approved by a two-thirds vote of the senate. This means that the senate takes up a resolution of ratification and offers consent and advice which allow the president to continue with the treaty’s ratification.

Question ten

Impeachment is defined as the process of removing a person in a position so that they cannot exercise the responsibilities and powers that the position holds through a legally constituted tribunal or legislative body.

Question eleven

A president’s cabinet is made up of the president, Vice President, and the leaders of the 15 executive departments which the President appoints and are subsequently confirmed by the senate who are next in line in the succession of the president if needed.