    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 104th Congress]
    [104th Congress]
    [House Document 103-342]
    [The United States Constitution]
    [Pages 61-72]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                  ARTICLE II.

    Sec. 149. Terms of the President and
    VicePresident.

      Section 1. \1\ The  executive Power shall be vested in a President of the
    United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of
    four years, and together with the Vice President, chosen for the same
    Term, be elected, as follows:

    [[Page 62]]
    inauguration ceremony on the steps of the East Front of the Capitol on
    Monday, January 21, 1957. A similar scenario was followed at the
    beginning of President Reagan's second term, with the oath being given
    at the White House on January 20, 1985, followed by a public ceremony on
    Monday, January 21, in the Rotunda of the Capitol. The 22d amendment
    provides that no person shall be elected President more than twice.

    -  \2\ Each <> State shall appoint, in such Manner as the
    Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole
    Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be
    entitled in the Congress; but no Senator or Representative, or Person
    holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be
    appointed an Elector.

    Sec. 150. Commencement of President's term of
    office.

      George  Washington took the oath of office, as the first President on
    April 30, 1789 (III, 1986). The two Houses of the First Congress found,
    after examination by a joint committee, that by provisions made in the
    Federal Constitution and by the Continental Congress, the term of the
    President had, notwithstanding begun on March 4, 1789 (I, 3). The 20th
    amendment, declared to have been ratified on February 6, 1933, provides
    that Presidential terms shall end and successor terms shall begin at
    noon on January 20. Thus, Franklin D. Roosevelt's first term began on
    March 4, 1933, but ended at noon on January 20, 1937. Formerly, when
    March 4 fell on Sunday, the public inauguration of the President
    occurred at noon on March 5 (III, 1996; VI, 449). Following ratification
    of the 20th amendment, the first time inauguration day fell on Sunday
    was January 20, 1957, and Dwight David Eisenhower took the oath for his
    second term in a private ceremony at the White House on that day
    followed by a public

    Sec. 152. Questions as to qualifications of
    electors.

      Questions  of the qualifications of electors have arisen, and in one
    instance certain ones were found disqualified, but as their number was
    not sufficient to affect the result and as there was doubt as to what
    tribunal should pass on the question the votes were counted (III, 1941).
    In other cases there were objections, but the votes were counted (III,
    1972-1974, 1979). In one instance an elector found to be disqualified
    resigned both offices, whereupon he was made eligible to fill the
    vacancy thus caused among electors (III, 1975).

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    all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person
    having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such
    Number be a majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed: and if
    there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number
    of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by
    Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then
    from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like manner
    chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be
    taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A
    quorum for this purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two
    thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be
    necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President,
    the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be
    the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have
    equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice-
    President.]

    Sec. 152a. Original provision for failure of
    electoral college to choose, superseded by 12th amendment.

      \3\ [The  Electors
    shall meet in their respective States and vote by Ballot for two
    Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same
    State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons
    voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall
    sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of Government of the
    United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of
    the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of
    Representatives, open

    <>   \4\ The Congress may determine the Time of chusing
    the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which
    Day shall be the same throughout the United States.

      This third clause of article II, section 1 was superseded by the 12th
    amendment (see Secs. 219-223, infra).

    [[Page 64]]
    place in each State as the legislature of such State shall direct''
    (III, 1914; VI, 438; 3 U.S.C. 1, 7). The statutes also provide for
    transmitting to the President of the Senate certificates of the
    appointment of the electors and of their votes (III, 1915-1917; VI, 439;
    3 U.S.C. 11).

      The time for choosing electors has been fixed on ``the Tuesday next
    after the first Monday in November, in every fourth year''; and the
    electors in each State ``meet and give in their votes on the first
    Monday after the second Wednesday in December next following their
    appointment, at such

    Sec. 154. Qualifications of President of the United
    States.

      \5\ No  Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the
    United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall
    be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be
    eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty
    five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United
    States.-

    Sec. 155. Succession in case of removal, death,
    resignation, or disability of President and VicePresident.

      \6\ In  Case of the
    Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or
    Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the
    Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law
    provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both
    of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then
    act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the
    Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

    [[Page 65]]

    Sec. 156. Resignation of the President.

