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Questions and Answers
According to presidential succession, who takes over as president if the vice president is unable to assume the office?
According to presidential succession, who takes over as president if the vice president is unable to assume the office?
What is the minimum number of years a Vice President must have been a resident of the United States?
What is the minimum number of years a Vice President must have been a resident of the United States?
Who is third in line to the presidency after the Vice President?
Who is third in line to the presidency after the Vice President?
What is the process to challenge the President's resumption of power after a disability?
What is the process to challenge the President's resumption of power after a disability?
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What is the minimum age requirement to be eligible to serve as Vice President of the United States?
What is the minimum age requirement to be eligible to serve as Vice President of the United States?
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What amendment to the Constitution deals with presidential succession?
What amendment to the Constitution deals with presidential succession?
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What is the primary role of the Speaker of the House in relation to members of the U.S. House of Representatives?
What is the primary role of the Speaker of the House in relation to members of the U.S. House of Representatives?
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Who is typically the candidate that wins the position of Speaker of the House?
Who is typically the candidate that wins the position of Speaker of the House?
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What is the role of the Vice President in relation to the President?
What is the role of the Vice President in relation to the President?
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What is an example of pork barreling?
What is an example of pork barreling?
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What is the role of the Speaker of the House in relation to bills and resolutions?
What is the role of the Speaker of the House in relation to bills and resolutions?
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What is the role of the Vice President in the Senate?
What is the role of the Vice President in the Senate?
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What is a responsibility of the Speaker of the House, aside from their role as Speaker?
What is a responsibility of the Speaker of the House, aside from their role as Speaker?
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What is a characteristic of the Speaker of the House, unlike other members of the House of Representatives?
What is a characteristic of the Speaker of the House, unlike other members of the House of Representatives?
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What happens when the office of Vice President is vacated?
What happens when the office of Vice President is vacated?
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What is the role of the Majority Leader in the House of Representatives?
What is the role of the Majority Leader in the House of Representatives?
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Who elects the Majority Leader in the Senate?
Who elects the Majority Leader in the Senate?
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What is the role of the Minority Leader?
What is the role of the Minority Leader?
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Who is second-in-command to the Speaker of the House?
Who is second-in-command to the Speaker of the House?
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What is the term of service for the Majority Leader?
What is the term of service for the Majority Leader?
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What is the role of the Vice President in the legislative process?
What is the role of the Vice President in the legislative process?
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Why do political parties choose vice-presidential candidates?
Why do political parties choose vice-presidential candidates?
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Study Notes
Congressional Powers and Roles
- Members of Congress can assist constituents with federal job applications and finding lost Social Security checks
- Pork barreling: bringing federally funded projects, grants, and contracts that primarily benefit a single district or state to their home constituency, examples include roads, dams, parks, research grants, weapons contracts, and demonstration projects
- Pork barreling is important for getting re-elected
Speaker of the House
- Presiding officer and member of the majority party
- Acts as the leader of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Responsible for:
- Administering the oath of office to members of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Giving members permission to speak on the House floor
- Designating members to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore
- Counting and declaring all votes
- Appointing members to committees
- Sending bills to committees
- Signing bills and resolutions that pass in the House
- Second in line to become President should the President be unable to fulfill their duties
- Continues to serve the residents of their district and has all duties of other members of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Traditionally, the Speaker does not serve on committees or participate in floor debate
Presiding Officer of the Senate (Vice President)
- Decides the question of Presidential disability
- Must be ready to assume the Presidency at a moment's notice
- Qualifications for Vice President:
- Natural-born U.S. citizen
- At least 35 years old
- Resident in the U.S. for at least 14 years
Presidential Succession
- Designated manner in which a vacancy in the Presidency is to be filled
- If a President dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the Vice President succeeds to the office and becomes President
- Order of succession after the Vice President:
- Speaker of the House
- President Pro Tem of the Senate
- Secretary of State (first cabinet officer)
- Other 13 cabinet members in order of precedence
Presidential Disability
- If the President is disabled, the Vice President may temporarily assume the duties of the office
- The Vice President and a majority of the members of the cabinet must inform Congress, in writing, that the President is incapacitated
- The President may resume duties by informing Congress that any previous incapacitation due to disability no longer exists
- The cabinet and the Vice President may challenge the President's resumption of power
- If there is a challenge, Congress has 21 days to decide the matter
25th Amendment
- Provides for the succession of the President by the Vice President
- The Presidential Succession Act (1947) established the line of succession following the Vice President
Vice Presidential Vacancy
- If the office of Vice President is vacated, the President must nominate a new Vice President
- The nomination must be confirmed by a majority vote of both houses of Congress
- Example: Vice President Gerald Ford was nominated by President Nixon upon the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew
- The two major political parties try to choose Vice-Presidential candidates who will help "balance the ticket"
- The Vice President cannot be removed from office by the President
Majority and Minority Leaders
- Majority Leader:
- Controls selection of officers, flow of debate, committee chairmanships, majority on each committee, office space, and other perks of office
- Controls floor debate but cannot limit it
- Schedules legislation to be considered on the House floor
- Organizes daily, weekly, and yearly legislative plans
- Consults with members to understand how party members feel about issues
- Works to advance the goals of the party
- Continues to represent their district in the U.S. House of Representatives
- Usually does not serve on committees and does not lead floor debate on major issues
- Minority Leader: selected every two years during minority party meetings before the start of a new Congress
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Description
Learn about the various roles and powers of members of Congress, including assisting constituents and pork barreling, as well as the responsibilities of the Speaker of the House.
