EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

In all monarchical governments, the executive power is vested in the king. In the United States it is vested in a president.

The executive power is the power which executes the laws. It must be vested in some person or persons who can act promptly, unitedly and efficiently. These advantages can be best secured by intrusting this department to one man. If this power was intrusted to two or more persons, they might disagree, and dangerous and ruinous delays might be the result.

In Great Britain and other monarchical countries the king reigns not only during his life, but the crown is hereditary in his family.

In the United States, as we have said, the president is elected every four years, by electors, and can continue in office only four years, unless he is reelected. The people, therefore, every four years have an opportunity of placing the Executive power

In monarchical governments where is the executive power vested? In the United States where is it vested?

What is the executive power?

Is it well that the executive power is vested in one man?
Why?

In monarchical countries how long does the king reign?

Is the crown hereditary?

How does the president of the United States come into power? How long does he continue in office?

in new hands if they think it not safe to intrust it to the same person any longer.

The constitution does not limit the number of terms for which a president may hold his office, but it has been a custom, thus far, to re-elect him but once. Therefore when a president is re-elected he holds his office eight years, or two terms; when not re-elected he holds his office for four years, or one

term.

VICE-PRESIDENT.

A vice-president is chosen at the same time that the president is chosen, and holds his office for the same time. The vice-president may also be re-elected. In case of the death, resignation or impeachment of the president, the vice-president performs the duties of president till the next election.

While the president is performing the duties of his office the vice-president's only duty is to preside over the senate during the sessions of congress, and in case of a tie to give the casting vote.

The first instance of the death of a president, was that of William H. Harrison, who died on the 4th of

Can he be re-elected?

What has been the custom?

When and for how long is the vice-president chosen?

Can he be re-elected?

When does the vice-president perform the duties of president?

At other times what is his duty?

Which one of the presidents died, and when?

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April, 1841, only one month after his inauguration. John Tyler, the vice-president, then became acting president for the remainder of the term. So, from the death of Zachary Taylor, a year and four months after his inauguration, Millard Fillmore acted as president till Franklin Pierce was inaugurated.

PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT, HOW CHOSEN.

The president and vice-president are not elected directly by the people. The people vote directly for electors, and the electors vote directly for the president and vice-president. Each state is entitled to as many electors as it is entitled to have senators and representatives in Congress. The number of electoral votes in the presidential election of 1852 was 296. Necessary to a choice, 149.

How are the president and vice-president chosen?

How many electors is each state entitled to?

How many votes were all the states entitled to in 1852?
How many were necessary to a choice?

No senator or representative, or person holding an office of profit or trust under the United States can be an elector. The manner of choosing the president and vice-president is as follows:

The electors meet in their respective states, and vote by different ballots for president and vice-president, one of whom must not reside in the same state with themselves. They make out a correct list of all the votes cast, and for which office. This list they seal up and send to Washington city, directed to the president of the senate. The president of the senate, in the presence of the members of the senate and the house, opens these lists and counts the votes.

And if either of the candidates for the presidency

Who was elected?

Which state has the largest number of electoral votes ?

Which has the smallest number?

Which states have 6 votes?

What is the mode of choosing the president and vice-president?

has a majority of all the votes cast for that office, he is declared elected. If no one has such a majority, then the house of representatives proceeds immediately to choose the president by ballot from the three highest candidates voted for, for that office. In that case the votes are by states; the representation from each state having but one vote on the occasion.

Representatives from two-thirds of the states are necessary for a quorum, and a majority of all the states is necessary for a choice.

If the house does not make a choice before the 4th of March next following, the presidential chair is considered vacant, and the vice-president acts as president.

When the president of the senate has counted the votes for president, he then counts the votes for vicepresident. And if either of the persons voted for, for vice-president, has a majority of all the votes cast for that office, he is declared elected.

If no one has such a majority, then the senate choose the vice-president from the two highest on the list. Two-thirds of the whole number of senators is

Under what circumstances does the house of representatives choose the president and vice-president?

In that case how many votes has each state?

How many representatives are necessary to a quorum?

What majority is necessary for a choice?

What if the house does not make choice before the 4th of March next following?

How many votes must the vice-president have in order to be elected by the people?