1. What does it mean to impeach a president
What does it mean to impeach a president? Which presidents have been impeached?
Impeach means to formally accuse a public official of misconduct. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton have been impeached.

2. What powers does the Constitution grant to the executive branch and the president?
The Constitution grants the president the power to execute laws, command the military, engage with foreign leaders, make treaties with foreign nations, and appoint ambassadors and federal judges (with Senate approval). The president is the commander and chief of the armed forces of the United States, and has the power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment, give Congress information on the State of the Union, and insure that the laws be faithfully executed.

3. What are informal sources of presidential power?
Informal sources of power are those that are not specifically stated in the Constitution, but, in some cases, implied.

4. What are the main roles that modern presidents fulfill?
Modern presidents fulfill the roles of head of state, chief executive, commander in chief, chief diplomat, legislative leader, economic leader, and party leader.

5. What are the similarities and differences between reprieves and pardons?
The similarities are that they are both issued by a president and involve legal punishment. The difference is that one delays legal punishment and the other releases a person from legal punishment.

6. How does the president fulfill the roles of head of state and chief executive?
The president serves as a symbol for the United States, by performing various ceremonial roles from time to time and hosting such dignitaries as kings, queens, and heads of foreign governments.

7. Why is the commander in chief a civilian?
The Founders set it up that way purposely, so no army could gain too much power and overthrow the government.

8. How does the president fulfill the role of commander in chief
How does the president fulfill the role of commander in chief? How is the president limited in this role?
The president can decide to take military action. He or she is theoretically limited in that, according to the Constitution, Congress must authorize a declaration of war. However, many presidents have authorized military actions without the approval of Congress.

9. How does the president fulfill the role of chief diplomat
How does the president fulfill the role of chief diplomat? How is the president limited in this role?
The president directs the foreign policy of the United States, making key decisions about the relations the United States has with other countries in the world. The president is limited in that the Senate must approve all treaties before they can go into effect.

10. What is political patronage?
Appointment to a political office.

11. How does the president influence the legislative process?
The president may suggest certain legislation or campaign for it. The president’s plans are usually made known during the annual State of the Union address.

12. How does the president fulfill the role of chief of economic power?
The president is responsible for creating an annual budget and presenting that budget to the House of Representatives. Congress will then pass a law that creates the budget and the president will either sign or veto it.

13. What are the formal and informal qualifications to be president?
The formal qualifications for president are that the president be a natural born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years of age, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years before taking office. Informal qualifications may include but are not limited to: political beliefs, certain personal characteristics, and financial backing.

14. What kind of leadership qualities do successful presidents have?
Successful presidents are able to relate to the public, communicate well, have a good sense of timing, are able to compromise, and are politically courageous.

15. What is presidential succession and how is it determined?
Presidential succession is the order in which officials fill the office of president in case of a vacancy. The Succession Act of 1947 established the order of presidential succession.

16. What are the terms of office and compensation of president?
The president my serve as many as two terms in office or 10 years if succeeding to office. The compensation includes an annual salary of $400,000, a travel allowance of $100,000 a year, and a $50,000 expense account.

17. What are the roles and responsibilities of the vice president?
The vice president serves as the president of the Senate and votes in case of a tie. He or she also helps decide if the president is able to carry out his or her duties and assumes presidential duties if necessary. Other duties may be assigned at the president’s discretion.

18. What is the process for presidential succession?
The presidential succession process is outlined in the Succession Act of 1947, but it starts with the vice president, Speaker of the House, president pro tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, etc.

19. What is the Electoral College and what is the role of electors?
The Electoral College is the institution that is composed of a set of electors who are chosen to elect a president and vice president in office every four years.

20. How do Americans choose their president?
The Constitution set the basic rules for electing the president, including the role of the Electoral College; American citizens vote for their candidate of choice indirectly, by voting for their party’s electors.

21. What are the weaknesses of the Electoral College?
There are three major weaknesses in the Electoral College system. The winner-take-all system makes it possible for a candidate who loses the popular vote to win the electoral college. Third-party candidates can win enough electoral votes to prevent either major party candidate from winning. When neither candidate wins enough electoral votes, the House of Representatives decides the winner of the election.