My Lonely City

Wait, wait, wait … isn’t the president’s job to enforce the laws that Congress makes (and nix crap laws that Congress passes)? I mean, it’s been a while since my gov’t classes, but … isn’t that a big part of the job description?

Why, then, do presidential candidates talk about policies they plan to create, “legislation” they want to “pass”, etc.? Shouldn’t they be talking about their ideas and qualifications for appointing great people to governmental offices, “ensuring that the laws are faithfully executed” (article II, sec. 3)?

(And, for the record, we ought to amend this article to say “she or he”. But you knew I was going to say that.)

I mean, here’s what the constitution says about the president, except for the part about the electoral college because it was boring:

Article II Section 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:
[[boring and complicated way of saying that the President will be elected by hairsprayed newscasters who repeat themselves. “It looks like he’s won Texas, Jim!” “Yes, Frank, it certainly looks like Candidate Gary has won Texas, Frank.”)]]

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. [If you’re not old enough to remember disco, or you weren’t born here or to Americans, don’t apply.]

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. [The VP takes over if the Prez can’t get her/his stuff together for some silly reason like being dead or incapacitated. Unless you count being an incompetent jerk as a disability, which we apparently don’t. This was later amended to detail the complicated and action-film-producing tangle of succession we know and love.]

The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services, a compensation, which shall neither be increased 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. [But she/he gets money. But not too much. Along with out-of-place comas.]

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.” [And she/he promises to do the job.]

Section 2. 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 offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. [She/he is in charge of the people with guns – hey! states are supposed to have militias! wow! – but should get his information from the people who know what they’re talking about. And he can pardon people, except for people who have been impeached. (I think.) Notice that her/his “action step” regarding the military is asking for the opinions of people who know what they’re doing.]

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 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. [Prez makes treaties and puts people in office. Working with the Senate to do so. Did you get that, “with”? Like together or something?]

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. [And put more people in office if somebody else gets dead or incapacitated.]

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; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; 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. [Ooh, “recommend to [Congress’s] consideration” – that sounds weird, eh? Like they were communicating or something. And yep, it says so right there: she/he’ll see to getting the laws obeyed.]

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. [And if they screw up, they’ll get kicked out.]

Sounds kinda administrative-y, actually. Take the Congress’s ideas and make them happen; occasionally direct their attention to issues they haven’t addressed. And be a people person, making lots of appointments and receiving foreign ambassadors and what-not. And oversee the various military bodies of the country. Hm. Learn something every day.