The document outlines the roles, powers, and responsibilities of the President of the United States and the vice president, as established by the Constitution. It discusses the checks and balances in place through Congress and the Supreme Court, exemplified by President Nixon's Watergate scandal. Additionally, it describes the formation of the executive branch and the existence of a cabinet to assist the president in governance.

1. Consider As You Read
*What are the powers and the jobs of the President?
*How doe Congress and the Supreme Court check and
balance the President’s power?
The President and the
Executive Branch
In 1789, George Washington put one hand on a Bible. He stood
in front of a large crowd and said this oath from the Constitution: “I
do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office
of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability,
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
After saying that oath, Washington became our nation’s first
President. Every President since that time started his term in office by
saying that same oath.
Planning the Executive Branch
The Framers of the Constitution created the executive branch to
carry out all laws written by Congress. They decided the leader of the
executive would lead the United States. The Framers created a new
job, the presidency. For the first time in history, an elected leader
with limited power would rule a large country.
oath
promise
execute
to do the work
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62 President Obama took the oath of office in 2009.
presidency
the president’s work

2. The Constitution lists requirements for becoming President of the
United States. A person must be born in the United States. the
person must have lived here for fourteen years or more. The person
must be 35 years old or older. Millions of Americans meet these
requirements.
Americans like to elect Presidents who have the right image.
The President must be a strong leader. He must be an example of
fine behavior for the nation. People want the president to be a good
speaker, friendly, smart and likable. Most Presidents have leadership
experience. They worked as state governors or members of
Congress. Most Presidents were Christian married men with
families. Until 2009, all Presidents were white men. Barack Obama
became America’s first African American President when he won
the election in November, 2008.
The Framers wanted the President to earn a salary. Congress
decides how much money the President will earn. President Biden
earns $400,000 a year. When he works, the President also gets a
home in the White House. The President uses cars, planes and
helicopters which belong to the Executive Branch.
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The President and the Vice President are both part of the Executive Branch.
image
personality; character
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salary
paycheck

3. President Biden uses a plane called Air Force One.
The Role of the Vice President
The Constitution also created the job of Vice President. There are no
requirements to be Vice President. The Constitution gives the Vice
President two powers. The first power is to be president of the Senate.
The second job is to act as president when the President cannot work for
any reason.
Later, Vice Presidents got more responsibilities. Some Vice Presidents
have offices in the White House. Some Vice Presidents were leaders of
important agencies. When President Ronald Reagan was unable to work,
Vice President Bush acted as President until Reagan was able to do the job.
Bush became President of the United States in 1988. His experience as
Vice President helped prepare him for the responsibilities of the
presidency. Ten Vice Presidents won elections and became US Presidents.
responsibilities
jobs; work; actions
you must take
agency
office
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In 1963, President Kennedy was killed. Vice President Lyndon
Johnson took the oath of office on Air Force One and became
the new President. Mrs. Kennedy was standing next to him.
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4. The Constitution says if the President dies, the Vice President
will have the president’s job. This protects the country.
It is important for the nation to always have a leader.
When President Kennedy died on November 22, 1963, Vice
President Johnson became the new president two hours later.
Eight Presidents died when they were working. Their Vice
Presidents became the new Presidents.
The Powers of the President
The Constitution describes the powers of the presidency in
Article 2. The president uses his powers to do six jobs:
Chief Executive. The President leads the executive branch by
setting up the laws of Congress. The President helps plan the
nation’s budget and chooses leaders for the Cabinet. The
Cabinet leaders plan programs to help Americans follow the
laws passed by Congress.
Commander in Chief. The President is the leader of the
1,400,000 members of the armed services. The President has the
power to send soldiers anywhere in the world for 60 days
without approval from Congress.
Chief Diplomat. The President sends ambassadors to other
countries. The President has the power to sign treaties with
other world leaders. The President plans foreign policies.
Chief Lawmaker. Once a year, the President goes to Congress
to make a “State of the Union” speech. He explains his goals for
the USA. He tells Congress what laws are needed to meet the
goals. The President suggests bills (law plans) to Congress.
A bill become a law when the President signs it. Sometimes,
President use their veto power to stop bills from becoming laws.
budget
plan for using money
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commander
military leader
ambassadors and diplomats
people who work for the
USA in other countries
treaties
agreements
policies
actions
The Joint Chiefs of Staff advise the President on security.
veto
stop or cancel
The President can veto bills.

5. Chief of State. The President is a symbol of the United States.
He goes to ceremonies, gives out awards and meets leaders of
countries from around the world.
Party Chief. The President is the leader of his political party.
He works to put the party’s ideas into action. Presidents make
speeches helping other party members win their elections.
Checks and Balances
The Constitution limits the President’s power through checks
and balances. The President shares power with Congress and the
Supreme Court. Sometimes, they can stop the President.
The Senate must approve of the President's choices for the
Supreme Court and the Cabinet. The Senate must approve
treaties with other countries and approve the President’s choices
of ambassadors. Congress can override the President's veto.
Congress can pass a law that the President opposes.
The Supreme Court can decide if the President acted against
the Constitution. The Court can tell the President to correct his
actions.
Congress can impeach a President who breaks laws. If
Congress decides the President is guilty, the President will be
removed from office.
President Nixon and Watergate
The Watergate problem is an example of how checks and
balances limit the President’s power.
In 1972, President Richard Nixon, a Republican, wanted to
win the election for a second term. People who were helping
President Nixon stole information from the Democrats. Police
arrested men who stole papers from the Democrat’s office in the
Watergate building in Washington, D.C. Newspaper reporters
showed that the thieves were working with the President’s staff.
Congress wanted to know what happened at Watergate. They
wanted to know if the President and his staff were guilty of
breaking federal laws. Congress told the President he must give
them copies of recordings of White House conversations, but
President Nixon refused.
political party
political team. Republicans and
Democrats are the biggest
political parties in USA.
approve
accept
override
cancel
oppose
not like an idea
impeach
blame
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When he knew he would be
impeached, President Nixon resigned.

6. A large group of people advise President Biden. Biden chooses his advisers. Congress must approve of them.
pardon
excuse
bureaus
offices, or groups of people
bureacracy
many groups doing many
jobs
But the Supreme Court said the President did not have
power to hide crimes. The Court ordered Nixon to give the
recordings to Congress. Lawmakers listened to the recordings.
They said there was proof President Nixon broke laws and
should be impeached. Nixon did not want to be in a trial, so he
resigned. Vice President Gerald Ford became President that
same day. President Ford pardoned Nixon. Later, many
members of Nixon’s staff went to jail because of their
Watergate crimes.
The Executive Bureaucracy
It is impossible for one person to do all of the President’s
work. Fifteen advisors support the President and share
responsibilities with him. This group of advisors is called the
Cabinet. The Cabinet departments are part of the Executive
Branch and check that people follow the laws of Congress.
There are many officers and bureaus doing the Cabinet’s work.
The President, the Cabinet and all of the bureaus are part of the
Executive bureaucracy.
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