      Amendment  XXV
    provides for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President and,
    when the President is unable to perform the duties of his office, for
    the Vice President to assume those powers and duties as Acting
    President. During the 93d Congress, President Richard M. Nixon resigned
    from office on August 9, 1974, by delivering a signed resignation to the
    office of the Secretary of State, pursuant to 3 U.S.C. 20. Pursuant to
    amendment XXV, Vice President Gerald R. Ford became President and the
    House and Senate confirmed his nominee, Nelson A. Rockefeller, to become
    Vice President (December 19, 1974, p. 41516).

      Congress has also provided for the performance of the duties of the
    President in case of removal, death, resignation or inability, both of
    the President and Vice President (3 U.S.C. 19).

    Sec. 157. Compensation of President.

      \7\ The  President
    shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which
    shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he
    shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any
    other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

      The compensation of the President is fixed at $200,000 per annum (3
    U.S.C. 102). In addition the law provides an expense allowance of
    $50,000 (3 U.S.C. 102; P.L. 91-1), and authorizes a travel allowance of
    not to exceed $100,000 (3 U.S.C. 103).

    Sec. 158. Oath of the President.

      \8\ Before  he enter on the
    Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or
    Affirmation:--``I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully
    execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the
    best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the
    United States.''

    [[Page 66]]
    Jan. 20, 1981. Because of extreme cold, the public administration of
    the oath was for the first time held in the Rotunda of the Capitol,
    rather than on the West Front, as scheduled, on January 21, 1985.
    Permission for such use was authorized by S. Con. Res. 144, 98th
    Congress.

    Sec. 159. Inauguration of the President.

      The  taking of this
    oath, which is termed the inauguration, is made the occasion of certain
    ceremonies which are arranged for by a joint committee of the two Houses
    (III, 1998, 1999; VI, 451). For many years the oath was normally taken
    at the east portico of the Capitol, although in earlier years it was
    taken in the Senate Chamber or Hall of the House (III, 1986-1995). On
    March 4, 1909, owing to inclemency of the weather, the President-elect
    took the oath and delivered his inaugural address in the Senate Chamber
    (VI, 447). And when Vice-President Fillmore succeeded to the vacancy in
    the office of President, Congress being in session, he took the oath in
    the Hall of the House in the presence of the Senate and House (III,
    1997). In 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had been elected for his
    fourth term as President, took the oath of office on the south portico
    at the White House. On August 9, 1974, Gerald R. Ford, who as Vice
    President succeeded to the Presidency following the resignation of
    President Nixon on that day, was sworn in in the East Room of the White
    House. The west front of the Capitol was first used for the inaugural
    ceremony for Ronald W. Reagan,

    Sec. 160. The President the Commander in
    Chief.

      Section 2. \1\ The  President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of
    the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called
    into the actual Service of the United States; he may require
    the <> Opinion,
    in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive
    Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their
    respective <> Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and
    Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of
    Impeachment.

    Sec. 163. War powers of Congress and the President.

      In  the
    93d Congress, the Congress passed over the President's veto Public Law
    93-148, relating to the power of Congress to declare war under article
    I, section 8, clause 11 (Sec. 127, supra) and the power of the President
    as Commander in Chief. For further discussion of the reports to Congress
    required and the procedure for Congressional action provided under
    Public Law 93-148, see Sec. 128, supra.

    Sec. 164. Pardon of former President.

      In  1974, President
    Ford exercised his power under the last phrase of this clause by
    pardoning former President Nixon for any crimes he might have committed
    during a certain period in office (Proclamation 4311, September 8,
    1974). The former President had resigned following an impeachment
    inquiry in the House and the decision of the Committee on the Judiciary
    to report to the House recommending his impeachment by the House (August
    20, 1974, p. 29219).

    [[Page 67]]
    Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, <> other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the
    Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose
    Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be
    established by Law; but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of
    such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in
    the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

    Sec. 165. President makes treaties.

      \2\ He  shall have Power,
    by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties,
    provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall
    nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the

      The power of the President to appoint diplomatic representatives to
    foreign governments and to determine their rank is derived from the
    Constitution and may not be circumscribed by statutory enactments (VII,
    1248). In Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1 (1976) the Supreme Court held
    that any appointee exercising significant authority (not merely internal
    delegable authorities within the Legislative Branch) pursuant to the
    laws of the United States is an Officer of the United States and must
    therefore be appointed pursuant to this clause, and that Congress cannot
    by law vest such appointment authority in its own officers or require
    that Presidential appointments be subject to confirmation by both
    Houses.

