Article II for Dummies: The Executive Branch Explained
Summary
TLDRIn this engaging lecture, Mr. Keith Hughes and facilitator N Chomsky explore Article Two of the U.S. Constitution, focusing on the powers and responsibilities of the President. They discuss presidential qualifications, the Electoral College, and the significance of the president as the enforcer of law and commander-in-chief. The session highlights the importance of checks and balances, including the veto power, treaty approval by the Senate, and the presidential pardon. The lecture aims to educate students on the constitutional framework governing the executive branch and its historical implications.
Takeaways
- ๐ The class is called 'Hip, Hugh History' and focuses on teaching about Article Two of the U.S. Constitution.
- ๐ The lecturer, Keith Hughes, emphasizes the importance of understanding Article Two for various reasons including school tests, avoiding embarrassment, and social situations.
- ๐ Article Two details the qualifications for being President, such as being at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and having lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.
- ๐ณ The Electoral College system is explained, including its original design flaw that led to the 1800 election controversy between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.
- ๐บ๐ธ The President's role as the enforcer of laws and the Commander-in-Chief is highlighted, with clarification that Congress declares war, not the President.
- ๐ก The concept of 'bully pulpit' is introduced, indicating the President's ability to influence legislation through public opinion.
- ๐ The President's power to sign or veto legislation is discussed, including the potential for Congress to override a veto with a two-thirds majority.
- ๐ค The President's authority to sign treaties is noted, with the requirement of a two-thirds Senate approval for ratification.
- ๐ The President's pardon power is explained, including the historical example of Gerald Ford pardoning Richard Nixon post-Watergate.
- ๐จโ๐ซ The President's role in appointing Supreme Court Justices and federal judges is detailed, with the check of Senate confirmation.
- ๐ The 22nd Amendment is mentioned, which limits the President to serving two terms in office, following the precedent set by George Washington and formalized after Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the lecture by Mr. Hughes?
-The main topic of the lecture by Mr. Hughes is Article Two of the Constitution, focusing on the executive powers and responsibilities of the President of the United States.
What are the basic requirements to be eligible for the presidency as outlined in the Constitution?
-The basic requirements to be eligible for the presidency include being at least 35 years old, having lived continuously in the United States for at least 14 years, and being a natural-born citizen.
How does the Electoral College system originally work, especially regarding the selection of the Vice President?
-Originally, electors would cast two ballots in the Electoral College. The candidate who received the most votes would become President, and the candidate who came in second would become Vice President. This system did not account for the possibility of a President and Vice President who were political rivals.
What historical event highlighted the need for changes in the Electoral College system?
-The election of 1800 highlighted the need for changes in the Electoral College system when Aaron Burr, an enemy of Thomas Jefferson, became his Vice President after Jefferson beat John Adams.
What is the role of the President as the Commander in Chief according to the Constitution?
-The President, as the Commander in Chief, has the responsibility to run the military and respond to issues of national security. However, it is Congress that has the power to declare war, not the President.
What is the significance of the President's veto power in the legislative process?
-The President's veto power is significant because it allows the President to reject laws passed by Congress. However, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both houses, which is not an easy feat.
What is the process for the President to sign treaties with foreign nations?
-The President can sign treaties, but these treaties must be approved by a two-thirds majority in the Senate. This is a check and balance to prevent the President from unilaterally committing the nation to long-term international agreements.
What is the President's pardon power and why is it important?
-The President's pardon power allows the President to commute sentences or grant clemency to individuals convicted of federal crimes. It is important as it provides a means for the President to exercise mercy and correct potential injustices within the legal system.
What is the significance of the President's role in appointing Supreme Court and federal judges?
-The President's role in appointing Supreme Court and federal judges is significant because these appointments are for life, meaning that the President can shape the judiciary and influence the interpretation of laws for decades to come.
What is the historical context of the 22nd Amendment and its impact on presidential terms?
-The 22nd Amendment, ratified after FDR's death, officially limits the President to two terms in office. This came after FDR broke the unwritten rule of serving only two terms by running for and winning a fourth term.
What is the concept of checks and balances as it relates to the President's powers?
-The concept of checks and balances relates to the President's powers by ensuring that no single branch of government has too much authority. For example, while the President can veto laws and sign treaties, these actions can be overridden by Congress or require Senate approval, respectively.
Outlines
๐ Introduction to Hip-Hugh History and Article Two of the Constitution
The video script begins with an introduction to a class called Hip-Hugh History, which is described as the coolest class online and on land. The lecturer, Mr. Hughes, along with his facilitator, N Chomsky, will discuss Article Two of the Constitution. The introduction sets the tone for an engaging and humorous lecture, emphasizing the importance of understanding the Constitution, particularly for high school students preparing for tests, college students, or anyone interested in expanding their knowledge on executive power. The lecture aims to cover delegated powers, qualifications, and real-life examples related to Article Two, encouraging creativity and active learning.
