Article 2
1. What is the main purpose of the Executive Branch?
Execute (carry out) the laws passed by Congress.
2. The structure of the Executive branch is:
1. President
2. Vice-President of the United States
3. White House Staff
4. special advisory groups to the President and
5. the Cabinet
3. The president is elected for 4
years. You must be 35
old, and a natural born citizen. You also must be a resident for 14
years
years.
4. How are presidents elected? Explain the process.
Primary Election - Voters decide which of the candidates within a party will represent that
party in the general election. * Closed Primary- voters must be registered as party
members to vote in that party’s primary. *Open Primary- Citizens can vote in either
party’s primary without stating their party affiliation.
The Nominating Convention - The convention delegates vote to make the party’s choice of
candidate official. The candidates campaign…and then comes the
General Election - The election between the party candidates is referred to the general
election.
The Electoral College
The presidential election is actually decided indirectly through the electoral college.
Typically, all electoral votes from each state, (except Maine and Nebraska- which split
their votes based on %), go to the candidates who get the most popular votes-even if those
candidates win by only a few votes or lack a clear majority votes.
The electors for each candidate will meet to confirm their state’s choice for President.
The President-elect and Vice President-elect take the oath of office and are inaugurated on
January 20th.
5. Electoral votes for states are based on what?
Every state has a certain number of electoral votes based on the size of its population
 Electoral Votes =# of members sent to the House of Representatives + # of
Senators (2)
6. What are the two states that split their electoral votes based on percentage?
Maine and Nebraska
7. How many electoral votes are needed to win?
270
8. List 6 powers of the president and briefly explain.
1. Veto or approve bills passed by Congress
2. command the military forces of the country,
3. make treaties with foreign countries, which must be approved by Congress
4. grant pardons (legal forgiveness)
5. enforce the laws passed by Congress and
6. appoint certain officials, which must be approved by Congress
9. Who appoints supreme court justices? Who has to approve of the appointments?
The President appoints, and Senate approves
10. If the president makes a treaty, who approves it?
The Senate
11. Who picks the president’s cabinet members? Who approves it?
The President appoints, the Senate approves
12. What is the line of succession and which Amendment is it?
Order of succession
1. The Vice-President
2. The Speaker of the House
3. The President pro tempore of the Senate
4. The Secretary of State
5. The Secretary of Treasury…and then the rest of the Cabinet members, in the order
in which their cabinet posts were created.
13. What is the election between the party candidates referred to as?
General Election
14. When does the President take the oath of office?
January 20

Presidential Roles
*Chief of State – President represents all political parties and all Americans; he speaks
for the country; represents a symbol and ideal (congratulating heroes, greeting VIPs,
making speeches, etc.)
*Chief Executive – the President acts as the “boss” of the executive branch, appointing
high level officials and discussing national issues with top advisors
*Chief Diplomat – The President makes foreign policy – decides how America will deal
with other nations; he designs treaties; he appoints ambassadors and diplomats;
*Chief Policy Maker – The President influences legislation (law making) by making
recommendations to Congress, signing or vetoing bills, and reporting to Congress each
January in the “State of the Union” address.
*Commander-in-Chief – The President is the head of all of the military forces of the
United States; he makes major military decisions in wartime and can call out the
National Guard to help protect the country during emergencies. He has the authority to
send out troops, but NOT to declare war with another country.
*Chief of Party – He is the unofficial head of his political party and chooses leading
members of his party to serve in high government positions or as advisors. He travels
around the country campaigning for fellow party members and help to fund raise for his
party.
*Chief Guardian of the Economy – The President watches over the country’s economy
and deals with issues such as taxes, high prices, unemployment; meets with business
and labor leaders to help solve problems
*Judicial Leader – The President can influence the interpretation of the Constitution by
nominating Supreme Court justices and other federal judges.