Article 2: The Executive Branch

Summary

Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution outlines the Executive Branch, focusing on the President's role and powers. To become President, one must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and have lived in the U.S. for 14 years. The same applies to the Vice President. The President serves as Commander-in-Chief, makes treaties, appoints officials, and delivers the State of the Union. However, if the President commits a serious crime, they can be impeached and potentially removed from office. Only two Presidents have been impeached but were acquitted.

Takeaways

• 📜 Article 2 of the Constitution covers the Executive Branch, specifically the role of the President.
• 👮‍♂️ The President's primary duty is to enforce laws as the head of the Executive Branch.
• 🌐 To run for President, one must be a natural born citizen of the United States.
• 📅 Candidates must be at least 35 years old, with most Presidents being in their 50s or older when elected.
• 🏠 A candidate must have been a U.S. resident for at least 14 years, regardless of citizenship status at birth.
• 🌐 The same requirements apply to the Vice President, who may need to assume the Presidency.
• 🏆 The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the military, despite being a civilian.
• 🤝 The President has the power to make treaties with foreign nations.
• 📋 The President appoints key government officials such as Ambassadors and Judges.
• 🗣️ The President delivers a State of the Union address to Congress annually.
• ⚖️ The President can be impeached by Congress for failing to fulfill duties or committing serious crimes, though this is rare.

Q & A

What is Article 2 of the Constitution about?

Article 2 of the Constitution covers the Executive Branch, specifically the role and powers of the President.

What is the primary job of the Executive Branch?

The primary job of the Executive Branch is to enforce laws, and this responsibility is mainly held by the President.

What are the requirements to run for President as outlined in Article 2?

To run for President, a person must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and have been a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.

What does it mean to be a 'natural-born citizen' of the United States?

A natural-born citizen means someone who was born in the United States or born outside the U.S. to parents who are U.S. citizens.

Why do the requirements for Vice President mirror those of the President?

The requirements are the same because if the President dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the Vice President steps in to become the President.

What are some of the President's powers according to Article 2?

The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the military, has the power to make treaties, appoint Ambassadors, Judges, and other Federal Officials, and must give the State of the Union address to Congress once a year.

What is the role of the President as Commander-in-Chief?

As Commander-in-Chief, the President is in charge of the military, even though he is a civilian and not technically part of the military.

What is the purpose of the State of the Union address?

The State of the Union address is a speech given by the President to Congress once a year, outlining important issues and goals for the next year.

How can a President be punished according to Article 2?

If the President fails to fulfill his duties or commits a serious crime, he can be impeached by Congress. If found guilty, he can be removed from office.

How many Presidents have been impeached, and what was the outcome?

Two Presidents have been impeached, but both were acquitted of their crimes and remained in office.