๐ Presidential Requirements and the Electoral College
This paragraph delves into the specifics of Article Two, focusing on the qualifications required to become the President of the United States. It mentions the age requirement of 35, the necessity of being a natural-born citizen, and the need to have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. The script also explains the Electoral College system, including its original design flaw that led to the 1800 election controversy between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The paragraph highlights the importance of understanding the Electoral College's role in indirect democracy and its historical implications, as seen in the 1800 election where the House of Representatives had to choose the president due to a lack of a majority winner.
๐ค Presidential Powers and Their Constitutional Checks
The script continues by outlining the various powers vested in the President, including the role as the enforcer of laws, the Commander-in-Chief of the military, and the power to sign or veto laws and treaties. It emphasizes that while the President can propose laws, it is Congress that passes them, and any veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority in both houses. The President's role in military command is clarified, noting that they do not declare war but respond to national security issues. The paragraph also touches on the President's pardon power, exemplified by the case of Richard Nixon, and the power to appoint Supreme Court justices and federal judges, which are subject to Senate approval.
๐ The Evolution of Presidential Term Limits and Checks on Executive Power
The final paragraph discusses the historical evolution of presidential term limits, starting with George Washington's precedent of serving only two terms, which became an unwritten rule until it was codified into the 22nd Amendment following Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms in office. The script wraps up by summarizing the key presidential powers, including the ability to pardon, appoint judges and cabinet members, and enforce laws. It also addresses the checks on executive power, such as the impeachment process and the supermajority required for overriding vetoes or removing a president from office. The lecture concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding these constitutional powers and checks in order to engage in informed discussions about the presidency and its role in contemporary politics.
๐ Conclusion and Farewell
The video script concludes with a simple farewell, signaling the end of the lecture and inviting viewers to join future classes for more engaging and educational content.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กConstitution
๐กArticle Two
๐กElectoral College
๐กCommander in Chief
๐กLegislative Process
๐กVeto
๐กTreaties
๐กPardon Power
๐กJudicial Appointments
๐กCabinet Members
๐กImpeachment
Highlights
Introduction to Article Two of the Constitution, focusing on executive power and presidential qualifications.
The necessity for students to understand Article Two for academic success or social situations.
Explanation of the basic requirements to become President, including age, residency, and citizenship.
Historical context of the Electoral College and its original function, including the 1800 election incident.
Clarification that the President does not declare war, but rather is the Commander in Chief of the military.
The President's role in law enforcement and the significance of the veto power.
The process of treaty signing and the required Senate approval by a 2/3 majority.
The President's pardon power, including the historical case of Gerald Ford pardoning Richard Nixon.
Discussion on the President's authority to appoint Supreme Court Justices and federal judges.
The significance of the President's role in selecting cabinet members and the Senate's role in confirmation.
The evolution of the presidency, including the tradition of serving no more than two terms and the 22nd Amendment.
The balance of power between the President and Congress, especially in the context of national security.
The potential for the President to expand power through the execution of laws and national security measures.
The impeachment process and the distinction between impeachment and removal from office.
The importance of checks and balances in the constitutional framework of executive power.
Contemporary debates on the extent of presidential power and its implications for governance.
Conclusion emphasizing the importance of understanding the Constitution for engaging in informed discussions.
