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Article II of the U.S. Constitution describes what the Executive Branch will do. It outlines the powers and responsibilities of the President, Vice President, and the Cabinet.
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Definitions:
a. Amnesty: A governmental pardon for individuals or groups, often granted to those who have committed political offenses, forgiving them of their crimes and often allowing them to remain in the country.
b. Bi-partisan: Involving the cooperation or agreement of two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies.
c. Bureaucracy: A system of government or management characterized by specialized functions, a hierarchy of authority, and a set of rules and procedures used by officials to carry out their responsibilities.
d. Diplomacy: The practice of conducting negotiations and managing relationships between countries, typically through representatives like ambassadors and diplomats.
e. Executive Order: A directive issued by the President to manage the operations of the federal government, which has the force of law but does not require congressional approval.
f. Executive Privilege: The right of the President and other members of the executive branch to withhold information from Congress or the courts to protect sensitive information or maintain confidentiality in the executive's decision-making processes.
g. Foreign Policy: A government's strategy in dealing with other nations, including guidelines and principles that determine its interactions and relationships with foreign countries.
h. Succession: The process by which a new leader assumes the responsibilities of a position following the vacancy or removal of the previous leader, such as the succession of the presidency.
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Americans expect their President to provide leadership, uphold the Constitution, manage the economy, protect national security, address social issues, and represent the country both domestically and internationally. They also expect transparency, accountability, and the ability to communicate and unite the nation.
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Three characteristics of the Executive Branch:
- Leadership: The Executive Branch is headed by the President, who serves as the main leader of the country and sets the administration's agenda.
- Implementation of Laws: The branch is responsible for enforcing federal laws through various departments and agencies.
- Diplomatic Authority: The Executive Branch plays a key role in foreign relations, negotiating treaties, and representing U.S. interests abroad.
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To serve as President, one must be at least 35 years old, be a natural-born citizen of the United States, and have resided in the U.S. for at least 14 years. The President serves a term of four years and can be re-elected for one additional term, making a total of eight years possible.
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The Electoral College is a body of electors established by the U.S. Constitution that formally elects the President and Vice President of the United States. Each state has a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress (the number of Senators and Representatives). To win the Presidential Election, a candidate must receive a majority of the electoral votes, which is currently 270 out of a total of 538 votes.
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Yes, there have been Presidential elections in U.S. history where the person who received the most popular votes lost the election. Notable examples include:
- 1824: John Quincy Adams was elected by the House of Representatives despite losing the popular vote to Andrew Jackson.
- 1876: Rutherford B. Hayes lost the popular vote to Samuel J. Tilden but won the election through a contentious electoral vote process.
- 1888: Benjamin Harrison won the presidency against Grover Cleveland despite losing the popular vote.
- 2000: George W. Bush lost the popular vote to Al Gore but won the presidency through the Electoral College.
- 2016: Donald Trump lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton but won the presidency through the Electoral College.
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