Chapter 12

The Articles of Confederation did not establish an executive branch, instead opting for a presiding officer known as the president, who was tasked with administrative duties.

The Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison, outlined a national executive with powers and authority not fully defined, including the ability to review and potentially veto legislation.

The New Jersey Plan, in contrast to the Virginia Plan, proposed a weaker executive branch consisting of a committee elected by Congress. This committee could be removed by a majority of state governors.

A single person, elected for a seven-year term, with the power to veto legislation and subject to impeachment by Congress, emerged as the preferred design for the executive branch.

The presidential role has evolved, with individual presidents facing challenges in domestic and foreign policy, adapting to changes in the federal government's power over time.

The system used to elect the President and Vice President of the United States, where each state has a number of electors based on its population.

The number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency, which is half of the total number of electors in the Electoral College, plus one.

Those who vote for the President and Vice President in the Electoral College, representing each state and the District of Columbia.

A rule that prevents electors from casting both their votes for candidates from the same state, intended to encourage a diverse pool of candidates.

An amendment to the Constitution which clarified how the Electoral College works, specifically by combining the presidential and vice presidential votes into a unified ticket.

The president's power to forgive someone convicted of a federal crime, except for the removal of an official through impeachment.

The president's ability to reject legislation passed by Congress, which can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress.

The president's role as the top military leader of the armed forces, commanding the U.S. military.

A group of advisors consisting of the heads of the fifteen executive departments, who assist the president in administering his duties.

The annual presidential message to Congress, providing information on the state of the nation and outlining policy priorities.

The process of accusing a government official, including the president, of serious wrongdoing.

A formal process outlined in the Constitution for removing the president from office, involving two steps: impeachment by the House of Representatives and removal by the Senate.

A key check on the executive branch, ensuring that no President can become tyrannical, by providing a formal process to remove them.

The vice president assumes the presidency if the president is removed from office through impeachment or dies in office.

The Constitution outlines basic requirements for a president, including age, citizenship, and residency. Presidential term limits have been established, but have also been modified throughout history.

A system where voters in each state select delegates to the national party conventions, which then choose the party's presidential nominee.

A gathering of delegates from each state, representing their preferred candidates, to formally nominate the party's presidential candidate.

A process where candidates campaign extensively for voters, often starting many months before the general election, in an effort to win delegate support.

An election where party members choose their preferred candidates for the general election, where they potentially face candidates from other parties.

Prior to the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, federal agencies would independently submit budget requests to Congress, leading to a fragmented and chaotic process.

The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 gave the President the responsibility of creating the first "executive budget", giving them a key role in budget-setting.

The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 established the Bureau of the Budget, later renamed the Office of Management and Budget, to assist the President in formulating and managing the federal budget.

The growth of the US and the expansion of the federal government's role in people's lives contributed to the rise of presidential power. As issues became more complex, people looked to the federal government, and the President, for solutions.

Modern media has allowed presidents to bypass traditional channels and communicate directly with the public, further amplifying their influence.

A series of primaries held on the same day in multiple states to maximize their impact on the presidential nomination process.

A long, televised event that formally nominates a political party's candidate for president. Originally a more active decision-making process, it now often serves as a promotional event.

A presidential election where the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide does not win the election.

The Electoral College is a system where states are allocated a number of electors based on their population, and the candidate who wins the majority of electoral votes wins the presidency. This system prioritizes the representation of smaller states and regions, ensuring they have a voice in presidential elections.

The Electoral College system can lead to a situation where a candidate wins the presidency despite losing the popular vote, meaning they received fewer overall votes across the country. This can happen because electors are distributed unevenly and the system relies on winning individual states, not overall votes.

The Electoral College has been criticized for its winner-take-all approach, where the candidate with the most votes in a state wins all of its electoral votes. This can create situations where a candidate receives a large majority of votes in a state but only wins by a small margin, leading to concerns that the will of the people is not fully represented.

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement among states to award their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote. This means that if enough states join the compact, the president would be elected by the popular vote instead of the Electoral College.

The transition process involves coordinating efforts between the outgoing and incoming administrations to ensure a smooth transfer of power. This includes assigning offices, transferring information, and handing over responsibilities to enable the new administration to hit the ground running.