Transcripts
you are now officially enrolled in Hip
Hugh history the coolest class online
and on land in today's lecture Mr Hughes
will discuss articles two of the
Constitution enjoy hey welcome to H
history and I got a voice over shout out
to taies pretty cool in the next 20
minutes or so guys um myself Keith
Hughes and N Chomsky my facilitator are
going to take you through the Journey of
your life not really we're just going to
go over article two of the Constitution
but you need to know it you need to know
it because you're either a high school
student and you need to pass that test
maybe you're lost in college and you
just kind of don't want to look silly in
front of everybody or maybe you're going
to a dinner party and they're going to
be watching Jeopardy and you're just
praying that uh you know something about
executive power or maybe you're just
like really weird and you're lost it
here I am talking to you either way
you're all welcome to hipu history let's
look at at uh delegated power
qualifications what's in Article 2 and
flush it out with some real life
examples that would be great gome what
do you think awesome awesome let's get
started guys ding dong learning is
here remember also that since using a
film is part of a creative process the
steps you take reflect your own creative
ability so let's do it let's bang this
guy up right now so guys let's look at
Presidential Power presidential
requirements we don't want to like you
know kind of verbatim go over the
Constitution but we do want to generally
get these big ideas out to you so if we
break up article two and they break it
up by sections and then Clauses in
article two um we can basically look in
the beginning of article one section one
where they talk about like who can be
president and how you get elected to be
president in terms of the Electoral
College really basic things um you had
to be 35 you still have to be 35 so
kites do not apply you have to live
continuously in you United States for 14
years and you have to be a natural-born
citizen so like some really simple
requirements that we've never had any
problems with wink wink wink that aren't
crazy but nevertheless you should know
that for sure F shout you should also
know that um originally the way the
Electoral College works and you can
press another button if you want to
learn all about the Electoral College is
that you know States choose electors
elections are run in those States and
then electors generally vote for who the
states vote for but they cast their
ballots and uh originally you would cast
two ballots and whoever came in second
would be vice president and that didn't
meant that the people running for
president you know sometimes wouldn't
get along as President and Vice
President um if that um was to occur and
that did occur in 1800 when Aaron Burr
who was an kind of an enemy of Thomas
Jefferson became his vice president
after Jefferson beat John Adams um
another kind of intricacy that you
should know about in the Electoral
College and again 1800 kind of shows
this is that um if you think of the
Electoral uh College as like a pizza p
and uh in order to win the game you have
to get a more than a half of the pizza p
well today are we understanded that
usually we have a two of people running
for president like right now we have a
Barack Obama and we have a what's this
this person's name we have a m Romney
somebody's going to win half the pie
plus one because there's two major
candidates but in the Constitution it's
set up where if nobody wins that
majority um hence if you have more than
two major candidates then it's the House
of Representatives that elects the
president it's an example of indirect
democracy ID I call it and that goes
back to the Federalist Papers and
factions and a whole bunch of other
stuff but generally speaking you should
know that um in 1800 it was the House of
Representatives that chose the president
after I don't know how many ballots they
voted but it ended up being Thomas
Jefferson
[Music]
there you go so basic basic things like
uh Congress sets the election date um
The Electoral College like we made
reference to before um but I think
that's enough for the beginning because
we have to get on we have to move it on
get out of here Mr hes what are you do
you got to teach the
kids boah let's look at Presidential
Power guys a few things about the
president the president is the enforcer
of the law it says in the Constitution
they will Faithfully execute the law and
of course Congress delivers that law by
signing a by passing legislation in the
house and the Senate the president you
know certainly has a bully pulpit kind
of this Unwritten traditional idea that
he proposes laws and you know he's kind
of the leader of the country and if
Congress is of the same party as the
president many times they do work in
unison you know think FDR and the New
Deal most people don't associate the new
deal with the Democrats who passed it in
Congress they associate it with the
president and still the same if we look
at trickle down economics and most
people say well that was Ronald Reagan
that was George Bush it was Congress
that passed those laws of tax cuts that
the president then signed so the
president can propose laws uses bully
pulpit but at the end of the day he has
to execute the laws that congress passes
um the president is commanderin-chief
that means that he basically runs the
military um one really important thing
is the president does not declare
war Congress declares
war the president does not declare war
the president does not declare war and
uh we have to go back really I think to
Korea until we get a kind of I'm sorry
World War I we get a a congressional
authorized War um most actions taken by
the president are under his guise of
military commanderin-chief responding to
issues of National
[Music]
Security
[Music]
so for instance if um LBJ thinks that
our interests are being attacked in
North Vietnam the Gulf of Tonkin and he
goes to Congress and asks for maybe even
just a resolution to give him you know
um the the the funding to go and and
bomb North Vietnam that's not a
declaration of war or if the aliens land
and start eating babies brains um we
generally would like the president to uh
you know call the military you know stop
the baby eating brain scenario and uh we
wouldn't need a declaration of war to do
that um certainly we should move on
there's a presidential power on my foot
going to pick it up that's what I'm
going to do right
now other things specifically you need
to know um and there's a lot of checks
and balances in here so you know Nome
and I explain these things without
talking about Congress and sometimes the
judicial branch but certainly the
president sometimes I use one finger to
kind of teach these Concepts like the
president's commander-in-chief the
president signs things right he
