A. The Vice-President must act as President. ELECTION OF VICE-PRESIDENT BY THE SENATE. Q. Can the Senate ever elect a VicePresident? A. Yes, when the people have failed to elect a Vice-President, then the Senatemust elect. Q. How is this done? A. I. Two-thirds of all the Senators constitute a quorum. II. The Senate must vote for the two. persons who received the highest number of votes for Vice-President. III. A majority of all the members elected to the Senate is necessary to a choice. IV. Should there be a tie in the Senate, the Vice-President may give the casting vote. V. Should the Vice-President have succeeded to the presidency, or have vacated his office, and the President pro tem. (a Senator), preside, in that case there might be a tie, and no election reached. THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM. Q. What are the provisions for filling temporarily the office of President, when vacant? A. I. In case of the removal, death, resignation, or inability, of both the President and Vice-President of the United States, the President of the Senate pro tem., and in case there be no President of the Senate, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall act as President of the United States for the time, until the disability be removed, or a President be elected. II. In case of a vacancy in both the offices for President and Vice-President, the Secretary of State of the United States, shall notify the Governors of all the States, and cause the same to be printed in at least one newspaper in each State, ordering an election for electors of President and Vice-President: provided there shall be a space of two months between the ordering of the same and the first Wednesday in December following. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE. I. The term "Electoral College" means the presidential Electors when assembled as a body to cast the vote for President and Vice-President. II. Each State may provide by law for the filling of any vacancy which may exist in its college of electors, when such college meets to cast its electoral vote. ELIGIBILITY. I. No person shall hold the office, either of President or Vice-President, except native born citizens, or those who were in this country at the time of the adoption of the Constitution. II. The candidate must have been a resident of the United States for fourteen years. III. He must be at the time of his election thirty-five years of age. DUTIES. Q. What are some of the duties of the President? A. I. He is Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States. II. And of the Militia of the several States when called into the actual service of the United States. III. He has power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeach ment. IV. He has power to make treaties when two-thirds of the Senate present concur. V. He nominates, and, by and with the consent of the Senate of the United States, appoints Ambassadors, Public Ministers, Consuls, Judges of the United States Courts, and all other United States officers not otherwise provided for. VI. He may fill all vacancies that happen during recess of the Senate, by granting commissions that expire at the close of the next session. VII. He must from time to time give to Congress information in regard to the condition of affairs in the United States, and recommend such measures as he deems expedient. For further duties, see Constitution of the United States, Art. II. VICE-PRESIDENT. I. The Vice-President is President of the United States Senate, and has a vote only in case of a tie. II. In case he succeeds to the presidency, then he performs the duties of the President, and the President pro tem. (a Senator) performs the duties of Vice-President and Senator. SALARIES.* The President receives $50,000. A tabular view showing how some United States officers get their authority, and from whom. The President's salary cannot be increased or diminished during his term of office. + In 1801, and 1825. Who? Richard M. Johnson was elected Vice-President by the Senate in 1837. This is, thus far, the only instance. |