    Sec. 167. President's power to fill vacancies during
    recess of the Senate.

      \3\ The  President shall have Power to fill up all
    Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting
    Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

    Sec. 168. Messages from the President.

      Section 3.  He shall
    from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the
    Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall
    judge necessary and expedient; * * *

    [[Page 68]]
    son. A message in writing is usually communicated to both Houses on the
    same day, but an original document accompanying can of course be sent to
    but one House (V, 6616, 6617). The President's State of the Union
    message delivered in person to the 95th Congress, second Session,
    together with separate hand-delivered written messages, were referred on
    motion to the Union Calendar and ordered printed (Jan. 19, 1978, p.
    152). In early years confidential messages were often sent and
    considered in secret session of the House (V, 7251, 7252).
      In the early years of the Government the President made a speech to
    Congress on its assembling (V, 6629), but in 1801 President Jefferson
    discontinued this practice and transmitted a message ``in writing.''
    This precedent was followed until April 8, 1913, when the custom of
    addressing Congress in person was resumed by President Wilson and, with
    the exception of President Hoover (VIII, 3333) has been followed
    generally by subsequent Presidents. Only messages of major importance
    are delivered in per

    Sec. 169. Messages required by law.

      By  law (31 U.S.C. 1105),
    the President is required to transmit the Budget to Congress on or after
    the first Monday in January but not later than the first Monday in
    February each year. In addition, he is required to submit a supplemental
    budget summary by July 16 each year (31 U.S.C. 1106). Submission of the
    Economic Report of the President is required within 10 days after the
    submission of the January budget (15 U.S.C. 1022). The Congressional
    Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-344; 88 Stat. 297)
    requires the transmittal to Congress by the President of amendments and
    revisions related to the budget on or before April 10 and July 15 of
    each year (sec. 601). In addition, the Act provides for the transmittal
    of messages proposing rescissions and deferrals of budget authority
    (sec. 1012-1014).

      When the President has indicated that he will address Congress in
    person a concurrent resolution is passed by both Houses arranging for a
    joint session to receive the message. At the appointed hour the Members
    of the Senate arrive and occupy the three front rows of the House. The
    President of the Senate (the Vice President) sits to the right of the
    Speaker, but in the absence of the Vice President, the President pro
    tempore sits to the left of the Speaker (Nov. 27, 1963, p. 22838). The
    Speaker presides.

    * * * <> he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both
    Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them,
    with Respect to the

    [[Page 69]]
    Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think
    proper; * * *

    Sec. 170. Reception of messages from the
    President.

      The  ceremony of receiving a message in writing is simple (V,
    6591), and may occur during consideration of a question of privilege (V,
    6640-6642) or before the organization of the House (V, 6647-6649) and in
    the absence of a quorum (V, 6650; VIII, 3339; clause 6 of rule XV).
    But, with the exception of vetoes, messages are regularly laid before
    the House only at the time prescribed by the rule for the order of
    business (V, 6635-6638) within the discretion of the Speaker (VIII,
    3341). While a message of the President is always read in full the
    latest rulings have not permitted the reading of the accompanying
    documents to be demanded as a matter of right (V, 5267-5271; VII, 1108).
    A concurrent resolution providing for a joint session to receive the
    President's message was held to be of the highest privilege (VIII,
    3335).

    * * * <> he shall receive Ambassadors and other
    public Ministers; he shall take Care That the Laws be faithfully
    executed, and shall Commission all the officers of the United States.

      In certain exigencies the President may convene Congress at a place
    other than the seat of government (I, 2; 2 U.S.C. 27). Congress has
    frequently been convened by the President (I, 10, 11; Nov. 17, 1947, p.
    10578; July 26, 1948, p. 9362), and in one instance, when Congress had
    provided by law for meeting, the President called it together on an
    earlier day (I, 12). The Congress having adjourned on July 27, 1947, p.
    10521, and on June 20, 1948, p. 9350, to a day certain, the President
    called it together on an earlier date than that to which it adjourned
    (Nov. 17, 1947, p. 10577, and July 26, 1948, p. 9362). There has been
    some discussion as to whether or not there is a distinction between a
    session called by the President and other sessions of Congress (I, 12,
    footnote).