certainly signs laws and uh we should
know in the lawmaking procedure that
while he can propose them he doesn't
write them but once he gets a written
law on his desk he then can either sign
that law and then of course it's the law
of the land or he can one finger veto
that law and then that law would get
shipped back to Congress where if they
can override it with a 2third majority
in both houses but not necessarily an
easy thing to do so the president has
tremendous power with that that veto pen
um there's not a lot of ideas in
Congress that are passed with two-third
support so if the president vetos your
idea chances are it ain't going to
happen um the President also signs
treaties and um this is another major
check and balance you do not want to
give the power um to to you know
basically make a friendship with another
country for maybe decades to one person
you know all by themselves so if I give
the power to sign treaties exclusively
to the president and the president wakes
up one day possessed by you know evil
demon and then signs a treaty with Satan
Overlord of all darkness and hell then
you'd want the ability for the Senate to
say I don't think so no and that's
what's in the constitution in article
one the Senate will advise I'm sorry
we'll give approval to treaties by 2/3
so again these kind of big things like
overriding vetos or signing treaties um
and we'll see in a few minutes that if
the president's impeached it takes
2third vote in the Senate to get the
president removed from office these are
called super majorities cuz it's super
important that we get it right so
signing treaties um sometimes they'll do
that in class like yo you free this is
pardon power and the president in
Article 2 has the ability to admonish
sentences to basically blank out
sentences to get people out of you know
Federal um prison or to make them immune
from being charged with a crime um you
want an example I got the best example
ever um you all know Watergate of course
you know Watergate what the hell's
Watergate watch the video but when
Richard Nixon um basically covered up a
crime didn't plan a crime maybe but
definitely covered up a crime and uh
went against the the law of Congress by
not turning tapes over and basically
could have been you know maybe charged
with a crime on the street when he left
the presidency it was his vice president
now then the President Gerald Ford who
pardoned Richard Nixon and he might have
kind of given himself kind of a scar
letter to walk around with saying I'm
the guy who let Nixon off and maybe
that's why he lost to Jimmy Carter in
1976 but nevertheless presidential
pardon power is really important um and
another Presidential Power sometimes
they go I pick you no I pick you you no
I pick you is the power to pick Supreme
Court and federal judges um really
really important um and you learned this
in the judicial brand section but these
are people that get jobs for lives their
whole lives like
forever like if they were a vampire they
could be on the Supreme Court for like
you know 800,000 years I don't know if
vampires live 800,000 years um but
nevertheless really really important
thing so we check and balance that as
well so anybody that that gets chosen
for a federal um judgeship has to go to
the Senate and it's not a super majority
but they have to get 51% the President
also picks cabinet members that's
Unwritten Constitution it's not
specifically in the Constitution but
also checked by the Senate um really
really important powers and um let's
review really quick so we get the major
one down um and then we'll see if we can
summarize and flesh out some other
examples for you so here we go g
you
[Music]
originally the president could serve
unlimited terms after Washington stepped
down after two terms it became an
Unwritten rule until FDR broke that
Unwritten rule running four times in
winning the 22nd amendment was ratified
following FDR's death officially
limiting the president to two terms in
office we now bring you back to your
historical lecture with Mr
Hughes so it's the one finger game come
with me to the house of learning the
president is
the Commander in Chief the president can
sign and can sign you did it he can sign
laws and he can sign treaties U make
sure on the law segment you understand
that he can also veto laws and those
laws can be overridden that veto can be
overridden with 2third majority in both
houses and although the president can
sign treat trees it has to be approved
by the Senate by 2/3 the president can
do what to people
youu he can pardon them he can basically
admonish their sentences get them out of
a federal prison situation the President
also picks who that's right he picks
judges right and he also picks or she
would pick cabinet members and that's
really important the president enforces
the law um and I think you got the major
presidential Powers down and I think one
of the lessons that you should have
learned from this video is that the
president doesn't have an extraordinary
amount of power a lot of the power that
we see the president exercising comes
from kind of the executive National
Security standpoint that you know we're
going to learn in a second that he can
suspend deh's Corpus in times of Crisis
timeses is not a word so he certainly
can use his power in National Security
to expand his power and he's done that
through executing the laws in ways that
he sees fit and we can have that
discussion there's going to be comments
below that the president is just way too
powerful outside the constraints of the
Constitution nowadays and there's other
people that are going to argue that we
need a forceful executive in order to
get things done sometimes um other
things the president can be impeached
for sure he can be kicked out of office
um we should all know no presidents have
ever been kicked out zero null zip never
happened that's important because many
people think impeachment means removal
from office and it just doesn't the
House of Representatives can impeach the
president for high crimes and
misdemeanors um but they cannot remove
the president that is a 2third majority
vote in the Senate again that's a super
majority and it just goes round and
round guys checks and balances just is
an awesome game of checks and
balances so there you go guys executive
power constitutional executive power now
look has the office changed and is there
controversy and drones in Pakistan and
what's going on and yeah absolutely but
in order to engage in that type of
discussion you need this constitutional
kind of outline so there you go guys we
hope you join us again and again and
again and
again class is now officially over
please gather your belongings and
proceed to the next cool lecture by HP H
history subscribe today and we'll see
you for the next lecture
bye
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