1.
The Presidency is over and about the
turbulence of democracy
The
Framers of the constitution intended to keep the Presidency over and above the
turbulence of majority rule government. For this reason, they thought it proper
to entrust in a constrained body, the order to choose the President.
2.
Cabinet
The
American President chooses his cabinet, which is, best his team of advisers. It
has been rightly characterized as the ‘President’s Family’, and the head of the
family, the President, inevitably dominates them. The president and his Cabinet
are not answerable to the Legislature. The President of the U.S.A is supreme in
executive sphere. He exercise “the largest amount of authority ever and as
wielded by any man in democracy.”
3.
Foremost ruler in the world
The
United States Constitution vests executive powers in the hands of one individual
the President of the United States of American. His powers are so enormous,
wide and overwhelming that he has been described as the ‘foremost ruler in the
world’.
4.
Qualifications of American President
In
order to contest the election for the office of President and vice President, a
candidate should fulfill the following qualifications;-
Ø He is to be a natural born citizen of American.
Ø A candidate should not be less than thirty five years of age.
Ø He must has been a resident of American for at least fourteen
years (continuous residence is, however, not necessary).
5.
Presidential Nomination
A
national committee of each party calls its own convention and makes the
requisite arrangements. The calls are issued in January or February and the
conventi8ons meet during the summer.
6.
A National Convention at work
The
thousands of delegates are grouped on the floor by States. An interim chairman
is picked. An committee is then appointed in order to scrutinize the
credentials of the delegates. Nominations for the office of the President are
announced by the Chairman to be in order. The role of States is taken in
alphabetical order. After all the nominations have been done, voting beings by
a voice vote. When the polling goes on, the weaker candidates drop out and
votes are shifted around on successive ballots. One roll call follows another
until decision is arrived at.
After
the selection of the Presidential candidate, party nominee for the
Vice-Presidency is chosen. This is followed by a nation-wide Presidential
campaign.
7.
The Nomination of Electors
The
next step is the nomination of Presidential electors in the several States.
8.
Election of the Electors
Every
citizen of 21 years of age or more, unless disqualified on certain ground,
possesses right to vote. Each of the States chooses as many electors as it has
Senators and members of representative in Congress. Presidential electors are
chosen in each State as a group and not as individuals. The electoral college
is to consist of 535 members. A
Presidential candidate can get elected only if he captures 269 votes of
the electors.
9.
Election of the President by the Electors
The
Presidential electors meet on the second Wednesday of December in their
respective state capitals and their votes for Presidential and
Vice-Presidential candidates.
10.
Transmitting and counting of Votes
The President
of the Senate counts the votes and announces the result which is hardly a
guarded secret.
11.
Procedure in case no candidates gets absolute majority
If
no candidate secures the requisite majority, the issue is decided by the House
of Representatives which elects by an absolute majority of votes one of the
three candidates obtaining the largest number of electoral votes. The members
of the House vote State wise, each State having one vote irrespective of its
population. This procedure was adopted thrice.
12.
Tenure
The President
is elected for a period of four years. A President can be re elected for a
second term and invariably the President in office is elected for a second term.
13.
Inauguration of the new President
The
newly elected President is inaugurated on 20th January . At the
inauguration the new President takes the oath of office which is administered
by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
14.
Salary and allowances
The
salary of the President originally was 25,000 dollars a year. It has been
revised from time to time and since 1969 it stands at 200,000 dollars a year.
Besides, he is to get 100,000 dollars as a general expense fund.
15.
Privileges
The
President enjoys many privileges. He can’t be arrested on the basis of any
charge nor can be summoned in a court as an issue. He must be denounced by the
Congress.
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