    Sec. 173. Impeachment of civil officers.

      Section 4.  The
    President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States,
    shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of,
    Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

    [[Page 70]]
    vote held a Commissioner of the District of Columbia not to be a civil
    officer subject to impeachment under the Constitution (VI, 548).

    Sec. 174. As to the officers who may be impeached.

      In  the
    Blount trial the managers contended that all citizens of the United
    States were liable to impeachment, but this contention was not admitted
    (III, 2315), and in the Bellknap trial both managers and counsel for
    respondent agreed that a private citizen, apart from offense in an
    office, might not be impeached (III, 2007). But resignation of the
    office, does not prevent impeachment for crime or misdemeanor therein
    (III, 2007, 2317, 2444, 2445, 2459, 2509). In Blount's case it was
    decided that a Senator was not a civil officer within the meaning of the
    impeachment provisions of the Constitution (III, 2310, 2316). Questions
    have also arisen as to whether or not the Congressional Printer (III,
    1785), or a vice-consul-general (III, 2515), might be impeached.
    Proceedings for the impeachment of territorial judges have been taken in
    several instances (III, 2486, 2487, 2488), although various opinions
    have been given that such an officer is not impeachable (III, 2022,
    2486, 2493). A committee of the House by majority

    Sec. 175. Nature of impeachable offenses.

      As  to what are
    impeachable offenses there has been much discussion (III, 2008, 2019,
    2020, 2356,-2362, 2379-2381, 2405, 2406, 2410, 2498, 2510; VI, 455;
    Impeachment of Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States,
    Committee on the Judiciary, H. Rept. 93-1305, August 20, 1974, p. 29219;
    Associate Justice William O. Douglas, Final Report by the Special
    Subcommittee on H. Res. 920, Committee on the Judiciary, September 17,
    1970). For a time the theory that indictable offenses only were
    impeachable was stoutly maintained and as stoutly denied (III, 2356,
    2360-2362, 2379-2381, 2405, 2406, 2410, 2416); but on the tenth and 11th
    articles of the impeachment of the President (Andrew Johnson) the House
    concluded to impeach for other than indictable offenses (III, 2418), and
    in the Swayne trial the theory was definitely abandoned (III, 2019).
    While there has not been definite concurrence in the claim of the
    managers in the trial of the President that an impeachable offense is
    any misbehavior that shows disqualification to hold and exercise the
    office, whether moral, intellectual, or physical (III, 2015), yet the
    House has impeached judges for improper personal habits (III, 2328,
    2505), and in the impeachment of the President one of the articles
    charged him with ``intemperate, inflammatory, and scandalous harangues''
    in public addresses, tending to the harm of the Government (III, 2420).
    There was no conviction under these charges except in the single case of
    Judge Pickering, who was charged with intoxication on the bench (III,
    2328-2341). As to the impeachment of judges for other delinquencies,
    there has been much contention as to whether they may be impeached for
    any breach of good behavior (III, 2011, 2016, 2497), or only for
    judicial misconduct occurring in the actual administration of justice in
    connection with the court (III, 2010, 2013, 2017). The intent of the
    judge (III, 2014, 2382) as related to mistakes of the law, and the
    relations of intent to conviction have been discussed at length (III,
    2014, 2381, 2382, 2518, 2519). The statutes make nonresidence of a judge
    an impeachable offense, and the House has taken steps to impeach for
    this cause (III, 2476, 2512). There has, however, been some question as
    to the power of Congress to make an impeachable offense (III, 2014,
    2015, 2021, 2512). Usurpation of power has been examined several times
    in its relations as a cause for impeachment (III, 2404, 2508, 2509,
    2516, 2517). There has also been discussion as to whether or not there
    is distinction between a misdemeanor and a high misdemeanor (III, 2270,
    2367, 2492). Review of impeachments in Congress showing the nature of
    charges upon which impeachments have been brought and judgments of the
    Senate thereon (VI, 466).

