Article II for Dummies: The Executive Branch Explained

Summary

In 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

• 📚 The class is called 'Hip, Hugh History' and focuses on teaching about Article Two of the U.S. Constitution.
• 🎓 The lecturer, Keith Hughes, emphasizes the importance of understanding Article Two for various reasons including school tests, avoiding embarrassment, and social situations.
• 🔑 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.
• 🗳 The Electoral College system is explained, including its original design flaw that led to the 1800 election controversy between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.
• 🇺🇸 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.
• 💡 The concept of 'bully pulpit' is introduced, indicating the President's ability to influence legislation through public opinion.
• 📝 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.
• 🤝 The President's authority to sign treaties is noted, with the requirement of a two-thirds Senate approval for ratification.
• 🛑 The President's pardon power is explained, including the historical example of Gerald Ford pardoning Richard Nixon post-Watergate.
• 👨‍🏫 The President's role in appointing Supreme Court Justices and federal judges is detailed, with the check of Senate confirmation.
• 🔄 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

00:00

📚 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.

05:01

🏛 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.

10:02

🤔 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.

15:03

🔄 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.

👋 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.

Keywords

💡Constitution

The Constitution refers to the fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. In the context of the video, it specifically refers to the United States Constitution, which outlines the structure and powers of the U.S. government. The video discusses Article Two of the Constitution, which details the powers and responsibilities of the executive branch, headed by the President.

💡Article Two

Article Two of the U.S. Constitution pertains to the executive branch of the federal government, specifically defining the office of the President. The video's main theme revolves around explaining Article Two, including the qualifications for the presidency, the Electoral College, and the powers vested in the President, such as being the Commander in Chief and the enforcer of the law.

💡Electoral College

The Electoral College is the process by which the United States elects its President and Vice President. It consists of electors chosen by each state to cast votes on behalf of the state for the President and Vice President. The video script mentions the historical evolution of the Electoral College, including the 1800 election controversy and the method by which the Vice President is elected.

💡Commander in Chief

As Commander in Chief, the President of the United States is the highest-ranking military official and has the authority to direct all branches of the military. The video emphasizes that while the President has this military authority, they do not have the power to declare war, which is a power reserved for Congress.

💡Legislative Process

The legislative process refers to the steps that a bill goes through to become a law in the United States. The video explains that the President plays a role in this process by either signing bills into law or using a veto to reject them, which can then be overridden by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress.

💡Veto

A veto is the power of the President to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law unless overridden by a two-thirds majority in both houses. The video script uses the veto as an example of the President's power to influence the legislative process and the checks and balances within the U.S. government.

💡Treaties

Treaties are formal agreements between nations. The President has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, but these must be ratified by a two-thirds majority in the Senate, as mentioned in the video. This is an example of the checks and balances system, ensuring that the President does not have unilateral power over foreign policy.

💡Pardon Power

The pardon power allows the President to forgive federal offenses and commute sentences. The video provides the historical example of Gerald Ford pardoning Richard Nixon after the Watergate scandal, illustrating the impact and significance of this power in the context of the presidency.

💡Judicial Appointments

The President has the power to nominate and appoint judges to the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The video script discusses the importance of these appointments, as they can shape the interpretation of laws and the Constitution for decades, and notes that these appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

💡Cabinet Members

Cabinet members are the heads of the executive departments of the U.S. government, appointed by the President. The video mentions that while this is not explicitly stated in the Constitution, it is a traditional part of the President's role and that these appointments also require Senate approval.

💡Impeachment

Impeachment is the process by which the House of Representatives can bring charges against the President for high crimes and misdemeanors. The video clarifies that impeachment does not automatically mean removal from office; it requires a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate for the President to be removed, a process that has never resulted in the removal of a President.

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

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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