Untitled Quiz

The President must be at least 35 years old.
The President must be a natural-born citizen of the United States.
The President must have resided in the United States for at least 14 years.
The President must take an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

The President is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The President is the Chief Executive of the federal government.
The President is the Chief Diplomat of the nation.
The President is the Legislative Leader, proposing legislation and shaping policy.

Commander-in-Chief: The President has the authority to command the military, granting reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States.
Chief Executive: The President nominates ambassadors, public ministers, consuls, federal judges, and other officers, subject to Senate approval. The President ensures the faithful execution of the laws.
Legislative Leader: The President informs Congress about the state of the Union, recommends measures for consideration, and can convene or adjourn Congress in extraordinary circumstances.

The presidency is a unique position created to be "energetic," as outlined in Federalist 70.
It is the only nationally elected office in the United States.
The President holds singular authority, acting as the head of the executive branch.

Original Selection (1788-1828): The Electoral College system was established to elect the President, with each state having electors based on its representation in Congress.
Party Convention (1832-1900): Political parties began holding nominating conventions to choose their presidential candidates.
Party Convention, Primary (1904-1968): Primaries were introduced to allow voters to select delegates who would attend the national convention and vote for the nominee.
Party Primary, Open Caucus (1972-Present): The modern system utilizes a combination of primaries and caucuses, where voters participate in both direct elections and party meetings.

Candidates formally announce their intention to run for president.
Primary/caucus debates take place, allowing candidates to compete before voters.
Primaries and caucuses are held across the nation, selecting delegates for the national convention.
The national nominating convention of each party officially selects the presidential candidate.
Presidential debates are held between the major candidates, where the public gets to see their perspectives.
Election Day occurs, and voters cast ballots for their chosen presidential candidate.

A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
Party leaders select electors, who almost always vote for their party's presidential nominee.
48 out of the 50 states have a "winner takes all" system for electoral votes.
Two states (Nebraska and Maine) split their electoral votes based on the winner of each congressional district and the overall state winner.

Rutherford B. Hayes (1876), Benjamin Harrison (1888), George W. Bush (2000), and Donald J. Trump (2016) were all elected president despite losing the popular vote.

Pros:
- The Electoral College helps ensure the interests of minorities are not overlooked.
- It emphasizes the importance of states in the selection process.
- It promotes a stable two-party system.
Cons:
- The complexity of the system might discourage voter participation.
- The candidate favored by the majority of voters may not win the presidency.
- Swing states and smaller states hold disproportionate power.

Andrew Jackson was elected through a populist movement, ushering in a period of increased presidential power.
Jackson rewarded political supporters with government appointments.
He made extensive use of the veto power, defying Congress.
He openly challenged the Supreme Court, asserting the federal government's authority over states.

During the mid-19th century, the Whig Theory of Power emerged, advocating for a weaker presidency.
The President was seen as a limited administrator, focusing primarily on executing laws rather than expanding power.
This theory is exemplified by President James Buchanan.

Starting in the early 1900s, presidential power began to expand under the Stewardship Theory of Power.
This theory emphasizes the President's ability to act unless specifically prohibited by the Constitution.
Theodore Roosevelt is considered a key figure in this expansion of presidential power.