The founding fathers did not want to give too much power to any one person. Article II of the US Constitution establishes the executive branch of the federal government. The President of the United States is the head of the executive branch and is responsible for carrying out the laws passed by Congress. Article II outlines the powers and responsibilities of the President, as well as the process for electing and removing the President from office.
Sections of Article II
Section 1
Establishes the office of the President and sets forth the requirements for holding the office. The President must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old, and have been a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. The section also establishes the process for electing the President, which involves the Electoral College.
Section 2
Outlines the powers and responsibilities of the President. The President serves as the commander-in-chief of the military, has the power to make treaties with foreign nations (with the advice and consent of the Senate), and has the power to appoint officials to various government positions (with the advice and consent of the Senate).
Section 3
Outlines the President’s responsibilities for executing the laws of the United States. This includes the responsibility to provide Congress with information on the state of the Union, as well as the power to convene Congress in special sessions when necessary.
Section 4
Outlines the process for removing the President from office through impeachment. The President can be impeached for “high crimes and misdemeanors,” and the House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment. If the President is impeached, the Senate conducts a trial to determine whether to remove the President from office.
Shaping The Future Of The Office
The Founding Fathers wrote Article II of the Constitution in the way they did because they wanted to establish a strong, but limited, executive branch. They were wary of giving too much power to any one person, after their experience under British rule. Article II allows the presidency to be a powerful but constrained position by a system of checks and balances. The Framers hoped that this would prevent abuses of power and protect individual freedoms. Today, Article II remains a cornerstone of our democracy, and its provisions continue to guide the actions of our leaders.
Overall, Article II has established the powers and responsibilities of the President and helped to shape the American system of government. As the head of the executive branch, the President plays a crucial role in carrying out the laws and policies of the United States, and the provisions of Article II have helped to ensure that the President is able to fulfill this important role effectively and responsibly.
Review where The US Congress derives its power here. Next, discover how Article II sways court cases.