    [[Page 71]]
    into scandal and disrepute and to destroy public confidence in his
    court and in the judicial system (Impeachment by the House, March 2,
    1936, p. 3091; Conviction by the Senate, April 17, 1936, p. 5606).
    Following his conviction by the Senate, former Judge Ritter brought an
    action for back salary, contending that the Senate had tried and
    convicted him for non-impeachable offenses. The U.S. Court of Claims
    held that the Senate's power to try impeachments was exclusive and not
    subject to judicial review. Ritter v. United States, 84 Ct. Cls. 293
    (1936), cert. denied, 300 U.S. 668 (1937).

    Sec. 176. Later impeachment inquiries.

      The  articles of
    impeachment adopted by the House in 1936 against Judge Ritter charged a
    variety of judicial misconduct, including violations of criminal law;
    the seventh and general article, upon which Judge Ritter was convicted
    by the Senate, charged general misconduct to bring his court

      In 1970, a special subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary
    considered charges of impeachment against Associate Justice Douglas of
    the Supreme Court. The subcommittee recommended against his impeachment
    but concluded that a federal judge could be impeached (1) for judicial
    conduct which is a serious dereliction from public duty and (2) for
    nonjudicial conduct which is criminal in nature (Associate Justice
    William O. Douglas, Final Report by the Special Subcommittee on H. Res.
    920, Committee on the Judiciary, September 17, 1970).

      In 1974, the Committee on the Judiciary investigated charges of
    impeachment against President Nixon, and determined to recommend his
    impeachment to the House. The President having resigned, the committee
    reported to the House without submitting a resolution of impeachment,
    and the House accepted the report by resolution (H. Res. 1333, August
    20, 1974, p. 29361). The report of the committee included the text of
    the three articles of impeachment adopted by the committee. The
    committee had concluded that impeachable offenses need not be indictable
    offenses and had impeached the President (1) for violating his oath of
    office and his duty under the Constitution by preventing, obstructing,
    and impeding the administration of justice; (2) for engaging in a course
    of conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens, impairing
    the administration of justice, and contravening the laws governing
    executive agencies; and (3) for failing to honor subpoenas issued by the
    Committee on the Judiciary in the course of its impeachment inquiry
    (Impeachment of Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States,
    Committee on the Judiciary, H. Rept. 93-1305, Aug. 20, 1974, printed in
    full in the Cong. Record, Aug. 22, 1974, p. 29219).

    [[Page 72]]
    the Senate, Judge Claiborne was convicted on three of the four articles
    of impeachment and removed from office on October 9, 1986.
      In 1986, for the first time since 1936, the House agreed to a
    resolution impeaching a federal district judge. Judge Harry Claiborne
    had been convicted of falsifying federal income tax returns. His final
    appeal was denied by the Supreme Court in April, and he began serving
    his prison sentence in May. Because he declined to resign, however,
    Judge Claiborne was still receiving his judicial salary and, absent
    impeachment, would resume the bench on his release from prison.
    Consequently, a resolution of impeachment was introduced on June 3, and
    on July 16, the Committee on the Judiciary reported to the House four
    articles of impeachment against Judge Claiborne. On July 22, the
    resolution was called up as a question of privilege and agreed to by a
    recorded vote of 406 yeas, 0 nays. After trial in

      In 1988, the House agreed to a resolution reported from the Committee
    on the Judiciary and called up as a question of the privileges of the
    House impeaching Federal district judge Alcee L. Hastings for high
    crimes and misdemeanors specified in 17 articles of impeachment, some of
    them addressing allegations on which the judge had been acquitted in a
    federal criminal trial (H. Res. 499, 100th Cong., Aug. 3, 1988, p.
    20206). No trial in the Senate was had before the adjournment of the
    100th Congress. In the 101st Congress, the House reappointed managers to
    conduct this impeachment in the Senate (Jan. 3, 1989, p. 84); the Senate
    began its deliberations on March 15, 1989 (p. 4219); conviction and
    removal from office occurred on October 20, 1989 (p. 25335). Also in the
    101st Congress, the Senate convicted Federal district judge Walter L.
    Nixon on two of the three impeachment charges brought against him (Nov.
    3, 1989, p. ----). For further discussion of the continuance of
    impeachment proceedings in a succeeding Congress, see Sec. 620, infra.

      For further discussion of impeachment proceedings, see Deschler's
    Precedents, vol. 3, ch. 14.