AF-separation-of-powers-Digital-20 - Flipbook - Page 14
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
T
he Executive Branch of our government is described
in Article II of the Constitution. This branch was
organized by our framers with a President positioned
at the apex. The first 15 words of Article II states, “[t]he
executive Power shall be vested in a President of the
United States of America…”
The following sections of Article II provide unique
aspects of the branch including duties, powers,
removals, and eligibility requirements.
• Article II, §1 sets forth the Executive Powers,
including the term of the President, the manner of
election of the President, qualifications,
succession, and the Oath of Office. This section
states that “The executive Power shall be vested in
a President of the United States of America.” The
four (4) year term of the President and the
succession of an acting President are laid out in
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this section. The Electors of the President shall be
set forth by each State. Currently, the process of
the election of the United States President is
commonly referred to as the Electoral College. This
process makes it possible for a Presidential
candidate to win the popular vote, but still not
garner enough electoral votes to win the
Presidency. The Electoral College, in effect, gives
more power to smaller states to elect the President.
• Article II, §2 consists of four clauses, all of which
set forth the broad powers related to foreign policy,
wartime policy, treaty-making power, presidential
appointments to the judiciary as well as federal
agency leadership, and the presidential pardon
power. This section is unique – although focused on
the powers of the Executive Branch, it plainly
demonstrates the relationship and interconnectedness
of and between the Legislative and Executive
branches of our government. While the three